A House Bigger Than Monster Homes

A billionaire plans to build a 103,667-square-foot house in Washington which is the home to four of the top five big-house communities in the country.

1 minute read

May 19, 2003, 8:00 AM PDT

By Abhijeet Chavan @http://twitter.com/legalaidtech


"A 103,667-square-foot house that would be one of the largest ever built in the United States, about 50 times bigger than the average American home...Humongous private houses are no rarity in Washington and its suburbs, but if this one is ever built, it would dwarf anything that's here now...Four out of the top five big-house communities in the country are in the Washington suburbs...American homes have been swelling over the last decade even as the size of American households has shrunk. The average new American home measured 2,324 square feet in 2002, up from 1,900 square feet 10 years ago, according to the National Association of Homebuilders."

Thanks to Congress on New Urbanism

Saturday, May 17, 2003 in The Washington Post

View form second story inside Southdale Mall in Edina, Minnesota with escalators and model cars parked on downstairs floor.

The Mall Is Dead — Long Live the Mall

The American shopping mall may be closer to its original vision than ever.

March 21, 2024 - Governing

View of Austin, Texas skyline with river in foreground during morning golden hour.

The Paradox of American Housing

How the tension between housing as an asset and as an essential good keeps the supply inadequate and costs high.

March 26, 2024 - The Atlantic

Houston, Texas skyline.

Report: Las Vegas, Houston Top List of Least Affordable Cities

The report assesses the availability of affordable rental units for low-income households.

March 22, 2024 - Urban Edge

Close-up of hand holding charging cable moving toward charging port on electric car.

Undoing Biden's EV Rule

The partisan divide over how government should reduce greenhouse gas emissions was on full display after the Biden administration finalized its emissions standards rule for light and medium duty vehicles on March 20.

4 minutes ago - Office of U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan

Aerial view of high-rise buildings on waterfront in Boston, Massachusetts

Boston Moves Zoning Reform Forward

The ‘Squares + Streets’ plan creates form-based zoning templates for neighborhoods that promote mixed use and denser housing near transit.

1 hour ago - The National Law Review

Aerial view of Anchorage, Alaska downtown with mountains in background at golden hour.

Anchorage Leaders Debate Zoning Reform Plan

Last year, the city produced the fewest new housing units in a decade.

March 28 - Anchorage Daily News

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.