There seems to be a growing trend in the Twin Cities of tearing down smaller homes and replacing them with supersize structures. On Sunday the Minneapolis Tribune published an article about it with examples of newly built houses in Minnetonka, a coveted lake area. Although the houses that are being built in our Highland Park neighborhood are decidedly smaller than the ones mentioned in the article, these four under construction a few blocks from our home have changed the landscape of that street. . . and not for the better in my opinion. Although our city lots in this area are not enormous the spaces between the buildings here are decidedly narrower because the houses are much too large for the lot. This teardown trend with supersize replacements is causing a stir in some quarters. Is this happening in your town, too?
There are some areas where the rich ones built big houses, but there is not so much teardown here.
ReplyDeleteMy spouse grew up in Highland Park. Fortunately we live rural now in Bluff Country...:)
ReplyDeleteYes... it is happening everywhere.
ReplyDeleteIt definitely is Kate. It can look quite odd to see an older beach house next to a huge mansion along the coast road but I quite enjoy the difference :)
ReplyDeleteWe're seeing it up on the Hill, where new condos are sprouting up with much higher costs then the historic buildings they are replacing. I guess it's a fact of life.
ReplyDeleteIn my part of the world it is all about 'infill' ~~~ before expanding the Urban Growth Boundary. An Oregon thing ....
ReplyDeleteYes, it is happening in Ft. Worth, especially in the Arlington Heights neighborhood. My daughter's neighborhood in Atlanta is up in arms concerning this.
ReplyDeleteI am not a fan of the big, ostentatious homes. Yep, we have them here too. Some people have a strong need to outdo their friends and neighbours, I fear. Just be glad you don't need to clean all their bathrooms. ;)
ReplyDeleteOh yes, it is most certainly happening here. I'm always amazed at the number of homes I see for sale, then purchased, then torn down and totally rebuilt. It always makes me wonder, where is that money coming from.
ReplyDeleteThankfully not much is being torn down here. Although I must say that there are definitely old buildings here that need refurbishment. I invite you to share your post with others on my new photo meme called "Through My Lens". The link is down below. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMersad
Mersad Donko Photography
I would not enjoy looking out my window onto that of my neighbor. Plus, I am sure all the new houses are "open concept, with hardwood floors, and granite counter-tops and stainless steel appliances in the kitchen." The quotes are because those are the standard words I hear on every home show on HGTV. Do you suppose these features will one day be as ubiquitous and demeaned as shag carpet and harvest gold (or avocado green) appliances? ;)
ReplyDeleteIt is happening all over our city. Even in the really wealthy areas where the home torn down may have cost a few Million $$ and then they spend more millions building an even bigger house. Crazy!!
ReplyDeleteI suppose we all want bigger and bigger. Many lots in newer subdivisions have zero lot lines and very little yard space. I'm looking forward to returning to Phoenix and but not looking forward to being so close to my new neighbors!
ReplyDeleteI will stick with my tiny retirement home. Easy to keep neat and tidy but my yard is huge so I spend a great deal of my time keeping that up. Many of the new builds in our area are very grand and large.
ReplyDeleteTear downs are a very big thing in Naples, where growth is rampant and money practically spills out of people's pockets. It is much less prevalent in Hartford, where the economy is stalled, but it happens. I have a post coming up pretty soon on the topic
ReplyDeleteLooks nice:)
ReplyDeleteThe same happens here too, in neighbourhoods that are a century old. What replaces them often looks like jumbled blocks or bunkers.
ReplyDeleteThis was becoming common in California, especially in the high value areas like Marin County. A lot of my neighbors have homes this large or larger, on acreage. Some of them speak longingly of downsizing. How much space do people really need, after all?
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