Has anybody been to the 2008 Parade of Homes? (San Antonio, Austin: house, neighborhood)

[Milhouse841]

I thought most of homes especially 1-4 were not planned out well. The floorplans were strange, they tried to do way to much interior designing, and some of the rooms i went into were just riff raff rooms. I did like number 5 and 7 because everything flowed and the attention detail was there. I especially liked number 7 because of the modern design, unique fireplace LED light thing, and the pool. Next years parade will be in terramont, so it will be interesting to see what they put in there.

[aggie4ever01]

Many of them were kind of "boxy" in that each bedroom would be down it's own hallway and didn't really have a good flow to them. We also noted how few of them were decorated in a "family friendly" way. Not to say they were not decorated nicely. But I think #1 was the only one that had bedrooms decorated in a kid friendly way, all the others used all the bedrooms as guest rooms. Not that that is a huge deal or anything, just something we noticed. I guess maybe because that is who they are gearing the neighborhood to? Older couples with grown children perhaps?

[scuba steve]

Young people like me

[wCat]

Originally Posted by TXRose

For it being promoted as a "green" POH, I was VERY disappointed in the complete LACK of the builders promoting environmentally friendly products, etc. Basically the only thing "Green" about them was that they were energy efficient, which, quite frankly, isn't a big deal anymore. No xeriscaping. No "green" countertops. No promoting using recycled materials in the building process.

Either be green, or don't. But don't call yourself green when you're not.

Unfortunately that true of almost anything being promoted as "green". Buyer beware!

[Montirob]

Originally Posted by TXRose

For it being promoted as a "green" POH, I was VERY disappointed in the complete LACK of the builders promoting environmentally friendly products, etc. Basically the only thing "Green" about them was that they were energy efficient, which, quite frankly, isn't a big deal anymore. No xeriscaping. No "green" countertops. No promoting using recycled materials in the building process.

Either be green, or don't. But don't call yourself green when you're not.

Agreed. Their statements really bothered me. I would add the following: How can it be "green" when there is no community connectivity or public transportation access? How can it be "green" when the size of the houses are 3 times what is rational? How can it be "green" when you are building over the aquifer recharge zone?

If they really wanted to do a "green" Parade of Homes, find an infill area for some 2000 sf homes (the old Victoria Courts area would have been ideal if SAHA had been forward thinking). A lot of people think that just a couple of changes in design are all that is required, when in fact a whole change in development is what is needed.

Sorry for the rant, but their advertising was the primary reason we chose to NOT go this year. That... or I'm still bitter about the whole PGA deal.

[Montirob]

Originally Posted by wCat

Unfortunately that true of almost anything being promoted as "green". Buyer beware!

Yep. "Greenwashing."

I've lost count of the number of presentations I've attended where the vendor will say, "we can get you 12 LEEDS (sic) points if you use our product." Ummm... not really.

I'm glad that people are becoming more interested in green products, and I suppose every little bit helps (throwing a starfish back into the ocean analogy, anyone?), but it seems that we are taking a bit too much credit for doing what we should already be doing.

Getting back to the topic, is anyone else getting tired of the "Tuscan" style? I really liked past Parades which featured a different style for each home (thinking of the Deerfield ones), or had a different style for each parade (thinking of the "Texas traditional" one at Oakwell Farms).

[Cookiemeister]

I don't go to the POH anymore... if you have seen one Tuscan style McMansion youv'e seen they all. I think they are ugly and fake looking (I guess they are fake) fake rocks, fake plaster, etc. The Institute of Architects (not sure that is the correct name) have a tour of more interesting homes every year. It is just more interesting to go on the tours in Monte Vista, King William (Dec), Monticello Park (Nov 4 or 5th). The last POH I think I liked was in Deerfield... the home by David Mann (think that was his name) and his wife did the interior design (they are both awesome designers). It was a spanish style stucco home as I recall with a courtyard I think... it was along time ago. I find the POH boring because it is always the same thing for the past 5 years or more.

[winst0n]

i went last weekend, my first time, didn't expect to be soo crowded!

people could not move from all the hallways that seems like a must have on all houses

anyway, i voted for #7 as well. its the only "contemporary" style i guess thats why it stood up from the rest...

funny there's one house that kinda felt like i was inside the alamo...

[Bowie]

I forgot to mention that I was a little disappointed in the pools in this year's parade homes. I really dig pools with a negative edge, but there were none to be found. It seemed like waterfalls were the main feature this year. Are negative edges becoming passé for pools?

[kevcrawford]

Negative edges are usually used when the pool overlooks some type of view, which this years parade didn't have. I'm seeing more contemporary style and clean, straight lines come back with the custom pools.