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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]In many areas, it is illegal to tear down an existing single family home (or group of homes) and replace it with new townhomes or multifamily, to "preserve the neighborhood character"   However it is perfectly legal to tear down an existing home and replace it with a new and vastly larger home.   In areas with high land values, and demand for sq feet, this creates a massive bias towards lots of very large SFH's.   Since such homes also change the character of the neighborhood, it is essentially a loophole, and one might even argue a hidden subsidy for large new SFHs.

It is interesting how many people claim a free market ideology, but have no problem with the zoning laws that ban TH's and multifamily, even in places close to metro stations.    [/quote]

That's kind of logic soup.

But, conceding that, based on current zoning, the demand for square feet is typically greater than the demand for old houses with "charm" is potentially a start towards some measure of self-awareness.   [/quote]

You can call it logic soup if you like, I think the case is clear.

I also think the demand for sheer footage to house people is clear.   We have a lot of people who want to live close to DC, esp close to metro. There is unmet demand for THs, for condos/apts, for small houses, and for large SFHs.  I believe if the market were free, that demand would result in the smaller SFHs, at least the best located ones, being torn down and replaced by THs and multifamily.   The heavy hand of the state prevents that, resulting in McMansions.

I also think that smaller older SFHs vary in their amount of charm.   I think the more charming ones will resist longer, but the sheer force of economics ways against them.   [/quote]

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