Jillayne emailed me the answer. Sorry I asked. So they don’t like craftsmen, they don’t like new townhomes, they don’t like condos, they don’t like ramblers, they don’t like split entry homes…what the heck do they like? And do they want a whole City full of only what they want? I don’t get it. What a bunch of whiners.

This finished product will be cheaper than a full tear down, (if that’s what you mean) and retain the character of Green Lake better. The people I’ve seen do this, do it for themselves and not for resale, by- and-large. Don’t know about this particular house…time will tell.

My house in Kirkland is like that, though not a “jack up”. When expanded from 900 sf to 3,300 sf, they retained the full curb appeal of the bungalow. Quite interesting effect, but I have alley access, so the garage is in the rear. It provides a middle price range for people, so is a great option. But he did it in 94 for himself, and not for resale value.

I bought it in 2005 for about $500,000 less than it would have cost had he torn it down. So more of these types of “expansions” are good for Seattle. A mid-price point between 2 bedroom bungalows and new builds. Plus great street character retention.