Atlanta Puts a Moratorium on 'McMansions' in Historic Neighborhoods

Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin has issued a "moratorium on the construction of new, massive homes on lots where older, smaller houses once stood...Franklin's moratorium halts construction permits for infill housing in five of the hottest real estate markets in the city...The moratorium will prevent real estate investors from tearing down older homes and building new, big ones while the City Council considers restricting the scale of houses in Atlanta's neighborhoods. The infill-teardown trend has blazed across Atlanta and close-in suburbs during the 'back to the city' craze of the past five years."

"Emotions ran high in Atlanta as news of the moratorium spread through e-mails among neighborhood protection groups and the residential construction industry."