What do locals in the are think of Chanhassen, Eden Prairie, and St. Louis Park? (how much, homes)

[DaPerpKazoo]

I guess I'll give it a nibble.

Here's what I think PERSONALLY constitutes a McMansion:

Must be all of the following:
1) Less than 15 years old.
2) Single family.

Must be one of the following, often more than one:
1) Significantly larger than surrounding homes.
2) Massing designed for maximum floor space rather than aesthetics.
3) Out of character with the neighborhood.
4) Cheaply built (looks like something out of Lakeville).

[uptown_urbanist]

Originally Posted by DaPerpKazoo

Here's what I think PERSONALLY constitutes a McMansion:

Must be all of the following:
1) Less than 15 years old.
2) Single family.

Must be one of the following, often more than one:
1) Significantly larger than surrounding homes.
2) Massing designed for maximum floor space rather than aesthetics.
3) Out of character with the neighborhood.
4) Cheaply built (looks like something out of Lakeville).

I agree with the top two points. For my own personal slightly adapted list:

1) Significantly larger than surrounding homes.
2) Out of character with the neighborhood.
3) A motley blend of architectural styles - a little from here, a little from there, nothing terribly new or original.
4) large number of excess rooms. More bathrooms than bedrooms, for example, or more than two times the number of bedrooms than residents (not necessarily visible from the street, admittedly).
5) Flashy, big-is-best mentality.

[Slig]

I was thinking about this topic and strangely enough I don't think I've ever been to Chanhassen or Eden Prairie, at least not to my knowledge. Both of them aren't really off any major roads where I'd commonly pass through them on the way to something else and there is nothing drawing me to either one. I've been in and through St. Louis Park many times. The eastern part of it is quite close to the Calhoun-Isles area of Minneapolis, which is nice. The one home I've visited there was a modest home probably built in the 50's. Overally I don't mind St. Louis Park, out of the Minneapolis suburbs it would probably make my top 5.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by Slig

I was thinking about this topic and strangely enough I don't think I've ever been to Chanhassen or Eden Prairie, at least not to my knowledge. Both of them aren't really off any major roads where I'd commonly pass through them on the way to something else and there is nothing drawing me to either one.

I would recommend visiting The Lions Tap in Eden Prairie just because of their hamburgers (used to be among the best in the Twin Cities), but I've been told by a friend that the quality of their burgers may have gone downhill in the past few years.

It's also only barely in the city (located down in the river valley just below Flying Cloud Airport and fairly close to a popular source of excellent spring water).

[Slig]

Whoops, I stand corrected. I ate at Lion's Tap long ago so I guess I've been to Eden Prairie at least once. I remember the burgers being huge. I'd be tempted to go back if I wasn't so sick of eating hamburgers. Living blocks from Matt's Bar and Chatterbox Pub doesn't help that too much.

[BORGUSX]

Hey Slig,if you ever stop by Lion's Tap,just PM me since I only been there once and I live in EP,lol!

[Minnehahapolitan]

Originally Posted by BORGUSX

Hey Slig,if you ever stop by Lion's Tap,just PM me since I only been there once and I live in EP,lol!

Damn shame.

[Minnehahapolitan]

Originally Posted by DaPerpKazoo

I guess I'll give it a nibble.

Here's what I think PERSONALLY constitutes a McMansion:

Must be all of the following:
1) Less than 15 years old.
2) Single family.

Must be one of the following, often more than one:
1) Significantly larger than surrounding homes.
2) Massing designed for maximum floor space rather than aesthetics.
3) Out of character with the neighborhood.
4) Cheaply built (looks like something out of Lakeville).

I disagree.
They are single-family and less than 15 years old, but there are entire neighborhoods built out of them. Just because it isn't odd for the neighborhood doesn't mean that it isn't a McMansion. It doesn't matter the owner is rich or poor, either. Bearpath is nothing but $3 Million McMansions.

[Clifford63]

Originally Posted by BORGUSX

1.How can you tell a McMansion from a home that is actually in a wealthy neighborhood?

Looks like they are biting today. You might have a full stringer by end of the week.

[Slig]

Mcmansion is nickname that gets thrown around alot and an official definition of it is up for interpretation. There are two characteristics I commonly hear when the word "mcmansion" is mentioned.

-a modest sized home is torn down in a popular neighborhood and replaced with a much larger house that dwarfs the other homes on the block and doesn't fit the architecture style of the neighborhood.

and/or

-a huge house is built on a fairly small lot which sticks it abnormally close to neighbors houses, usually termed to describe the house as an eye sore, when viewing it from the street.