Super-Size My House

The visual character of some areas of Queens and Brooklyn are being drastically overhauled as a result of a phenomenon termed "the S.U.V.-ing of America" by neighborhood leaders opposed to the change. More and more homeowners are deciding to remodel and expand their homes or tear down existing structures to rebuild bigger and better houses. "What's taking place in Queens is a direct result of the fact that we are in a post-sprawl era," said James W. Hughes, dean of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University. Residents of outlying boroughs are becoming increasingly opposed to new growth in part because of the reduction of open space. This forces developers and homeowners to focus on existing developed land and in-fill projects. A clause of New York City's zoning laws allows additional square footage to be added to houses that would otherwise be prohibited, further driving up housing costs and preventing many first-time and middle-income buyers from entering the market.

Thanks to Peter Buryk