What is wrong with people?? My "Hug a House" Campaign...

"A tear-down" is how it is described.  They define this by square footage, age and value of the lot.  Even realtors will describe a listed house as "the value is in the lot". Most of these tear-downs are between $600,000 - $1.5 million.  Yes, that is not a typo.

What has happened to our society that we feel it is acceptable to replace an older home with a new one? Have we become that disposable?  If it breaks, fix it. Don't replace it!  Style, history, design, nostalgia, originality, do these words mean nothing?  

Good grief people, quit trying to out-do your neighbor. Appreciate history and the beauty in architecture.  

What does it say about me when a "tear-down" is actually my dream home?  I would take one of these over a newly built Mansion any day:

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What were you thinking people? You tore down history to build this. WTF?  No home should have this much stone.
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Oh, and don't even get me started on this beauty...NOT! This is only the side view but it was not worth my time or view to get a photo from the front. Disgraceful.
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I think the Dallas heat is getting to me. I am a little cranky. Do you have an opinion?

XOXO-

Be sure to check out Hooked on Houses. There's a party going on over there!

12 comments:

abeachcottage said...

I certainly have an opinion! it makes me soooo cranky, it is terrible in Australia, there are hardly any heritage laws so all the old cottages on big plots are being torn down and replaced with hideous, grey or worse tan modern places with little design...

nice post

Trey Keltner said...

I am all about the new stuff, tired of something always breaking.......what is wrong with being modern and getting what "you" want if you can afford it? I dont think anyone would tear down any of the houses in those pictures + good luck even finding an empty lot(all gone!!) in that area for less than 600,000, some people have no choices

Nancy said...

I don't believe in tearing down the old! In my hometown (a small place in Georgia) nearly all of the lovely old houses were torn down to make way for progress. Progress being CVS, McDonalds or a car dealership. Shameful! And who needs these huge houses? What a waste.

Lotta Dahl said...

Oh lord! I'm with you! These homes are expensively, but very cheaply built if that makes sense. I hate new construction, I hate when they toss out anything more than 20 years old to one-up somebody else. in the late 60's every home on our block was sold to the old folks home and torn down... except for ours. I'm glad the owner stuck it out back then, and I'm glad when it went up for sale last year that the PO refused to hand it over to them to make into aux parking! Our home is solid, historic, and beautiful inside. Just because it needs the aluminum siding outside replaced and a little paint here and there doesn't mean it's no good!

Claudia said...

I do agree that tearing down beautiful old arhitecture is very sad, however i have a son who has put in almost $50,000 renovating his classic home and has only put a dent in it :)

TTFN~~Claudia ♥

Anonymous said...

I hear what you're saying. So much beauty and character... These photos are great.

Terry said...

We live in a "hot" Atlanta neighborhood. Even in this economy they are doing teardowns. I regret when the new house isn't worthy. My only wish is that the right architects are involved.

But most of the teardowns here are lower quality infills. They may be 40 years old but they've never looked good or fit the neighborhood.

daily decorator said...

I was really hoping that this economy would teach all of us to live and appreciate a simpler life. I guess there are still some people out there that just don't get it. Bigger isn't always better. Ignoring the value of a community's historic character is shameful.

adrienne @ susan palmer designs said...

I am with you :) However, I take comfort in the fact that design trends are cyclical, and one day the "new" houses in your neighborhood will be torn down to be replaced by the new "new" houses, in a style *very* similar to the old "old" style. I hope that made sense! :)

Derek said...

Amen! I have watch to many old homes either runid by people who have no idea what they have, or demolished. Everyone shoule be required to take an architectural history class before they are aloud out into the houseing market.

Derek said...

Amen! To many old houses fall prey to people who don't know what they are doing, or the wrecking ball.

Glorious said...

I know this is an old post but I wholeheartedly agree with you and I'm so glad you vented! I live in a home like these and I absolutely adore every bit of history AND flaw. Sometimes I get a bit jaded when I go visit someone in a mega-mansion but when I return home I am reminded of the craftsmen and women who lovingly constructed my home so many years ago (1935) and I know I wouldn't trade it for the world!!! Recycling an old home has a great payback. They provided built-in character instead of built-in obsolescence!