zeke
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Post by zeke on Jun 17, 2019 9:38:49 GMT -8
For most of my life, I have been of the opinion that we needed more high rise residential and retail buildings, with green spaces between buildings. More families living vertically, and less ground taken up by housing and retail. Suburbs and gentleman ranches have been the antithesis to that.
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Post by marmotstew on Jun 17, 2019 13:13:16 GMT -8
For most of my life, I have been of the opinion that we needed more high rise residential and retail buildings, with green spaces between buildings. More families living vertically, and less ground taken up by housing and retail. Suburbs and gentleman ranches have been the antithesis to that. So people still do +1 on here? Well +1. Living off the grid/on the land or whatever it’s called is cute and all. But isn’t that just ruining the land?
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tomas
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Post by tomas on Jun 17, 2019 14:55:10 GMT -8
For most of my life, I have been of the opinion that we needed more high rise residential and retail buildings, with green spaces between buildings. More families living vertically, and less ground taken up by housing and retail. Suburbs and gentleman ranches have been the antithesis to that. No thanks. I live on property because I want to be able to do things with my land. I'm also not into feeling like I'm living in an ant hill.
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Jun 17, 2019 15:41:07 GMT -8
There'll always be a need for rural residents, but those in places even 25,000 strong could be better served in high rises and more green parks between buildings. Retail, restaurants, cottage industries could all be housed in the lower floors. People could live, work and shop within a few buildings, reducing the need for transportation.
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swiftdream
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the Great Southwest Unbound
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Post by swiftdream on Jun 18, 2019 8:14:08 GMT -8
A 1400 square foot house is the smallest house the two of us want to consider, easy to cool, heat and clean, but as another here said the true concept is location x 3, that was the challenge we faced in the area code we desired. Many of the homes here are close to 3000 square feet. But we wanted to be able to walk to National Forest and be away from the city’s din and rat race mentality.
We found a 1400 square foot place with a small yard like we wanted for ease of maintenance. The private backyard evokes the vineyards and Roman gardens of Tuscany. It is cute and cozy, very quiet neighborhood that is easy on the eyes, winding lanes with little traffic that moves very slowly. Look and you shall find. We acquired everything we sought. They say that wilderness immersion is very healthy so we feel very enriched not to mention the number of good books we can immerse into between outdoor endeavors. It really does not take much to be happy.
We do not look down upon our neighbors for having their mansions and three car garages. We are socially indifferent in those respects. For all anyone knows it is good for a large family to have the space to get away from each other at times. I enjoy being with others but surely don’t need a human in front of me 24/7 to validate my existence. I’m satisfied.
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Post by yosemitegirl on Jun 19, 2019 10:36:43 GMT -8
All interesting thoughts. We are pondering this question now...we are in a lease since we just moved to the Seattle area, and we are deciding what we want to do. We've decided what we really want is space for all of our toys - the kayaks, camping gear, trailer, whatever projects we take on...and we don't need that much "house" space.
But we do want 5 acres I think, so we may purchase something on a smaller lot in the interim to live in while we save up and buy property, and then, eventually, that would turn into a rental.
As far as being jealous of what is next door? Nah. That's not me. Unless they have some really cute detail or paint color that I like, I might incorporate something like that. But I see that as more admiration than jealousy.
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Post by hikerchick395 on Jun 19, 2019 15:32:15 GMT -8
Never jealous of the McMansions...location, location
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reuben
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Post by reuben on Jun 19, 2019 15:57:43 GMT -8
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Post by autumnmist on Jul 2, 2019 10:38:25 GMT -8
I have been of the opinion that we needed more high rise residential and retail buildings, with green spaces between buildings. More families living vertically, How about something like this? Bosco Verticale, a high rise with multiple sources of trees and greenery. www.archdaily.com/777498/bosco-verticale-stefano-boeri-architetti/ (has more photos, some layout plans) www.designbuild-network.com/projects/bosco-verticale-vertical-forest-milan/ (has more background and design information) I haven't read either article completely. One of the aspects that I'd wonder about is the support on the balconies for foliage, what the winds are like in the area, and especially the offset for cooling costs. But this seems to be a promising, alternative method of blending greenery, natural cooling, consolidated housing and environmental offsets.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2019 15:34:12 GMT -8
Man..... could I tell stories about the McMansions I've worked in for various contractors in Northern Virginia (Please notice the Capital Letters of Importance here) and the pretentious idiots that owned them..... I'll just describe one that is unforgettable. Can't remember the square footage, it was huge. A door way at the driveway (basement level) was the most used entrance; because once you entered, you were in a complete miniaturized replica of M street in Georgetown (Washington DC), complete with all the store fronts of the day, cobblestone 'street' as the walkway, street lamps absolutely everything. The cobblestone 'street' led to a spiral stairway that wound up into a very elaborate kitchen, all commercial appliances. Square miles of granite counter tops and lots of places to sit. They owned that house purely for entertaining business clients or something, because when you left the first floor and went into the living areas, there was virtually no other furniture other than the most basic stuff needed to live there. Weirdest place I've ever been in. Where I live now, I work on historic homes on old plantation and international horse farms. Vastly different.All of them have some kind of history, some of which goes back pre Civil War. The people around here (including some of the churches I understand) really make fun of the "McMansion" crowd just 40 miles from here, and every one of them are among the most respectful people I've ever worked for/around. They have a real respect for the trades and it shows.
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sarbar
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Post by sarbar on Jul 6, 2019 20:09:04 GMT -8
Anywhere outside of Seattle, if in King County, it will be $$$$. We lived outside of Seattle for 15 years and when we wanted acreage the prices were insanity. We moved to Island County where land was half the price - and taxes halved. 15 months later our house and property value has shot up by $100k. Insane. We have 5.25 acres. We can commute to Seattle quite easily as well.
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sarbar
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Post by sarbar on Jul 6, 2019 20:24:41 GMT -8
I live on the south end of Whidbey Island in the PNW. There is a tale there - about houses. As with most ocean front areas, they were originally all small cabins (800 sf being big). Many are long gone, but not all. I saw one pop up the other day. 604 sq ft for nearly a million dollars. On 3500 sf lot. Cough. Down the road from it sits a $10 million dollar small compound owned by a Hilton - google it. On the other hand, right near that is a dumpy single wide! There is no rhyme or reason, just who snags a property when it goes up for sale. We live in the poor section (hahahaha) meaning we have no ocean view. However, I have a great view of the Olympic Mountains and it is quiet - and we have acreage. My house is a weird one. It is a one of a kind house. Two turrets (I swear you MUST have turrets on your house here.....). We also have a below grade area in our house. It is fully concreted, and stays around 55* 24/7. We use it to store servers and canned goods. It's not a basement - it has no windows, just venting. It access the "crawl space" which a grown man can walk into. Our home had one owner, the contractor that built it - why it is so quirky. It's not a small house, but it isn't huge. It is 2100 or so. Our last home was 2600. I have no desire to live in a suburb again. 15 years was far too long. Sometimes it is too rural, I suppose, but right now I have a Mama deer and her babies on my septic field, and this past week I had two Bald Eagles fly about 10 feet above me. My farming dream is finally coming to fruit (literally!) I mean...my primary strawberry bed is bigger than many people's suburban back yards. Haha! Side note....I have a couple of friends who have McMansions. They are so over the top. One of them, her house has 3 separate bars - one is an Italian themed room, another is a winery theme. A movie theater as well. First winter she about died when she got the electricity bill. Ha. Our old town, McMansions were everywhere and the worst were the baller ones - so many Seahawks lived out near Maple Valley. The homes are so ugly. Just a pile of big rooms with no design. Edited to add a photo of my quirky home.
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foxalo
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Post by foxalo on Jul 7, 2019 8:53:33 GMT -8
My house would be considered a McMansion. I grew up in a small town where houses were small and packed in tight. I always wanted a biggish house. Now I have one, but someday, when the kids are gone and we don't want the responsibility of the upkeep of our big house, we'll move to something more manageable. This house is almost paid off, so there's no desire to take on another mortgage right away. I don't think we'll be staying in AL until we die though. For the first time since living here, I'm ready to get out. We have at least 5 more years though.
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sarbar
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Post by sarbar on Jul 7, 2019 20:30:44 GMT -8
Living off the grid/on the land or whatever it’s called is cute and all. But isn’t that just ruining the land? So....how is that ruining land? What wrecks land is land shaping and building developments.
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Post by autumnmist on Jul 8, 2019 3:31:06 GMT -8
I would ask the same question sarbar posed. There are certainly a lot of human activities that "ruin" the land. I too am curious how living off grid is "cute". I would think that it's a challenge, not only to grow as much if not all of one's food, but the lack of electricity and running water present a lot of challenges for many families, especially those with children. That's not even addressing weather issues.
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