Life

[bodigity]

My parents are moving in a year and a half. They want to retire. I agree with the decision.

Which means the house I have lived in for my whole life is going to be torn down to build a McMansion. What the fuck happened to my lovely neighborhood?

At least I'll be done with college and living out of the state... or even out of the country.

Comments

[michema]

Ugh, my cute neighborhood is slowly being converted to McMansionism, and it bothers the crap out of me. Literally. The house that is being built next door makes our moderately-sized house look tiny. Actually, the Niemans were apparently looking at it, but didn't put in a bid because the builders refused to take out the ELEVATOR. What the crap.

[textualdeviance]

FWIW, a lot of modern houses are being built with elevators as an element of universal design. This, along with other things like wider doorways, no steps between rooms and slightly lower counters is a way to make the house accessible to people with limited mobility. It ups the resale value of the house, as well as makes it more viable for people to stay in as they age, instead of being stuck selling their house and moving somewhere without barriers.

Some of the McMansions are obnoxious, but some that may look that way are actually much better designed than existing homes. They have more efficient use of energy, use recycled materials, etc. So even though they're larger than some, they actually have fewer negatives, environmentally speaking, than smaller homes built 20-30 years ago.

(The same is true for cars, too. Some small SUVs actually have better mileage and emissions standards than a 20-year-old Honda.)

[michema]

True about the elevators; the family probably wouldn't have minded having one in the house, but from what I understand, the City of Bellevue requires yearly inspections for every elevator, even ones in private homes. I understand that they want to keep them safe, but it's not worth the trouble for a family that wouldn't use it in the first place.

[meglywegly]

So we won't be neighbors anymore. Where are they moving to, do they know yet?

[bodigity]

Their thinking of other places in Medina or a few places in Seattle like Madrona.

I know! Then I can't wave at you driving by...