UPDATE – New information posted in followup article.

The corner of NE 72nd and Burnside is looking more open these days. The new owner of 7 NE 72nd Ave, Kimco Properties LTD, has cut down the once dominate hedges that surrounded the house. The now exposed yard has been cleared in preparation for future development. An application to split the lot has been submitted and is in the final review phase.

The new, and yet to be renumbered, house will become the corner lot on the block. The lot is skinnier than most seen in the neighborhood. The documents seem to indicate a request for a “reduced side setbacks allowed under 33.120.270.D” for this property. This should allow the new building to use more of the property width than regularly allowed.

Just a year ago, March 22nd 2019, the original owners sought to partition the property into two or three separate lots. The Kamasz Family LLC filed Early Assistance request 19-136919-000-00-EA:

Option 1 – Three lot land division with one corner lot, one lot fronting on Burnside only & one lot lot fronting on SE 72nd Ave only. Existing dwelling to be demolished. Option 2 – Two lot land division with existing dwelling to remain on corner lot with one new lot fronting Burnside only.

Apparently neither of the two options were accepted as both lots seem to be fronted along NE 72nd Ave, in the current application. However not all documents are available at this time and the front door could be along Burnside.

This reduced width lot will have many architectural challenges and its exposure along Burnside will make those choices highly visible. It is unknown how long it will take before a building permit is issued for this new property. However, the clearing of hedges from the property could indicate it will be sooner rather than later.