McMansions.. (Houston, Austin, Wells: real estate, lofts, condo)

[cbang]

I'm a native Texan who graduated from UT and has been out of state too long! I am planning a move back to Austin, and upon a recent trip noticed the problem with the areas McMansions. These things are everywhere! Who's allowing them to be permitted? Where's the legislation banning these eye sores from Austin's beautiful historic neighborhoods? Man, it's heart-breaking to see what some of these 'developers' have done. They use every square inch of possible building envelope, then you end up with huge lot coverage and a ruined street.

Yeah, yeah, yeah - I'm a real estate guy (isn't everybody), but it's been my passion for the last 15 years since my days at UT- I LOVE historic charm, right through the cool 50's and 60's ranches, and I'd love to make it my goal to return to Austin and personally help get measures into place that would make it impossible for these bohemeth properties to get approved in the first place. People complain, and the local politicians 'talk' about the issue, but obviously there's been no action. Keep Austin Weird and Keep Austin ORIGINAL is the goal right? It's a crying shame to see that beautifully restored single story home from 1945, sitting side by side with a 5,000 square foot stone covered square box that takes away any view whatsoever and makes it look like you're staring at a gigantic wall..

I'm on here to find out what people in Austin know about any measures in place, or proposed, that would combat this problem.. Anyone???

Cheers.

[TexasHorseLady]

Here ya go: McMansion Ordinance.

[Tommy Jefferson]

Obviously more government is needed to force people to only build houses you like.

[Mike78613]

Keep Austin Weird is about to be gone. Conservatives are moving in and want to see CHANGE.

Bye, bye hippies and hello white collar workers!! Now let's finish up putting those 500sq ft / $400K condo's in the middle of downtown. Then let's make it bigger then the Frost Bank Tower!!

[southdown]

Originally Posted by cbang

I'm on here to find out what people in Austin know about any measures in place, or proposed, that would combat this problem.. Anyone???

Cheers.

The Austin Chronicle has some good journalists writing about this every week; Katherine Gregor and Wells Dunbar in particular.

The articles are all on the AC website archive The Austin Chronicle

[NEsananto]

Conservatives are moving in and want to see CHANGE.

That's scary seeing the words "conservative, want and change" in the same sentence without seeing "don't or against" somewhere in there.

[love roses]

I wouldn't blame all that on conservatives. After all, downtown is primarily more liberal than the outlying counties. I agree with the limits, especially after moving from Houston where there is no zoning. I know it's only one persons personal opinion, but I don't like Mcmansions stuffed onto small lots either.

[TexasHorseLady]

I agree, love roses. And you're not alone - that's why there IS a McMansion Ordinance, because enough people objected to the McMansioning of established neighborhoods with the building of oversized houses that completely destroyed the ambiance for their neighbors. And not all of those are "hippies", either (though a lot of us were). Many are people who want to preserve their property values as well as the nature of the city itself. (And Keep Austin Weird isn't going away any time soon.)

[Falcorockme]

Originally Posted by Mike78613

Keep Austin Weird is about to be gone. Conservatives are moving in and want to see CHANGE.

Bye, bye hippies and hello white collar workers!! Now let's finish up putting those 500sq ft / $400K condo's in the middle of downtown. Then let's make it bigger then the Frost Bank Tower!!

The areas where mcmansions are being built are in town and very much blue areas where rich Democrats live. Also I doubt there is a single Republican living in any of these city and condo towers, lofts etc.

Conservative vs. hippy has nothing to do with it. The Keep Austin weird vibe is being lost because of yuppie rich liberal democrat Hillary and Obama supporters who watch too much HGTV and want everything nice, big, modern and NEW.

[Trainwreck20]

Also I doubt there is a single Republican living in any of these city and condo towers, lofts etc.

Oh, there are a few lawyers that I know that will be moving down there, and I suspect there are a few Republicans amoung them .