House lots shrinking in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis, Minnetonka: real estate, neighborhood)

[moving123456]

Hopefully the lots don't get as small as some developments I have seen in Canada around Toronto and Calgary.

I don't know if they have laws requiring tiny lots or the developers are just really greedy.

Many newer developments look like this...

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by moving123456

Hopefully the lots don't get as small as some developments I have seen in Canada around Toronto and Calgary.

I don't know if they have laws requiring tiny lots or the developers are just really greedy.

Many newer developments look like this...

Funny, the first thing that came to mind with this article was Calgary. Yes, those neighborhoods are so attractive

[uptown_urbanist]

Those seem the epitome of density done poorly. I am 100% behind the concept of high-density, and think that it's economically and environmentally important to encourage policies and developments that contribute to less sprawl and all the accompanying negative impacts, but to work it's got to be done right. Based on that photo, anyway, that looks horrible. It's density without the accompanying benefits.

In contrast, take a look at a tight neighborhood like some of the Center City neighborhoods in Philadelphia, or Dupont Circle or Georgetown in DC. Not everyone's cup of tea, of course, but an example of how truly dense (not just 60' lot dense) neighborhoods can be done right.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by kuan

I never understood the preoccupation with the lawn. What purpose does perfectly manicured lawn serve?

My parents' rambler-style house in Minnetonka is on a quarter acre, I think. The front yard is shaded with oak trees, and it originally had a decent sized open backyard which is now partially occupied with a deck and a garden.

For the most part, it's just grass. We played on it when we were growing up. Football, soccer, badminton, croquet, lawn bowling, etc. Kick the can. War with dart guns and beanbags. Etc. Much harder to do on the street. It was also a place we could set up a tent and go "camping" when we were little, it provided a location for a swingset, elevated playhouse with a ladder, and a sandbox, and it gave my dad a place to store a small woodpile for the fireplace. It also provided a nice place for the dog to do his business without annoying the neighbors.

[uptown_urbanist]

Originally Posted by 1stpontiac

I didn't read the whole article but the size of the house on the lot is an important factor, too. I imagine a "small" lot in Woodbury would look a whole lot (pun sort of intended) bigger with a St. Louis Park-sized house on it.

Good point. I've been to a few of the new McMansion-type tear-down new homes in SW Minneapolis, and the ones I've visited, anyway, have attempted to cram a huge house (and big garage) on a city lot. Those lots are not small -- plenty of room for a house, a small garage, and room left over for a yard -- but realistically if you try to cram a large footprint house and a huge garage it leaves you with very little yard space. There was still room for the kids to play (although not much), but for someone used to the more typical proportions of a Linden Hills or Fulton house and lot, the space just felt "off."

[sparksals]

Unfortunately, those cookie cutter neighbourhoods are not only in Calgary and Toronto. I grew up in Calgary and saw a large growth over three decades. Every time I go home, I need to re-aquaint myself with the new freeways and areas.

Luckily, I grew up in an area like Rosemount - large property, lots of mature trees, no back allies (back walking paths instead... spent hours as a kid riding my bike all over the place). They still do exist in Calgary.

Lots of them in Phoenix, Tucson, Nashville, Flagstaff - every city I have lived in. It is not only Calgary and Toronto. Kind of surprised these two cities came up as cookie cutter type neighbourhoods.

Google Maps

[Beenhere4ever]

Originally Posted by golfgal

Then you end up in stupid looking developments like Cobblestone where you can reach out your kitchen window and shake hands with your neighbor in their kitchen. The idea certainly didn't take off. Not appealing at all.

We used to have a yard full of trees....until the winds blew them down in that storm a couple weeks ago. Small yards don't support enough trees, you lose the shading efficiency too.

I just spent some time in Toronto. Houses in some neighborhoods totally fit that description. Wish I could have figured out how to strike up a conversation about that. The other thing I noticed in Toronto is that some apartment blocks are HUGE. I don't think the Twin Cities would even permit something that massive.

[sparksals]

Toronto is an older city. If you were near downtown, that is a very high density urban area. Houses very close together, much like you see in NY or Chicago. Even some of the older inner city and 3rd ring areas are high density. Toronto is like the NY of Canada - not a small city - and really can't be compared to the vast land of the Twin Cities. Minneapolis is very spread out, much like Calgary.

[iNviNciBL3]

Originally Posted by sparksals

Unfortunately, those cookie cutter neighbourhoods are not only in Calgary and Toronto. I grew up in Calgary and saw a large growth over three decades. Every time I go home, I need to re-aquaint myself with the new freeways and areas.

Luckily, I grew up in an area like Rosemount - large property, lots of mature trees, no back allies (back walking paths instead... spent hours as a kid riding my bike all over the place). They still do exist in Calgary.

Lots of them in Phoenix, Tucson, Nashville, Flagstaff - every city I have lived in. It is not only Calgary and Toronto. Kind of surprised these two cities came up as cookie cutter type neighbourhoods.

Google Maps

Lol you can't get anymore cookie cutter than this

[1stpontiac]

Originally Posted by BobMarley_1LOVE

Lol you can't get anymore cookie cutter than this

Than 4 buildings in row that look alike? Yes, it gets much, much more cookie-cutter than that.