Leveling the field
Published: Sat, Jun. 16, 2007 12:00AM
Modified Sat, Jun. 16, 2007 06:50AM
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closeAs a Raleigh resident in the bull's-eye of the teardown zone, I was glad to see your story June 10. For the past two years, the beep-beep-beep of the dump truck backing in to get its new load has been the greeting of the morning. I hear it and try to remember which house was for sale over that way. Sure enough, there would be a flat piece of earth by the end of the day.
People may be surprised that tearing down a house to rebuild is not only profitable, but also is more lenient on the builder than renovating an existing house. There are regulations that may trigger review by the board of adjustment for certain additions to older houses. A house that is torn down, however, does not require such review. A new house must conform with the zoning regulations as far as setbacks are concerned, but very little else. The older neighborhoods will fight a losing battle until this loophole is addressed in the city code; it gives builders greater freedom to rebuild than to rework, almost an incentive.
If the city cares about preserving that which we all agree is desirable about our central neighborhoods, we need some help in leveling the playing field, not the houses.
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Carol Majors
Raleigh
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