Norman Castle Invades Atlanta Neighborhood As McMansion Moratorium Ends
In Buckhead, a 6,000 square foot Norman-style house dwarfs its 2,700 square foot neighbors, while the City Council's Zoning Committee defeats the moratorium on "McMansions".
In Atlanta, loosely written zoning regulations allow large houses to be built on small lots. City Councilwoman Mary Norwood convinced Mayor Shirley Franklin to impose a moratorium on infill development in four Atlanta neighborhoods; however, the City Council's Zoning Committee defeated the measure. Norwood claims that super-sized houses destroy the ambiance of neighborhoods and can depress existing home values. According to her: "Some people say this isn't a crisis. I say this is a crisis."
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OK, I've heard it before.....
Bah...another rant about the evils of people investing in existing neighborhoods. Sounds like the house that was replaced was derelict (empty for 2 years...tree crashed through the roof).
I have yet to see how the changing aesthetics and scale of a teardown neighborhood are really a 'crisis' as it is made out to be in this article.
It sounds like Atlanta needs to forget about moratoriums and concentrate and revising the applicable zoning regualtions for setbacks and bulk (Floor-Area-Ratio, Lot Coverage, etc.)
Plus, I tired of this articles from the media focusing mainly on the 'crisis-baiters' and telling only their side. I see very few articles (outside the builder's trader rags) that really make an effort to evaluate the positives of the phenomenon (i.e. reinvesting, steps against further sprawl, brings the total value of the neighborhood up, etc.)