Most old construction in this area is not so well done its warrants adding onto it (several times for that matter). When you buy in close in areas you are paying for land, definitely not architecture! Most everyone I know would buy new if they could. Anyone I know having more money than time already has bought new! There really is no argument. Why did you post,op?

I live in a renovated Victorian, circa 1900, and I have to say that it's the most gorgeous, wonderful, charming house belonging to anyone I know, and I know a lot of people! It was charming the day it was built, however, but that's because houses were built with such attention to detail in those days, and this house in particular was very well designed and built by a builder and owner who cared about every little detail. It has an updated kitchen, and updated baths, and it's been very well maintained, new AC and systems upgraded over the years. I'd take my house any day of the week over a McMansion of any type. I've never seen a McMansion that's half as charming or nice as my house. A few custom houses I've seen that are as well built, but none is a McMansion, which by definition is a cookie cutter place designed by some faceless hack architect who is following some builder's idea of a "great" house. Great room, check. Great front hall, check. Huge family room/kitchen, check. Three car garage, check. Carpeted bedrooms, check. Keep it, all of it! I'm going to give my house a hug! I love it!

Anonymous wrote:I prefer a McShack over anything else, and I'm Bill Gates. Yeah right. Anyone who tells you they would take a WW II McShack over a gorgeous new house is clearly either lying or trying to reconcile that they in fact will never be an owner of a new home. Some of the McShack additions are so piecemeal. The worst are the ones so clearly skimped on, some they tried to do themselves!! What??!! We get it, you can't afford the neighborhood, but do you have to advertise it to everyone? Face it, new houses are here to stay and are a blessing to the economy. I can't wait to own a beautiful new house someday. Hope the neighbors aren't so obviously bitter as pp!

Ha. I somewhat agree with you. We currently live in a WWII McShack in MoCo and it is what we can afford. If I had an unlimited budget, I wouldn't be in a new McMansion, but, I would NOT be in the WWII rambler. We'd buy something older (in the Georgian style) that had been completely renovated.

I prefer a McShack over anything else, and I'm Bill Gates. Yeah right. Anyone who tells you they would take a WW II McShack over a gorgeous new house is clearly either lying or trying to reconcile that they in fact will never be an owner of a new home. Some of the McShack additions are so piecemeal. The worst are the ones so clearly skimped on, some they tried to do themselves!! What??!! We get it, you can't afford the neighborhood, but do you have to advertise it to everyone? Face it, new houses are here to stay and are a blessing to the economy. I can't wait to own a beautiful new house someday. Hope the neighbors aren't so obviously bitter as pp!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:that house is the exception - look around

I strongly disagree. While there are plenty of hideous renovations and some nice McMansions, the typical renovated old house is much more charming than the typical McMansion.

What's a "typical" renovated old house? Give me a new McMansion over an old house with an addition that clashes any day.

Anonymous wrote:No house is charming just by virtue of age. If your house is old and charming, it was probably charming the day it was built. This area is full of 50+ years old ugly houses, and I refuse to ascribe to them any aesthetic value simply because of age. And yes, some new construction is a great improvement, visually, over some old construction.

Has anyone disagreed with this?

Also, while realtor.com offers 51+ as a cutoff, it's not really a useful delineation, because it doesn't distinguish between post-WWII construction and pre-, and that's a huge difference.

No house is charming just by virtue of age. If your house is old and charming, it was probably charming the day it was built. This area is full of 50+ years old ugly houses, and I refuse to ascribe to them any aesthetic value simply because of age. And yes, some new construction is a great improvement, visually, over some old construction.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:that house is the exception - look around

I strongly disagree. While there are plenty of hideous renovations and some nice McMansions, the typical renovated old house is much more charming than the typical McMansion.

+1. Hate to see McMansions going up in nice old neighborhoods, too. They have their place - out somewhere where there is plenty of space and other similar homes. But not on a small lot on a street where it will be out of character with other homes. So, hurrah for building restrictions, is what I say!

Anonymous wrote:that house is the exception - look around

I strongly disagree. While there are plenty of hideous renovations and some nice McMansions, the typical renovated old house is much more charming than the typical McMansion.

that house is the exception - look around

Anonymous wrote:Realtor.com says the North Monroe St. house was built in 1905. Looks about right to me, especially since it's in Cherrydale. Lovely.

I like that house a lot as well. A really nice renovation.

Realtor.com says the North Monroe St. house was built in 1905. Looks about right to me, especially since it's in Cherrydale. Lovely.