I am also a YIMBY, but think that makes me a minority in my neighborhood, some of which is on land that was Edward G. Robinson's San Fernando Valley ranch in the 1940's. My modest ranch house was built in 1961, and as you walk up our hill, you can see the design (and square footage) change to 1970's and 1980's styles. We also have a couple of streets with Eichlers (he only did a few developments in Southern California). And there is an occasional really old house - like one that was two doors down from us that dated back to the 19th century. I say *was* because someone bought that property and subdivided it and built spec McMansions on either side of it (actually, I think they plan to move in to the grander one that's closer to our house, because they've placed this weird statue on the roof in the back of the house, and that doesn't seem like a feature that would appeal to a buyer). I'm pretty sure that they will tear down the original historic house and build a third monster there, too. It makes me feel sad, because the economics of building in California favor luxury housing over affordable housing and too much of the former has been built while tens of thousands of people live on the streets un-housed because they cannot afford the rent. I am very interested to see if people can be convinced to build duplexes and triplexes instead of McMansions (you would think they would be interested in getting that passive rent income!). We will sell our place some day, and I am convinced it won't go to a young family like we were when we bought the house - that whoever buys it will also decide to tear it down and start from scratch. And that's OK - but how nice would it be if they build something that would benefit two or three young families starting out?
Exactly Donna. People forget where they come from, forget how they started. I actually saw someone who said (in a Facebook neighborhood group of course) that it wasn't "fair" for those people to come into "higher income" neighborhoods because they didn't "earn it." I mean they said the quiet part out loud. Without an ounce of self-awareness or sense of history or sense of justice.
People try to pretend it's about parking or crowded streets when every house around here has a long driveway and a garage. Theyr'e not talking about re-laying out the blocks after all...none of that changes. And maybe fewer of the stores in our little downtown would have closed this past year if we had more residents walking over and supporting them. Anyway I could go on. People are selfish and also short-sighted. It's an I got mine attitude.
Reminds me of people who hate the idea of canceling any student loan debt because they paid theirs. A whole other can of worms there.
I am also a YIMBY, but think that makes me a minority in my neighborhood, some of which is on land that was Edward G. Robinson's San Fernando Valley ranch in the 1940's. My modest ranch house was built in 1961, and as you walk up our hill, you can see the design (and square footage) change to 1970's and 1980's styles. We also have a couple of streets with Eichlers (he only did a few developments in Southern California). And there is an occasional really old house - like one that was two doors down from us that dated back to the 19th century. I say *was* because someone bought that property and subdivided it and built spec McMansions on either side of it (actually, I think they plan to move in to the grander one that's closer to our house, because they've placed this weird statue on the roof in the back of the house, and that doesn't seem like a feature that would appeal to a buyer). I'm pretty sure that they will tear down the original historic house and build a third monster there, too. It makes me feel sad, because the economics of building in California favor luxury housing over affordable housing and too much of the former has been built while tens of thousands of people live on the streets un-housed because they cannot afford the rent. I am very interested to see if people can be convinced to build duplexes and triplexes instead of McMansions (you would think they would be interested in getting that passive rent income!). We will sell our place some day, and I am convinced it won't go to a young family like we were when we bought the house - that whoever buys it will also decide to tear it down and start from scratch. And that's OK - but how nice would it be if they build something that would benefit two or three young families starting out?
Exactly Donna. People forget where they come from, forget how they started. I actually saw someone who said (in a Facebook neighborhood group of course) that it wasn't "fair" for those people to come into "higher income" neighborhoods because they didn't "earn it." I mean they said the quiet part out loud. Without an ounce of self-awareness or sense of history or sense of justice.
People try to pretend it's about parking or crowded streets when every house around here has a long driveway and a garage. Theyr'e not talking about re-laying out the blocks after all...none of that changes. And maybe fewer of the stores in our little downtown would have closed this past year if we had more residents walking over and supporting them. Anyway I could go on. People are selfish and also short-sighted. It's an I got mine attitude.
Reminds me of people who hate the idea of canceling any student loan debt because they paid theirs. A whole other can of worms there.