Why do people in the DC area hate newer and larger homes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't get why people hate them so much to the point it becomes some religious or political movement.

I wonder if housing was cheaper around here that there would be less complaining and hate for them.

If housing were cheaper, people might be less self-aware on this issue. But I am glad if they are self-aware.

We have become a society of ridiculous, conspicuous consumption. We are consuming resources at an astronomical, unsustainable rate, and our children will have to pay the price for that. Not to mention the rest of the world.

Building more reasonable-sized homes is ecologically responsible, both in the raw materials required to build and the ongoing maintenance and heating/cooling of the structure.

The trend to question home size asks us to think about whether we really need a "room" for all our different daily functions - is it worthwhile to have entire rooms in a home that are rarely if ever used? Like a formal dining room, formal living room, media room, sun room, play room.... do we have to go nuts with the size of our homes just because we can? Do we have to keep our thermostat on 75 degrees all winter just because we can?

You seriously cannot understand why a person would feel highly motivated to oppose yet another stand of trees being bulldozed to make room for 5000 SF, ugly, overpriced mcmansions? Do you not understand that some people feel that we all have an obligation to consume more responsibly?

yawn blah

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't get why people hate them so much to the point it becomes some religious or political movement.

I wonder if housing was cheaper around here that there would be less complaining and hate for them.

mostly because your giant, garage front POS is way too big for the neighborhood and makes my 90 year old center hall colonial look like a tool shed. Thanks so much for turning Chevy Chase into New Jersey.

I'll have you know I'm from Montclair, NJ and the houses there are old, beautiful and far superior to most of what passes for prime housing in the DMV. Just saying...

Really...what exit?

[Anonymous]

A PP weighing in again. If I could land a new house in the District or a CLOSE IN suburb that was not shoe horned in on a lot, I would be thrilled. But my wallet can't cover that. Fortunate enough to afford a pre-WW II in NW DC. Will probably throw an addition on in five more years. There will always be a market for my neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't get why people hate them so much to the point it becomes some religious or political movement.

I wonder if housing was cheaper around here that there would be less complaining and hate for them.

If housing were cheaper, people might be less self-aware on this issue. But I am glad if they are self-aware.

We have become a society of ridiculous, conspicuous consumption. We are consuming resources at an astronomical, unsustainable rate, and our children will have to pay the price for that. Not to mention the rest of the world.

Building more reasonable-sized homes is ecologically responsible, both in the raw materials required to build and the ongoing maintenance and heating/cooling of the structure.

The trend to question home size asks us to think about whether we really need a "room" for all our different daily functions - is it worthwhile to have entire rooms in a home that are rarely if ever used? Like a formal dining room, formal living room, media room, sun room, play room.... do we have to go nuts with the size of our homes just because we can? Do we have to keep our thermostat on 75 degrees all winter just because we can?

You seriously cannot understand why a person would feel highly motivated to oppose yet another stand of trees being bulldozed to make room for 5000 SF, ugly, overpriced mcmansions? Do you not understand that some people feel that we all have an obligation to consume more responsibly?

yawn blah

I'm not the PP, but the question was asked why some people don't like new construction. The PP gave a good and reasoned answer that I happen to agree with. Every one of those extra rooms needs to be furnished with more stuff, stuff that has to be purchased, cleaned regularly, and eventually disposed of. I have no interest in owning more stuff just for the sake of it.

None of the pro-new posters here, and I assume there's more than just the one builder, have ever addressed the complaints about horrid commutes, hideous subdivisions or environmental impacts that people have volunteered. Really, we're not all jealous of people who have gigantic houses. There are plenty of things that people with money have that I envy, but new houses in the DC area are not among them. Different strokes for different folks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't get why people hate them so much to the point it becomes some religious or political movement.

I wonder if housing was cheaper around here that there would be less complaining and hate for them.

If housing were cheaper, people might be less self-aware on this issue. But I am glad if they are self-aware.

We have become a society of ridiculous, conspicuous consumption. We are consuming resources at an astronomical, unsustainable rate, and our children will have to pay the price for that. Not to mention the rest of the world.

Building more reasonable-sized homes is ecologically responsible, both in the raw materials required to build and the ongoing maintenance and heating/cooling of the structure.

The trend to question home size asks us to think about whether we really need a "room" for all our different daily functions - is it worthwhile to have entire rooms in a home that are rarely if ever used? Like a formal dining room, formal living room, media room, sun room, play room.... do we have to go nuts with the size of our homes just because we can? Do we have to keep our thermostat on 75 degrees all winter just because we can?

You seriously cannot understand why a person would feel highly motivated to oppose yet another stand of trees being bulldozed to make room for 5000 SF, ugly, overpriced mcmansions? Do you not understand that some people feel that we all have an obligation to consume more responsibly?

yawn blah

I'm not the PP, but the question was asked why some people don't like new construction. The PP gave a good and reasoned answer that I happen to agree with. Every one of those extra rooms needs to be furnished with more stuff, stuff that has to be purchased, cleaned regularly, and eventually disposed of. I have no interest in owning more stuff just for the sake of it.

None of the pro-new posters here, and I assume there's more than just the one builder, have ever addressed the complaints about horrid commutes, hideous subdivisions or environmental impacts that people have volunteered. Really, we're not all jealous of people who have gigantic houses. There are plenty of things that people with money have that I envy, but new houses in the DC area are not among them. Different strokes for different folks.

you don't need to clean all the empty rooms if they are not always being used. it makes things easier. don't harass me about my choices and I won't harass you about yours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't get why people hate them so much to the point it becomes some religious or political movement.

I wonder if housing was cheaper around here that there would be less complaining and hate for them.

If housing were cheaper, people might be less self-aware on this issue. But I am glad if they are self-aware.

We have become a society of ridiculous, conspicuous consumption. We are consuming resources at an astronomical, unsustainable rate, and our children will have to pay the price for that. Not to mention the rest of the world.

Building more reasonable-sized homes is ecologically responsible, both in the raw materials required to build and the ongoing maintenance and heating/cooling of the structure.

The trend to question home size asks us to think about whether we really need a "room" for all our different daily functions - is it worthwhile to have entire rooms in a home that are rarely if ever used? Like a formal dining room, formal living room, media room, sun room, play room.... do we have to go nuts with the size of our homes just because we can? Do we have to keep our thermostat on 75 degrees all winter just because we can?

You seriously cannot understand why a person would feel highly motivated to oppose yet another stand of trees being bulldozed to make room for 5000 SF, ugly, overpriced mcmansions? Do you not understand that some people feel that we all have an obligation to consume more responsibly?

yawn blah

I'm not the PP, but the question was asked why some people don't like new construction. The PP gave a good and reasoned answer that I happen to agree with. Every one of those extra rooms needs to be furnished with more stuff, stuff that has to be purchased, cleaned regularly, and eventually disposed of. I have no interest in owning more stuff just for the sake of it.

None of the pro-new posters here, and I assume there's more than just the one builder, have ever addressed the complaints about horrid commutes, hideous subdivisions or environmental impacts that people have volunteered. Really, we're not all jealous of people who have gigantic houses. There are plenty of things that people with money have that I envy, but new houses in the DC area are not among them. Different strokes for different folks.

you don't need to clean all the empty rooms if they are not always being used. it makes things easier. don't harass me about my choices and I won't harass you about yours.

I said "different strokes for different folks." You obviously were not the yawn, blah poster I was responding to.

[Anonymous]

Only in DC would the size of your house be some absurd political and societal statement. Thank GOD for people buying small homes and carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an architect and I generally find that the opposition to new development comes from small, bitter, jealous people. I can't fathom having nothing better to do with one's time than attempting to squash some other family's dream. Live and let live.

Perhaps, it's when you put a house ill-fitted on a lot too small and a home not keeping with the character of the neighborhood.

The assumption that anybody that does not like your work or can't afford it is completely pompous.

+100

It's a certain type that comes into a neighborhood with no regard for neighbors and builds something 3 times the size, casting shadows on everything around it.

It's like ' come look at my wife's new DD fake tits".

To assume others can't afford it is such a back ass, ignorant way to think.

I don't mind the tasteful new construction and much is an improvement over what was there before.

To be frank, I know many people in my neighborhood that made fabulous renovations of an existing structure that cost more to do than the massive, glaring Mansion. It's often cheaper to knock down then restore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't get why people hate them so much to the point it becomes some religious or political movement.

I wonder if housing was cheaper around here that there would be less complaining and hate for them.

If housing were cheaper, people might be less self-aware on this issue. But I am glad if they are self-aware.

We have become a society of ridiculous, conspicuous consumption. We are consuming resources at an astronomical, unsustainable rate, and our children will have to pay the price for that. Not to mention the rest of the world.

Building more reasonable-sized homes is ecologically responsible, both in the raw materials required to build and the ongoing maintenance and heating/cooling of the structure.

The trend to question home size asks us to think about whether we really need a "room" for all our different daily functions - is it worthwhile to have entire rooms in a home that are rarely if ever used? Like a formal dining room, formal living room, media room, sun room, play room.... do we have to go nuts with the size of our homes just because we can? Do we have to keep our thermostat on 75 degrees all winter just because we can?

You seriously cannot understand why a person would feel highly motivated to oppose yet another stand of trees being bulldozed to make room for 5000 SF, ugly, overpriced mcmansions? Do you not understand that some people feel that we all have an obligation to consume more responsibly?

yawn blah

I'm not the PP, but the question was asked why some people don't like new construction. The PP gave a good and reasoned answer that I happen to agree with. Every one of those extra rooms needs to be furnished with more stuff, stuff that has to be purchased, cleaned regularly, and eventually disposed of. I have no interest in owning more stuff just for the sake of it.

None of the pro-new posters here, and I assume there's more than just the one builder, have ever addressed the complaints about horrid commutes, hideous subdivisions or environmental impacts that people have volunteered. Really, we're not all jealous of people who have gigantic houses. There are plenty of things that people with money have that I envy, but new houses in the DC area are not among them. Different strokes for different folks.

you don't need to clean all the empty rooms if they are not always being used. it makes things easier. don't harass me about my choices and I won't harass you about yours.

Not harassing. OP asked a question. I answered it - some people hate large houses to the point where it becomes religious because of ecological concerns.

[Anonymous]

http://thetinylife.com/what-is-the-tiny-house-movement/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only in DC would the size of your house be some absurd political and societal statement. Thank GOD for people buying small homes and carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders.

Most of these people will not hesitate to let you know about all the jet fuel they are burning on their business trips and vacations. You could fit all the people who truly "live small" into a few blocks of Takoma Park and still have plenty of room to spare. This is mostly about people who can't afford nicer homes trying in vain to claim the moral high ground and only managing to reveal their deep insecurity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://thetinylife.com/what-is-the-tiny-house-movement/

http://www.homedepot.com/b/Storage-Organization-Sheds-Garages-Outdoor-Storage-Sheds/N-5yc1vZbtz2

[Anonymous]

People in the DC area love newer and larger homes. That's why there are so many teardowns in DC and the close-in suburbs and new developments further out.

There are a few fanatics on DCUM who hate them. Their days aren't complete until they've started a new thread where they can talk about "craftsmanship," "taste" and "aesthetics," their linguistic security blankets.

Those people should not be confused with the majority of the population.

[Anonymous]

I love in a very comfortable, big enough 1960s house in a neighborhood slowly being filled with new houses. The house don't bother me as much as the people who buy them. They, not the houses, have ruined our neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Only in DC would the size of your house be some absurd political and societal statement. Thank GOD for people buying small homes and carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders.

Most of these people will not hesitate to let you know about all the jet fuel they are burning on their business trips and vacations. You could fit all the people who truly "live small" into a few blocks of Takoma Park and still have plenty of room to spare. This is mostly about people who can't afford nicer homes trying in vain to claim the moral high ground and only managing to reveal their deep insecurity.

This makes no sense. If I had $2M to spend, I'd buy a classic home, not a new home. So what? That has nothing to do with insecurity or moral high ground. It's simply preference. I don't run around claiming I hate any home that's more expensive than mine, simply out of spite.