The Castle on Cooleemee

The house being built nearby is finally on the market, after 1.5 years in the making. It gets the Over The Top award for May.

Let's look at the finer details:

Stately European Style Masterpeice [sic] Raleigh, NC - Luxurious Architect Designed European Executive Home*10ft Ceilings, 1st Flr Mstr Suite, Vaulted Great Rm, Gourmet Kit w/Viking Appl incl Built-in Viking Refrig, Custom Cabinetry & Millwork thru out, Granite Kit and Mstr Countertops, French Tilework, Energy Star Rated Home w/Generous Qty of Hurd Low E Maint Free Alum Clad Windows, Ext Fireplace & Beautiful Landscaping at Completion.

. . .

All for the tidy sum of $1,190,000. The likes of this have never been seen on the side streets on Anderson Heights before. It replaced a white clapboard home with 2 bedrooms and one bath nestled up a slight hill. There were mature dogwoods in the front and hardwood and pines on the side and back. Several trucks were required to haul off the trees that were removed for this.

It stands between two one-story houses that were also here for the past 60 years. At the realtor's site, they show the site-plan -- all building and driveway. It sits exactly on the prescribed setbacks, including a 2 car garage. This one was featured in a story by WRAL on the infill phenomena. Its price is multiple times that of existing homes.

Note that when a new home is built on an old lot, the builder must respect the setbacks, but not the surroundings. In this case that would be 10 foot sideyards, and 30 feet from front and back lines. I cannot figure out where there is room for all those trees in the sketch.



If you look at this new home in this location, do you wonder how long it will take for the rest of the block to be torn down and rebuilt to its standards, or do you think it looks out of place? That is the million dollar question.

Open for Business

This blog is a place for collecting and analyzing the development trends in our established neighborhoods. I hope it to become a place for residents to gather and share impressions. Each month we will choose one award winner for being Over The Top. Participation is encouraged, please share your nominees with us by posting them, or sending them to the site at the email address listed in the window below.

We will also highlight Positive Developments. When a house is well done, it should be noted.

There is no way to change the evolution of housing patterns, but by paying attention to what is going on and speaking out, perhaps we can bring some reason to the table.