EastBanc, Inc.'s proposed commercial structure for the rear of the Georgetown Post Office at 1215 31st St. NW was approved Tuesday by the Board of Zoning Adjustment.

The project will be built almost entirely below ground level; an above-ground exception will reuse a 1915 addition at the rear of the original 1856 federal building.

EastBanc's variance asked the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) "to permit the renovation and expansion of an existing conforming structure devoted to non-conforming use and area variances from minimum percentage of lot occupancy, rear yard, and side yard requirements."

While Lloyd Jordan, chairperson of the BZA, called the property "unique," he said there was "a confluence of issues confronting this particular property."

The presence of a functioning federal building on the site, which sits next to residential properties, and the sloping landscape made the design process a difficult one.

At various times during its life, the development went from being a three-story, nine-unit condo building to a two-story commercial building with 18 parking spaces underground to its current and, perhaps, final design as described above.

With the variance, EastBanc can move forward with building permits and begin construction.