Why are “hip” Houston condos so butt ugly? (apartment complexes, townhouses)

[Hopeful for Life]

When I first drove through The Heights several years ago, I thought that the newly built “The Core” was hideous! I’m now shocked to see that it looks better than the unicolor close-together stuccoed buildings that are everywhere!! Every once in a while, there will be a crafty building with at least different colors or use of clapboard design. Many of the buildings look just like drab apartments with nothing special. What gives?

[Houston parent]

Good question. I agree that large numbers of ugly townhouses have popped up all over Houston (especially ITL). A lot of the new, higher density "wrap" and "podium" apartment complexes are similarly ugly. These will rapidly become dated and we'll be stuck with eyesores for decades to come.

[Hopeful for Life]

Originally Posted by Houston parent

Good question. I agree that large numbers of ugly townhouses have popped up all over Houston (especially ITL). A lot of the new, higher density "wrap" and "podium" apartment complexes are similarly ugly. These will rapidly become dated and we'll be stuck with eyesores for decades to come.

What’s a “wrap” and “podium”?

[gwarnecke]

Are you referring to the preponderance of detached single-family infill developments around The Heights and the Washington Corridor? If so, I’m with you 100%. These have little to no architectural grace, often awkward proportions and details, and often pitiful construction quality. I especially hate it when they’re built facing the street, with their gaping double-wide garage doors taking up the whole width of the first floor, entire front of property paved over, and no curbside parking left for guests.

But people keep buying them, so builders keep building them. To be fair, they’re often a big improvement over the dilapidated shacks that previously occupied the site, and the better ones look pretty nice on the inside. As customers see it, they get suburban-style open-concept spacious floorplans and inner-city convenience. As an added plus, they never have to ask where the bathroom is when they’re visiting their neighbors. And if the outside is stump-ugly, well...they only have to look at it for a few seconds as they pull into the garage each evening.

[Hopeful for Life]

Originally Posted by gwarnecke

Are you referring to the preponderance of detached single-family infill developments around The Heights and the Washington Corridor? If so, I’m with you 100%. These have little to no architectural grace, often awkward proportions and details, and often pitiful construction quality. I especially hate it when they’re built facing the street, with their gaping double-wide garage doors taking up the whole width of the first floor, entire front of property paved over, and no curbside parking left for guests.

But people keep buying them, so builders keep building them. To be fair, they’re often a big improvement over the dilapidated shacks that previously occupied the site, and the better ones look pretty nice on the inside. As customers see it, they get suburban-style open-concept spacious floorplans and inner-city convenience. As an added plus, they never have to ask where the bathroom is when they’re visiting their neighbors. And if the outside is stump-ugly, well...they only have to look at it for a few seconds as they pull into the garage each evening.

LMAO- Those are exactly what I was referring to. The ones that butt up close to a freeway are also big eyesores as well. I’m not sure about the dilipidated shacks looking worse.

[elnina]

Because ugly or not, if the location is right, they still get sold on the spot anyway.
I saw them build literally next to railroad, and so close to each other - you can shake hands with your neighbor across.
Some ugly samples here:
Playing Townhouse Tag in the Near Northside | Swamplot
https://www.texasmedicalcenterliving...or-sale-500000

[Ghost Town]

Originally Posted by elnina

Because ugly or not, if the location is right, they still get sold on the spot anyway.
I saw them build literally next to railroad, and so close to each other - you can shake hands with your neighbor across.
Some ugly samples here:
Playing Townhouse Tag in the Near Northside | Swamplot
https://www.texasmedicalcenterliving...or-sale-500000

Hmmm...I am not jealous to the future homeowners

[HTownNearNative]

It’s disposable housing. Tear down once it’s 15 years old or less.

[predatorprey]

Originally Posted by HTownNearNative

It’s disposable housing. Tear down once it’s 15 years old or less.

I don’t think so.

Won’t appreciate much that’s for sure.

[Hopeful for Life]

Originally Posted by predatorprey

I don’t think so.

Won’t appreciate much that’s for sure.

Not too sure about that. Millennials would rather die than live in the suburbs. The land is what has the value, not the building.