I won the Lot(tery)! – LivingMini®
Posted By Erin on May 5, 2010
May 5, 2010 – Land of Oz: 2
OK – the Extreme Mini Makeover has a new land option: Almost half an acre of land (flat, sunny) bordered by a creek with pre-approved housing plans. Am I dreaming?
Maybe. ‘Cause what might look like the dream option, may indeed turn out to be a nightmare.
Really? Salmon run this “river”?
See, the creek is the problem. Because of Coho salmon run declines in coastal California tributaries, building along creeks are highly problematic.
I used to go salmon fishing in Alaska, and the rives there had a bit more water in them than this — but I digress.
Problematic meaning building only within pre-designated set backs from the bank and using only certain kinds of indigenous California plants for landscaping.
Read: SPAWN (Salmon Protection & Watershed Network) environmental laws.
The skinny: Some poor dude bought a lovely piece of land, then couldn’t build on it because of restrictions. 3 years later, he has approved plans, but no more money or patience. I’m here to swoop in.
- • The question is: Do I want this land?
- • Or is the question: Do I want this guy’s problems?
For X price and that means I commit to buying this land, with this building footprint, situated this way, with this landscaping (I can make interior changes though). That’s a lot of restrictions from a gal who doesn’t like to be told what to do… (Who me?!)
That said, the house plans are based on a Michelle Kaufman Design for a green Glidehouse building.
Her designs have all the features I want: cross ventilation, deck surround, all glass on one side. It’s pretty modern (too modern?), but essentially it is exactly the open, green floor plan I want.
Check out more Glidehouse plans & pics! I’m turning green as we speak!
Decisions, Decisions. So I’m enlisting the help of experts.
On Monday, I paid another visit to my friends at the planning department.
Then yesterday, I met with the real estate agent to walk the land.
Tomorrow, I’m meeting with a passive solar architect to check out possible changes to the interior.
Then another round up with my contractor friends this weekend.
That should give me the information I need to proceed.
Sooooooo tempting!
Hmmmmm….I think I’ll be making a decision within a week. We’ll see how well I sleep between now and then.
If the nightmares return, I’ll have my answer.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 5th, 2010 and is filed under Mini Makeover.