ddhr.org - New housing developments are ugly

Having grown up in an old house, I can appreciate the idea of a brand new house. However, I can't appreciate the look of new housing developments. They're ugly. Butt ugly. And I'm wondering why more people don't agree with me. On the one hand, I don't know a single person who drives by one of those 20-McMansions-per-acre developments and says, "Wow, that's beautiful. I like how you can reach out the window of one house and touch the house next to it." But on the other hand, these crowded developments wouldn't exist if they weren't financially successful. People are buying these huge houses and moving into these crowded neighborhoods. And I just don't get it. I understand the logic of maximizing the number of houses per square foot and even the number of square feet per house. What I don't get is the logic of the buyers. Who wants a huge house with no yard? Who wants a house that looks exactly like the 47 other houses in the development? I often don't care much about aesthetics and originality, but come on. #lifestyle

Comments

Emily

Dec 28, 2007

I couldn't agree with you more. Unfortunately, I haven't seen too many new developments in this area that aren't built this way.

Payal

I partially agree w/ you and Emily. Although, I have to say that there are lots of people who believe it to be bad luck/ uncool / unhealthy to live in a house that already has too much history since you can never tell what may have gone wrong. I'm not just talking about the paranoia of deaths and all, but I've heard from people about the house just having too much character on itself and not allowing them to build on.

Coming from India, where most people want to build their own apt/house.. I can't help but want to live in a new construction myself.. however, I hate town houses!

Wendy

Jan 2, 2008

I think it is also due in part to the baby boomer and childless professional population. These people don't want to worry about lawns or gardens so instead of getting a condo, they can show off how much they've made by buying a McMansion.

Rus

Hmmmm, I fear I live in one of these developments (but I tend to have a different opinion of what a McMansion is). I think it's simply what the market provides.

1) All builders wish to maximize their profit.
2) National Builders (The Walmart builders) have set floor plans limiting choice of models and elevations.
3) Custom/Local builders (Ma and Pa builders) homes are considerably more expensive and there are few choices for custom/locally built housing.

It's the same as shopping at large national retail compared to ma and pa shops for anything. Large retail drive out local establishments (or drive up their prices in order to survive).

Blame it on capitalism, greed and a global economy. (And no, I haven't become a socialist...yet).

Dave

Wendy's a socialist. Or perhaps a Communist. I can't remember which.

I've seen pictures of your house. It's a normal-sized house in a normal development. That's different. I'm talking about $750,000 houses spaced 3 feet from each other.

Ahhh! I'm completely on board with you now. (I guess I live in a McMiddle-Class-House). I drive by a "batch" of them every Sunday on the way to church. Large, gawdy, houses. I said to Tina, "If I had that much money, I would buy some space with that house."