NEW CONSTRUCTION
When the new buyers of the Upper
Montclair home contacted John Way of
Way & Associates Architects, their goal
was to either fix up the structure, or tear it
down and build a much larger residence
that extended into the property’s large
side yard. “When the Harris family bought
the land in 1915, it was originally two lots,”
says Way, who lives on the same block.
“The Harrises merged it into one, and
everybody loved it. It was like a little park.”
But the property was destined to split
again: After purchasing it, the new owners
found a home they preferred in the Estate
Section, and moved there instead.
Their new plan was to maximize
returns on the Upper Montclair property
by renovating the existing home, subdividing the land and selling the empty lot
separately. Way was tasked with drawing
up designs for additions to the house,
and for a new home on the empty lot,
just for the purpose of selling it. “In
Montclair, if you want to subdivide a
property, you have to show the planning
board a design for a potential home on
it that doesn’t need variances,” says Way.
“But once permission is granted, you
don’t have to use that design.” The owners tried to sell the lot by itself, but after
some time, determined that they’d be
more successful with a house already
built on it.
40 MONTCLAIR MAGAZINE FALL 2016
The home that now occupies the corner
lot adheres closely to Way’s drawings, and
was built by Charles Louis Custom Homes,
of the husband, wife and daughter team of
Charlie, Carla and Jena Schaafsma. To blend
in with neighboring structures, a half-dozen
gables grace its exterior. The four bedrooms
on the second floor have high ceilings;
the master bedroom’s ceiling is vaulted.
Per Way’s design, a first-floor office bedroom contains a full bath, and can be
converted to an extra bedroom. A terrace
in back leads to a sizeable family room,
and, of course, an extra-large kitchen.
COURTESY OF TOUR FACTORY; VIRTUAL STAGING: VIRTUALLY STAGING PROPERTIES
A HOUSE HELPS SELL A LOT