Conformity

[abeamishday]

Originally Posted by Wittgenstein's Ghost

It's not a phenomenon unique to DFW, although it does play out quite vividly in DFW.

This has to be because so much more new housing has been built in DFW over the past 30+ years than many other areas of the country. Older cities, especially those that are declining in population, may have more architectural variety because subdivision/neighborhoods typically reflect the era in which they were built. Unfortunately, we had a big population boom during one of the worst eras in home design (90s: box with mixed stone/brick), especially in the suburbs...

Personally, I wish Dallas had expanded more during the M-streets/Lakewood small Tudor era, rather than the 60s/70s ranch era.

[rabbit33]

Well, my neighborhood was built just before WW2 and there are three houses with the identical floor plan to mine. (I think one is a mirror image). if you move into one of those M streets or Lakewood areas with the little Tudor-style houses from the 20s, you'll see a similar phenomenon.

[Leonard123]

Originally Posted by abeamishday

This has to be because so much more new housing has been built in DFW over the past 30+ years than many other areas of the country. Older cities, especially those that are declining in population, may have more architectural variety because subdivision/neighborhoods typically reflect the era in which they were built. Unfortunately, we had a big population boom during one of the worst eras in home design (90s: box with mixed stone/brick), especially in the suburbs...

Personally, I wish Dallas had expanded more during the M-streets/Lakewood small Tudor era, rather than the 60s/70s ranch era.

Actually, the 80s and 90s had some of the best design elements.

I don't know why people dislike them so much. There was also a lot of variety. There were still good designs up to about ten years ago. Things really went south about then when all the developments at all price points were purely economics-driven.

The absolute worst trend has been driven by a desire to minimize road-building costs by making lots longer and narrower and putting houses closer to major thoroughfares and highways.

The bean counting by economists and efficiency experts has run amok. It's penny-wise and pound-foolish.

[Sunbather]

Originally Posted by abeamishday

This has to be because so much more new housing has been built in DFW over the past 30+ years than many other areas of the country. Older cities, especially those that are declining in population, may have more architectural variety because subdivision/neighborhoods typically reflect the era in which they were built. Unfortunately, we had a big population boom during one of the worst eras in home design (90s: box with mixed stone/brick), especially in the suburbs...

Personally, I wish Dallas had expanded more during the M-streets/Lakewood small Tudor era, rather than the 60s/70s ranch era.

While I love the general architecture of the M streets, the 50s through 70s ranches tend to be one of my favorite time periods for houses. I was glad when I moved here that Dallas had so many good ones available.

There were definitely nice houses built in the 80s and 90s as well, but the general or median architecture for residences of that time is certainly not high on my list. Build quality is pretty high across the board still in that era, just not architecturally or aesthetically my thing.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by Sunbather

While I love the general architecture of the M streets, the 50s through 70s ranches tend to be one of my favorite time periods for houses. I was glad when I moved here that Dallas had so many good ones available.

There were definitely nice houses built in the 80s and 90s as well, but the general or median architecture for residences of that time is certainly not high on my list. Build quality is pretty high across the board still in that era, just not architecturally or aesthetically my thing.

While yes there were some nice houses in the 50s-70s, there were also way way too many with long dark hallways and 8' ceilings. Unfortunately most of DFW's and Houston's inner suburbs are dominated by that stuff.