WOOPS there goes the neighborhood: McMansion Alert!

[Kaatje]

Some neighborhoods in other states have formed successful coalitions to stop the McMansion and Faux Tuscany Mansions from invading beautiful, historic districts much like Fringecrest. What is your opinion on two story homes next to historic, smaller homes? Ridgecrest itself already had bigger houses but recently a two story (adobe though and nice) was build off Kathryn, and it is perhaps unavoidable because people are sick of commuting to and from Rio Rancho, but what if in ten years every other home is a two story and ugly, overbearing McMansions?

[chantal]

Ooh great question! I can see your point.

Here's my dilemma: If the alternative is more sprawl, fossil fuel pollution, and decaying inner cities, I'm all for infill development including the 2 story (even 3 story on Central Ave) type. Perhaps better zoning would improve things?

[Kaatje]

I love all the great infill projects that are going on in Abq! My concern is that the character of this neighborhood will change, such as a 4000 sf, 3 story home next to a small adobe bungalow (like the one on the West side of Ridgecrest Ave, past the little park towards Carlisle). Gorgeous architecture, but it used up all the lot space to built it.

If those start appearing in this neighborhood, a 'Historic Neighborhood' coalition can work on having new additions and renovations fit in with the character of these very special few square miles. As more people move to Abq, this city will follow the example of Atlanta, Denver and other cities that have seen historic districts destroyed. It may take 5 to 10 years, but this article in Metropolitan Home gives a good overview.

Better zoning is a great solution, but the people who can change the zoning in a historic district is a coalition. Does it make sense to call our neighborhood a "Historic District"?

[chantal]

If Ridgecrest gets designated a "Historic District" but the "Parkland Hills Addition to Ridgecrest" as our neighborhood is officially called probably wouldn't get the designation first. I'm no planner, though, so it still might be worth considering.

[Celine]

I know what you mean, my husband and I walked past a horrible Faux Tuscan near our house on the east side of Ridgecrest, all I could think was "why aren't you on the west mesa where you belong"? I do wish that sensitively remodeled would become a fashion . . . . I don't mind the two stories as long as they keep the character of the neighborhood . . .

[Sarah Anonymous]

The parkland hills neighborhood association seems to be sort of inactive (I think it only meets 2ce a year) but the South San Pedro NA (groups.yahoo.com/sspna) next door is try to get things going and deal with issues like this "visioning" stuff. The next meeting will be Wed May 14 at the Endorphin Power Co (Zuni and Cardenas) and the whole meeting will be devoted to reps from the city talking and the neighborhood talking about the MRA (metro. redevelopment) along San Mateo between Gibson and Central. Anyone can come, and perhaps you will come away with information that will assist with your area.

[Sarah Anonymous]

At 7pm

[Kaatje]

Thanks for posting the meeting, and I hope most Fringecresters will attend! We tried joining the PHNA and paid 10 bucks for no meetings and no replies to any of the open positions we applied for.

Also, just wanted to share the unpleasant news that a home on Southern Ave was crowbarred into last week and that a cop we know said that our neighborhood is one of the worst crime areas, but most of you knew that already (there are a ton of statistics on-line).

[Alexis]

Here's the APD Crime Statistics link if anyone wants to see them.

Also, there's a Parkland Hills Neighborhood Association meeting tonight! It's at the Whittier Community Center behind the playground on the SE corner of Kathryn and Quincy at 7 p.m. I am going to try and go, hope to see some of you there!

[Alexis]

While there are beautiful historic houses in Fringecrest, there are also sad, crappy, uncared-for houses and I'm not sure that I can totally say I would mind a faux Tuscan across the street instead.

But that's the issue with gentrification isn't it? Whether or not it will change the character of a neighborhood beyond redemption and whether that's what the neighborhood, homeowners and community members want.

I don't have an answer, but I confess that there are some days that I wish some of my neighbors would do something, anything with their properties including mansionifying them.

[Kaatje]

Here's a link to an article in Metropolitan Home that explains the issues behind "Historic Districts" and McMansions, and although the two-story make over on the corner off Kathryn was done tastefully and looks like it fits, I doubt any of the Fringecresters want to live next to the Super Mansion described by Celine.

[ZachB]

I'm with Alexis on this one. We live in Nob Hill, and have searched long and hard for a bigger house in the area now that we have a family. Sadly, everything we've seen is in horrible shape or just plain ugly.

Within walking distance there are a log cabin house, strange huge compounds, a house that looks like it came from My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Bart Prince houses, pop-tops, horrible additions, brick houses, houses that look like they belong in the Swiss alps... the point is, we are far from being a historic district full of preserved, quaint bungalows. The only place I think that qualifies for that distinction is the Ernie Pyle library.

Nob Hill and Fringecrest are both eclectic places when it comes to housing, and there's a lot of dilapidated junk around. I would love to see more knock down rebuilds with modern, contemporary homes. Not "McMansions", mind you, but custom builds that fit the lot size and the environment. But new, well kept, and desirable. Man, think of how wonderful that would be for infill and sustainable living.

[Sarah Anonymous]

the log house is on the natl historic register, fwiw.

many of the homes in the nob hill area have very nice craftmanship features which are almost impossible to replicate now- nichos in the walls, lathe and plaster, hand troweled designs, etc...
I think they are worth preserving.