The View
Things are progressing in my neighborhood, in the last week these 2 houses hit the dump.
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New Raleigh is characterized by its lack of connection with the existing surroundings. In our area, the new houses are large, the lots are small, the prices are higher than the roof, and those are out of proportion too. These houses are built in settled diverse neighborhoods, areas that have developed a character all their own. One by one this character is being removed and replaced. Our landfill runneth over with the craftsmanship of another era.
I am fortunate to have spent my adult life in one such older neighborhood, one that from time to time was not so pricey, but has remained stable for its 70 year life. We have enjoyed renewed energy as others have found our little neighborhood, bringing in creative renovations and diverse neighbors. But we are in a time of transition, and what we as a community accept today as the norm could determine the future for the old neighborhoods, the people in them, and the look and feel of our fine city herself.
My perspective is from central Raleigh, and a lot of posts will originate from here. I hope established neighborhoods throughout the city will feel at home here too. After all, we are all in this together.
--Fallonia
Life in Raleigh NC has been fairly predictable and charming up until recently. Now a new housing trend is emerging in the core neighborhoods. Consider this your front stoop where we can gather as neighbors, look at the teardown phenomena and discuss how infill impacts our community.
Welcome
New Raleigh is characterized by its lack of connection with the existing surroundings. In our area, the new houses are large, the lots are small, the prices are higher than the roof, and those are out of proportion too. These houses are built in settled diverse neighborhoods, areas that have developed a character all their own. One by one this character is being removed and replaced. Our landfill runneth over with the craftsmanship of another era.
I am fortunate to have spent my adult life in one such older neighborhood, one that from time to time was not so pricey, but has remained stable for its 70 year life. We have enjoyed renewed energy as others have found our little neighborhood, bringing in creative renovations and diverse neighbors. But we are in a time of transition, and what we as a community accept today as the norm could determine the future for the old neighborhoods, the people in them, and the look and feel of our fine city herself.
My perspective is from central Raleigh, and a lot of posts will originate from here. I hope established neighborhoods throughout the city will feel at home here too. After all, we are all in this together.
Correspondents
- Fallonia Parker
- I am a long-time Raleigh resident in one of our modest neighborhoods. My elders taught me to conserve our resources, and we have. They never told me someone would want to throw away a house.
Irena Dorton
A Raleigh architectural historian, Irena is a devotee of Raleigh's mid-twentieth century modern architecture. The namesake of Dorton Arena, Raleigh's first contribution to the advancement of world engineering in 1950, Irena delights in discovering examples of progressive design from Raleigh's post World War II era. She believes that these built landmarks of "The Greatest Generation" help to define Raleigh as a fascinating city.
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4 comments:
I really like the first house and the yard. It's so disappointing to see houses like that go... and scary to think about what might replace it.
That concerns me as well. In the desire to get a buildable lot in a pricey neighborhood, we are losing houses that could have gone to the right person ... that is a home that fits a family matched with a good house that needs some special attention. This house has always been one of the better homes on the block. This is certainly a shift in the way real estate works.
BTW, this home was owned by the same family since 1945, until her death in November of 2006. I hope the new home will fare so well.
Boy, that first one really was charming, and really could have been fixed up well. I think this underscores just how much of a discrepancy there is between the supply and demand for fairly large houses inside the beltline. Raleigh never had much money before the 70's, so there were scores of 2,000 sq. ft houses built.
That second house on the other hand... :)
I sure hope the builders replace these with timeless treasures. IT CAN BE DONE!!
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