Expert: Ted Barnhill (Principal, Design45 LLC) - 8/17/2010

Question
Hello there. My boyfriend and I own a 2-story rowhome in Washington DC with
a finished basement and a large deck in the back. We were thinking it would be
nice to extend the building out and turn it into 4 apartments. How can we begin
to learn more about what this would entail/require and how much it would cost?
Thanks, Justine

Answer
Justine,

To determine the feasibility of extending your rowhome, I would first look into zoning and building code issues.  You can do this yourself by visiting the city building office (sometimes called planning, or permits).  They should be able to tell you if your lot can have 4 residential units, and if the required building setbacks are likely sufficient.

If there are no immediate obstacles, the best next step would be to engage a designer or architect to help with conceptual design - how many square feet, with what approximate layout and rough costs.

Best of luck,

Ted Barnhill
Design 45, LLC