Single Family Residence Feasibility Study

Parabola Architecture + Development was retained by Dennis Capozza, property owner and Professor Emeritus of Finance and Real Estate as well as Dale L. Dykema Professor of Business Administration at the Ross School of Business.

In 2008, leveraging his deep understanding and research, Dennis accurately anticipated The Great Recession, leading to strategic real estate acquisitions in Ann Arbor. Seeking to optimize the potential of one such property at 1780 Scio Church Road—a large parcel with an existing single family home—Dennis engaged Parabola A+D to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study.

Our task was to carefully evaluate the site’s ability to support the maximum number of single family residences, including determining the largest feasible square footage for each unit within a proposed residential community. A critical component of our scope involved navigating municipal processes to successfully annex the property from Ann Arbor Township into the City of Ann Arbor, enabling development aligned with city regulations and community planning objectives.

The feasibility study integrated analysis of zoning requirements, site constraints, infrastructure capacity, and market demand, providing Dennis with clear, data-driven guidance on optimal residential density and design parameters for the development.

  • Feasibility Study:

    We were retained by Dennis Capozza, property owner, and Professor Emeritus of Finance and Real Estate and Dale L. Dykema Professor of Business Administration, Ross School of Business. Dennis’ research activity focused on real estate and financial economics. Published research includes articles on the mortgage crisis, the price dynamics for housing, REITs and subprime mortgages.

    In 2008, Dennis was an insightful investor, utilizing his research to predict The Great Recession. This led to the purchase of several properties in Ann Arbor. Dennis retained Parabola A+D to provide a feasibility study to determine the maximum number of single family residences (including maximum square foot area) for a proposed single family residential community. The property consisted of an existing single family house on a large parcel of land, located at 1780 Scio Church Road. Our scope of work included a requirement to annex the property from Ann Arbor Township into the City of Ann Arbor.

  • Property size:
    Property Length = 233.3’
    Width = 137.48’
    Area = 32,074 square feet Acreage = 0.74 acres

    Maximum height of new residence:
    The maximum height of an R-1C single family residence is not to exceed 25’-0” (to centerline of roof peak), and limited to two stories above finish grade.

  • Setbacks:
    Front yard setback = 25’-0” from front property line
    Side yard setbacks - 5’-0” each side
    Rear yard setback - 30’-0” back from property line to back of single family residence.

    Fire Apparatus Access Roads:
    Requirements for Dead-End Fire Apparatus Access Road:
    - Length = 0-150’
    - Width = 20’
    - No turnarounds required

  • Private Driveway:
    This site provides for a private driveway, not a private road. Driveways servicing one and two-family residences shall be between 10-24 feet in width. We proposed a 20’-0” private drive width.

    Attached garage requirements:
    An attached garage cannot extend beyond 6’-0” forward from the main house or covered porch, and must not exceed 50% of the length of the front of the house (including the width of the garage). If an attached garage is setback from the house, the 50% rule in not applicable. Driveway minimum width = 9’-0”.

  • Pavers extending from the private road and continuing into each individual driveway help to visually dissolve the separation between single-family residences, creating a more cohesive and unified streetscape.