Close Enough: Chevy Chase View

Occasionally I'll publish articles about non-Kensington stuff, and call it "Close Enough." Get it? I'm witty like that.

I sometimes joke about the smallness of Kensington. But it seems to have a nice history, about 1000 or so residents in the town itself, and thousands of other residents just outside the historic town boundary. There are schools and parks, and a nice town center.

But what the heck is up with a town of Chevy Chase View? It's like 10 square blocks of about 100 homes, and zero businesses?! It seems to operate more like a homeowners association than a town. Who decided such a tiny neighborhood should be it's own town- as of 1993?? Were they swept up in some sort of "Bill Clinton is president!" frenzy? There are bigger apartment complexes nearby! Check out the silly town map here. It has every house on it! Their website also states that they want to benefit CCV's various neighborhoods and ensure prosperity. "Various neighborhoods?" So one end of the block is in a different neighborhood than the other end? Color me confused. (Just don't color me sepia.)

One really odd thing they have on the CCV website is their "covenant." It's pretty funny, so I'll print it below. I hope who ever posted it was being tongue-in-check when they wrote, "Residents should check their deeds to determine whether these covenants, or others, apply."

The last one just begs for a Sarah Palin joke- but I'll refrain.

As stated in the Introduction, certain Covenants were placed against the land when the original subdivision of Chevy Chase View was laid out and recorded. They were not and are not regulations or ordinances adopted by the Council of Chevy Chase View. On the contrary, they are in the nature of private contracts, enforceable where permitted by law, only at the instance of an interested property owner in a private suit. The Covenants, which may vary from deed to deed, are as follows:

		That all houses shall be built and used for residence purposes only, except stables, carriage houses, garages or sheds which may be necessary for use in connection with such residences; and that no trade business, manufacture or sales, or nuisance of any kind shall be carried on or permitted in said subdivision.
		That no house shall be erected in said subdivision at less than $5,000.00 present value, and no house shall be built within 35 feet of the front line of any lot.
		That no stable, carriage house, garage or shed shall be erected within 50 feet of the front line of any lot.
		That all outbuildings of any kind or character shall be built in the rear of the premises.
		That no building of any kind or character shall be built within 5 feet of the side line of any lot in the subdivision.
		That no pigs, hogs or cows shall be permitted to be kept upon any lot in the subdivision.