The owners of 2932 Wroxton may sell their 1930s style home after they were denied portions of the variance they were seeking from the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
The owners of 2932 Wroxton may sell their 1930s style home after they were denied portions of the variance they were seeking from the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
The dilapidated home was purchased by Vernon and Lynn Tyger in October after being vacant for several years.
The Tygers requested a variance from the city for the garage located on the property. The dwelling above the garage is equipped with a kitchen, a full bathroom and it has its own entrance and exit, which by city code qualifies it as a principal dwelling.
City code only allows for one principal dwelling in a single family 3 district because more than one dwelling on a site creates density, City Planner Debbie Scarcella said.
In order for the Tygers to keep the garage the way it is, the ZBA needed to grant a variance that would allow for the garage to be an “accessory quarters,” allow the dwelling to continue to exist above the garage and not be located within the principal building and allow the dwelling to exceed 600 square feet.
The ZBA last night approved to allow the dwelling to exceed 600 square feet. The garage apartment is 649 square feet.
“I think we’re going to put it up for sale and reevaluate things,” Vernon Tyger told InstantNewsWestU last night. “I wouldn’t be surprised if there was [a for sale sign] there tomorrow afternoon.”
The Tygers have restored four old homes in West U and had planned on fixing up the Wroxton Street home and living in it. The house is 1,700 square feet and is big enough for the two of them, but they wanted a place for their kids to stay when they came to visit.
“It’s going to be a lot of effort to go through everything for our kids to use it,” Vernon Tyger said. “I spent a lot of money to make it work. Maybe it wasn’t meant to be.”
The Tygers requested a variance from the city for the garage located on the property. The dwelling above the garage is equipped with a kitchen, a full bathroom and it has its own entrance and exit, which by city code qualifies it as a principal dwelling.
The Tygers wanted to preserve the architectural elements in the garage, but in order for it to come into compliance with the city’s code it would have to be connected to the house, the kitchen would have to be removed, or changes would have to be made to the bathroom so it wouldn’t be a full bath.
“In any other book, this would have been a tear down,” ZBA member Frank Vargas said.
Vernon Tyger said he thinks some of the details are worth saving.
“We want to do what makes sense,” he said. “I really like the tile inlay in the kitchen. On a new house you wouldn’t see tiling like that.”
The Tygers were hoping the ZBA would consider granting the variance because the home is considered old stock housing, which can be considered a hardship to the homeowner.
“I think it’s in the public good to allow this variance,” Vernon Tyger said. “It’s there. It’s been there 70 years. The intent is to keep it restored.”
ZBA member Cliff Thuot said it was “commendable” to restore the house.
“I applaud you on your attempt to preserve something,” said Thuot, who was not a voting member at last night’s meeting. “You’re going to fix it up. You’re going to make it look nice.”
Vargas said he had “a real problem” with having two single family homes on one property because two different families could live on the property.
“What could happen, you never know,” he said. “We’ve had property owners say up and down they wouldn’t do something and the next day a city official drives by and it’s done.”
Vargas said he would like to allow the 49 ft. and let the homeowners decide how they want to come into compliance.
The ZBA unanimously approved allowing the dwelling to exceed 600 square feet, provided that any separate utility meters are removed.
After the meeting ended, the Tygers told InstantNewsWestU that they were “disappointed” that they weren’t granted the entire variance.
“It’s a 1,700 square foot house,” Lynn Tyger said. “We should be able to enjoy all the benefits of it.”
The Tygers said the project would be delayed another two or three months.
“We thought we’d be moving in by now,” Lynn Tyger said.
The Tygers were going to apply for LEED Platinum certification on the house, which would have made it the first platinum retro-fit in Houston, Vernon Tyger said.
“I was looking forward to doing the platinum,” he said.
Now with all the extra hassles with the house, the Tygers said they are going to look at the option to sell it.
“It’s obviously something West U wants to do,” he said. “They obviously don’t want to encourage people to restore houses.”
April 29, 2011 at 6:11 pm
The Tygers were going to apply for LEED Platinum certification on the house! Any family willing to renovate and retro-fit an older West U. home could not only be granted the variance, but rewarded for their bravery by allowing a separate meter, a separate mail-box, full-bath garage apartment they can rent whenever they like! The Tygers are willing to go through a journey most people would avoid at any cost.
May 1, 2011 at 8:58 pm
Thank you Louisa.
We never planned on renting the garage apartment. We just wanted to avoid building a 36-foot enclosed and conditioned hallway between the house and the Dwelling and have a place for our children to stay when they visited during holidays.
We support penalties for residents that rent out garage apartments!
We would NEVER rent the apartment!
April 27, 2011 at 4:41 pm
The owner is free to leave the structure as is. The problem is if he wants to renovate it, he has to bring it into compliance with the current codes.
April 29, 2011 at 4:47 pm
Or Mr. El Paso…the ZBA could grant a variance so that he could renovate it to retain its historical significance. They’re allowed to do that.
April 29, 2011 at 4:51 pm
Didn’t say they weren’t. I think they should have done just that. But you can renovate it and retain its historical significance while bringing into compliance. It is possible.
April 29, 2011 at 4:59 pm
Yes, but a 36 foot enclosed hallway between the structures would destroy the architectural integrity of the entire site.
April 29, 2011 at 5:01 pm
Maybe if you built the enclosed hallway out of stucco and lined it with palm trees you’d satisfy the aesthetic requirements of the ZBA.
April 29, 2011 at 5:12 pm
Can you not reduce the SF of the space above the garage by adding a walk-in, unconditioned attic and take the “kitchen” out? If you like the tile, keep it as a wet bar. You could also “rebuild” the garage and salvage finishes. I’m not falling on the side of the ZBA – they should have granted the variance. I realize none of these are what you want or what should have happened. Just trying to think of how to work within the system.
April 29, 2011 at 6:00 pm
This morning I filed an appeal regarding interpretation of the code which may result in the kitchen being eliminated and the sink becoming a wet bar.
April 29, 2011 at 4:53 pm
I would love to leave the structure as is but I’m actually not free to do so. There was a Notice of Violations served and renovations must be made.
April 27, 2011 at 3:20 pm
I thought this house would fall under the West U Grandfather Clause, as do other older residences with garage apartments.
If the city has looked the “other way” for a builder or others who have violated these laws, then a precedent has been set. Either grant a Variance or do away with these particular laws.
For a 1.5 mile square city, West U is getting too large, too intrusive, and too tacky to retain its quaintness and character.
Thank you.
Ms. Pat Malone
April 26, 2011 at 10:36 pm
Stucco may rule, but Allstate won’t touch those stucco McMansions!
April 23, 2011 at 2:50 pm
I am glad at least one city official is willing to be vocal about this issue. who from our great city is making sure real violators of this ordinance are called on the carpet??? I know of a builder who has gone before the ZBA many times requesting variances to the rules who himself seemed to have a second family renting from him in his over garage full quarters and no one bothered to slap him with a fine and force him to cut it out. he had this going on for more than five years at his company owned home at corner of rutg.s and cason seem to recall…. Being a home builder in the west u area — he seemed to have ZBA and the city in his pockets…and got away with lots of stuff which made his head even bigger than it already was….quite arrogant and unethical too and a real jerk. the Varance should have been allowed to preserve the charning cottage. alos maybe the ZBA should have asked his neighbors if they were okay with the request, their opinion should count too…
April 23, 2011 at 8:58 am
Stucco rules! Get with the program and learn to love your changing neighborhood. Angry much y’all???
April 23, 2011 at 8:23 am
Anonymous, Mr. Tyger was ready to spend the money, even if it cost more than tearing down and rebuilding a McMansion. I believe he’s done this with a number of “tear downs” in West U. Even though you’re too cheap or broke to spend the money, if he was ready and able to restore it, why do you think it’s unrealistic? That doesn’t make any sense.
April 22, 2011 at 10:11 pm
I used to live on this street and am familiar with this house. I am sorry but this house needs to be torn down. It is dilapidated beyond repair. They are kidding themselves if they think can fix it up enough to live in it. It would cost them far more money to do so then just start over new. I am all for saving and renovating older homes, but this is unrealistic.
April 23, 2011 at 10:52 am
The Tygers have refurbished an number of home and they knew exactly what they were getting into. They appreciate the architecture of the older homes and enjoy preserving the history. The ZBA missed an opportunity.
April 27, 2011 at 8:00 am
The point is that the owners can decide if it costs too much to repair. It is not the my decision, your decision or the city’s decision. It is a beautiful house and if they want to try to fix it up, then they should be allowed to. It is insane that the city voted against this and yet allows all the other zoning violations.
April 26, 2011 at 10:35 pm
Vernon has a history of redoing homes in West U, he clearly knows what he is getting into.
There are numerous garage apartments in West U, now called Quarters. My understanding has always been that the preexisting ones were grandfathered and could be rented even though that is not Vernon’s intent.
There are many new quarters that are rented out to people like Rice students and the city does nothing.
May 2, 2011 at 4:04 pm
Location,location, location on April 26 said,”There are many new quarters that are rented out to people like Rice students and the city does nothing.” Rice students or anyone renting in West U can be an asset to West U. However, the city may have the zoning ordinance banning two families on one lot because only one pays property tax. The second family can vote in city elections for candidates and positions that can directly affect the taxes a homeowner must pay. A tenant may have a strong emotional investment in a community but not the financial investment of a homeowner. If a tenant’s residence floods when it rains, they just leave.
April 22, 2011 at 8:43 pm
I agree that the ZBA is not using common sense here….its a shame that City Government is being too intrusive and restrictive too..
The quaint bungalows of the 1930s and 1940s are too frequently disappearing and the old village charm of our great city is vanishing with all these ugly modern humongous structures called homes.
I have seen what appears to be preferential treatment given to a home builder living in our city where it was obvious to me that he/the home builder had boarders, another unrelated family renting, above the garage apartment and the separate utility meters were obvious as was the separate mail box at the dedicated front door for the garage apt. our great city enforcers turned a blind eye to this stuck up,errogant home builder and allowed this violation to continue on his mdern ugly new stucco home.
April 22, 2011 at 7:55 pm
I think nobody can live in the house which is really in a “tear down” condition. I think it just looked a good business deal to have two dwellings for price of One. If it is against the zoning ordinance why are we even entairtaining the idea of separate dwelling?
April 22, 2011 at 7:41 pm
There are many governments around the world in a great state of flux.
The ZBA may be on the list.
April 22, 2011 at 6:25 pm
How incredibly short sighted of the ZBA. The three members who voted to deny the variance should be ashamed of themselves. Our city has precious few vintage homes and this beauty had a chance to be restored, but instead, it’s for sale at lot value, and soon West U will be able proudly showcase a new oversized Italifornia Stucco Nightmare in its place, complete with palm trees and a fountain somewhere on the property. Nice.
April 22, 2011 at 6:25 pm
Which candidates for city council will support repeal of the zoning ordinance?
April 22, 2011 at 2:03 pm
This is silly. Grant the variance. Keep the older home with charm. Kudos to the Tygers for wanting to refurbish an original home. Shame on the ZBA for being short sighted. Oh, my neighbor has garbage out today….
April 22, 2011 at 12:23 pm
This makes me really, really, really sad. This is a great original home that I have walke by for years and hoped someone whould restore. The city wants to enourage old stock housing. How do you do that? By granting concessions. The city had a chance to do that and instead, with rigor, maintained a status uo policy that will result in a huge stucco box. Can the city council overturn this committee?