It's pretty much the same across the country. Atlanta has more than it's share of McMansion builders. It's simple blight - buildings designed for insensitive people and built by the same. If it's any consolation, because so many of these owners are glued to their 60" flat screens watching 'The Housewives Of New Jersey', a huge percentage of these properties are now in default and are in the banks' hands (thus are now partially ours!)
It's pretty much the same across the country. Atlanta has more than it's share of McMansion builders. It's simple blight - buildings designed for insensitive people and built by the same. If it's any consolation, because so many of these owners are glued to their 60" flat screens watching 'The Housewives Of New Jersey', a huge percentage of these properties are now in default and are in the banks' hands (thus are now partially ours!)
Maybe your small houses are going to be yesterdays news. Its private property and you want to dictate your standards on someone else. Move to the country and get 5+ acres and your problem is solved.
Who owns the fucking property??? - you got no grounds to tell your neighbor how to build their house, just like they have no right to tell you how to build yours.
Now if they are building commercial - maybe you got a zoning denial case, but not if it's residential next door to residential.
Greenwich CT used to be a town like this. Now it is the exact opposite of Edina- a bunch of McMansions on small lots with a few smaller original houses (capes, colonials etc) stuck in between them. And they are all built like shit. They are seriously nothing more than a bunch of compressed cardboard and garden mulch superglued together (sarcasm, but you get my point). The "Town of Greenwich" has become McMansionland, except the people that live there are actually ultra rich.
Why don't you step up yourself and buy the properties if it really bothers you that much? Sorry, they are not YOUR properties as you like to suggest to us. If you don't like what's being done, then buy the properties yourself and convert them to parks.
The Brook Dr/McGuire neighborhood in Edina can sympathize with Oaklawn. There currently is a 6000+ sf spec house going up on Brook Dr. built by a greedy developer. While the lot is large, the house looks totally out of place in the neighborhood. It completely dwarfs every home around it. The builder did NOT take into account the neighborhood character at all. What person would pay almost 2 million dollar to live in a half a million dollar neighborhood anyway?
The Brook Dr/McGuire neighborhood in Edina can sympathize with Oaklawn. There currently is a 6000+ sf spec house going up on Brook Dr. built by a greedy developer. While the lot is large, the house looks totally out of place in the neighborhood. It completely dwarfs every home around it. The builder did NOT take into account the neighborhood character at all. What idiot would pay almost 2 million dollar to live in a half a million dollar neighborhood anyway?
Seems to me that if the residents don't like it, they should buy the empty houses before they're tore down. Property rights should belong to the property owners.
I'm so confused. I don't see how the Mayor of Edina can possibly think that he should run for and win??!!! a higher public office, when he's allowed this to get sooo out of hand in his own small community. He wouldn't even allow community members (whose interests he's supposed to represent) to speak during a recent City Council meeting I'm glad he's NOT my Mayor! And he will never get my vote.
He represents the interests of business and doesn't bother to listen to the interests of those within his own community. I do live within Edina, and I'll NEVER vote for him again.
what the hell do you need larger houses for , Im british and most of our houses are a lot smaller than the states and my house is far to big for me .
we are going into a period of very expensive energy how are people going to heat those homes , its like getting a 1950s american car its just stupid in todays circumstances .
Thankfully Golden Valley is currently working on legislation to figure out a solution to this issue. It's too bad a city can't legislate good taste, but instead has to legislate based on percentages, setbacks, easements, maximum heights, etc.
Best of luck to your neighborhood and the city of Edina!
To respond to the comment below: A neighborhood can't be placed on the National Register without meeting a very specific set of standards--you may not be eligible. You are right to approach the city; those are the people that can cause change. Perhaps you should also work to influence your County council person. Eden Prairie, which is nearby has been very successful in matters of historic preservation.
i think the residents care less about property value and more about the emotional attachment to the history of the neighborhood and the older, uniform, charming houses
While I dislike monster houses also, this is America, "Land of the Free". Perhaps all communities who do not want monster houses could approach an historic organization and see if one can have ones entire community placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Much like Althea's Alley in Philadelphia.
Who would even want to live in a large house on a small lot? Are these families who are buying them? Don't they want their kids to have a yard to play in?
If I buy or sell a property, shouldn't I be able to build or remodel the structure to suit my needs? I would wager having the larger homes and a diverse housing stock in an older suburb will raise the property values, plus if the larger home increases the value of the property, wouldn't the city receive more property taxes?
Blaine and Eagan are great places to live. The point the resident is making is that both are newer communities. Some of these old neighborhoods in Edina and SW Minneapolis are over 80 years old. You can't duplicate homes from that era. And I'm sure it has nothing to do with the new homes being bigger than theirs. It might have something to do with the fact that they're loosing their history to a group of greedy spec builders. History that they value emotionally.
What these builders don't seem to understand is that there are places for big houses! And what Mrs. Starkey says is completely right, they move because it's a charming place to be, but then they ruin it. And on a side note, why are the builders persisting to make their monster house now? Do they really want to live in a neighborhood where everyone is upset with them??
I would suggest that you not wait for the 'City Council' to come up with an answer, but examine the applicable ordinances for weakness, ie. small lot set-backs, maximum pad size and so on.
Write your own text amendment to create a conditional zoning or conditional zoning permit for replacement houses or even a change that would set the max percentage a house may occupy on a lot and limit the home height.
I'm completely on the side of these neighborhood residents, however this is clearly misplaced anger run amok because the developer is in compliance with all zoning laws. The only answer is to hold the Edina City Council accountable and elect an entirely new Council. I hope that one of these Oaklawn residents plans to run for that districts council seat
You are right. It would suck to live in this neighborhood and have a monster house built next door. Conversely, I hope they start doing the same thing in Richfield and SLP (where we live) as it will help renew the outdated housing stock and potentially help with values.
There ARE some monster houses being built in Richfield! One of them is about 10X the size of the house next door. It makes the original house look like a servants' quarters. (They're the same color.)
I find it ironic and silly that in TWICE the amount of time it would have taken the city council to see that video, they spent wrangling over so-called policy and thereby wasted everyone's time.
I'm torn -- I want to respect property-owners rights, but also want to respect a neighborhood. The last message I'd want to send to homeowners, if I was the City, is "you buy the house, pay the property taxes, but we'll tell you what we can do with it".
But these homes do seem out of place. It is happening in Edina, Wayzata, SW Mpls, Excelsior -- basically any old "authentic" neighborhood is at risk.
We've lived in Edina for over 22 years. One of these monster eyesores is already on our block!!! We'll be selling our home soon, as we are relocating for work, and are VERY SAD to think the house where we raised our three children could be demolished. It's all about money. Why won't the city council work on this for the people of Edina? It's heartbreaking to see.
Wow. Good job. Good presentation. I wish you luck on your endeavor to stop the McMansion-izing of your neighborhood. You are doing the right thing by not being silent. Your video is very convincing without being shrill. I hope you win your case for your neighborhood, and set a good example for other similar neighborhoods! Maybe if you encouraged a boycott of the developer - that would help!
I live in an older neighborhood in Aberdeen, SD. I can't imagine having someone come in and destroy my 1928 home with it's old charm and ole trees. If you want to live in a new home, go live in a new neighborhood. DON'T destroy an old neighborhood.
Farm land until 1930s when greedy developers built oversized houses during the depression. This action blocked out sunlight and affected many deer and racoons. 2007: the 60x135 lot sold for $630,000. New house will be 3,700 sq. ft above ground, 27' high. Upset neighbors s/ have purchased the lot and returned it to use as a garden.
If you allow hugely mismatched houses to be built in a neighborhood like this, the rest of the houses will fall like dominos. The immediate neighbors of the new house are the most unhappy with the change and most likely to want to move as a result, but their property value will have fallen as a result of the development next door, and their house will be less attractive to any buyer who wants to live there, but a bargain for the next developer who wants to build a big, out-of-character house.
My earlier post didn't show up either. Must be a You Tube glitch. Too bad the Edina city council is so ineffective on this issue. It's just plain wrong to allow developers to make money at the expense of the neighborhood and the environment. I posted a link to the video on the Conservation League of Edina's website. The story in the Star Tribune will also win your cause a lot of support.
Thank you for posting this! I live in the Morningside area and have been shocked by all the wonderful houses and old trees being torn down in Linden Hills, Morningside and Country Club neighborhoods. I am afraid to move for fear that my childhood home will then be torn down as well. Neighborhoods deserve to grow together for generations to come.
That sucks. But you got featured on the news! I think its an admirable cause. Large houses like that don't go with a neighborhood like yours, the fact that they tower over the other houses must really suck. It's disappointing to see that home owners like yourselves have extremely limited control over the planning and development of neighboring houses.
Of course your control over the neighboring houses should indeed be limited to a certain point, I think that size limitations are a reasonable limitation to be put into a neighborhood such as yours. Who wants to see a wall when they look out their window? You can do that in the city...it isn't meant for the suburbs. Nice video and good job for opposing this tyrannical oppression. It reminds me of Sim City lol
Edina City Council's meeting policies limit or prohibit resident comments. Builders are allowed to present as long as they like. City staff is allowed to talk as long as they like. City Council can talk as long as they like.
The meeting policies are unfair to residents and must change. I plan to go to the Oct 16th. meeting and voice my opinion. I encourage other's to join me or write the Sun Current.
Comment removed
gophers43 10 months ago
EDINA - every day I need attention!
gophers43 10 months ago
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It's pretty much the same across the country. Atlanta has more than it's share of McMansion builders. It's simple blight - buildings designed for insensitive people and built by the same. If it's any consolation, because so many of these owners are glued to their 60" flat screens watching 'The Housewives Of New Jersey', a huge percentage of these properties are now in default and are in the banks' hands (thus are now partially ours!)
thebertt 1 year ago
It's pretty much the same across the country. Atlanta has more than it's share of McMansion builders. It's simple blight - buildings designed for insensitive people and built by the same. If it's any consolation, because so many of these owners are glued to their 60" flat screens watching 'The Housewives Of New Jersey', a huge percentage of these properties are now in default and are in the banks' hands (thus are now partially ours!)
thebertt 1 year ago
Maybe your small houses are going to be yesterdays news. Its private property and you want to dictate your standards on someone else. Move to the country and get 5+ acres and your problem is solved.
walkonhome 2 years ago
i know that girl at 1:44! shes in my grade! cool!
madisonpeterson 2 years ago
NIMBYs!!!
Who owns the fucking property??? - you got no grounds to tell your neighbor how to build their house, just like they have no right to tell you how to build yours.
Now if they are building commercial - maybe you got a zoning denial case, but not if it's residential next door to residential.
Sorry Mr. NIMBY-COMMUNIST
Neighborhood Civic Associations = Neighborhood Gestapos
mccarrpo 2 years ago
if you dont like it MOVE and stop bitching! Its not your land and your desision should not matter one bit! I think it is kina nice
macballa13 3 years ago
thats a problem though. They cant move because no one would be willing to buy there house when its right beside a giant mcmansion.
meplayvgalot 2 years ago
KEITH DOWNEY ROCKS
radiativeliger 3 years ago
Greenwich CT used to be a town like this. Now it is the exact opposite of Edina- a bunch of McMansions on small lots with a few smaller original houses (capes, colonials etc) stuck in between them. And they are all built like shit. They are seriously nothing more than a bunch of compressed cardboard and garden mulch superglued together (sarcasm, but you get my point). The "Town of Greenwich" has become McMansionland, except the people that live there are actually ultra rich.
richnfillproductions 3 years ago
Sorry to see the McMansions being built. I wonder how they will be heated and cooled when Peak Oil hits?
jvolstad 3 years ago
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Wow, what a bunch of whiners.
prisonplanet82 3 years ago
Why don't you step up yourself and buy the properties if it really bothers you that much? Sorry, they are not YOUR properties as you like to suggest to us. If you don't like what's being done, then buy the properties yourself and convert them to parks.
ytlarryman 3 years ago
your neighborhood IS really nice, charming, peaceful.
secret103 3 years ago
The Brook Dr/McGuire neighborhood in Edina can sympathize with Oaklawn. There currently is a 6000+ sf spec house going up on Brook Dr. built by a greedy developer. While the lot is large, the house looks totally out of place in the neighborhood. It completely dwarfs every home around it. The builder did NOT take into account the neighborhood character at all. What person would pay almost 2 million dollar to live in a half a million dollar neighborhood anyway?
Minnsweeper11 3 years ago
The Brook Dr/McGuire neighborhood in Edina can sympathize with Oaklawn. There currently is a 6000+ sf spec house going up on Brook Dr. built by a greedy developer. While the lot is large, the house looks totally out of place in the neighborhood. It completely dwarfs every home around it. The builder did NOT take into account the neighborhood character at all. What idiot would pay almost 2 million dollar to live in a half a million dollar neighborhood anyway?
Minnsweeper11 3 years ago
Seems to me that if the residents don't like it, they should buy the empty houses before they're tore down. Property rights should belong to the property owners.
codiwankenobi 3 years ago
oak lawn il. ?
bukugurl09 4 years ago
I'm so confused. I don't see how the Mayor of Edina can possibly think that he should run for and win??!!! a higher public office, when he's allowed this to get sooo out of hand in his own small community. He wouldn't even allow community members (whose interests he's supposed to represent) to speak during a recent City Council meeting I'm glad he's NOT my Mayor! And he will never get my vote.
pkclak 4 years ago
I'm with you! Who does this guy think he is?!
He represents the interests of business and doesn't bother to listen to the interests of those within his own community. I do live within Edina, and I'll NEVER vote for him again.
pkclak 4 years ago
hhahahah yea lund! you tell em
peterxbarr 4 years ago
what the hell do you need larger houses for , Im british and most of our houses are a lot smaller than the states and my house is far to big for me .
we are going into a period of very expensive energy how are people going to heat those homes , its like getting a 1950s american car its just stupid in todays circumstances .
watch end of suburbia
bearsagainstevil 4 years ago
we americans like to buy things we can't afford just to show it off... quite sad really but wutevs
Brent1700 4 years ago
Good job and good luck people of Edina.
The charm of Edina was always the homes
that looked like they were out of a movie
set. Please don't become another
Eden Prairie or Eagan.
pattykad 4 years ago
Thankfully Golden Valley is currently working on legislation to figure out a solution to this issue. It's too bad a city can't legislate good taste, but instead has to legislate based on percentages, setbacks, easements, maximum heights, etc.
Best of luck to your neighborhood and the city of Edina!
~A Supporter From Golden Valley
casualshooter 4 years ago
To respond to the comment below: A neighborhood can't be placed on the National Register without meeting a very specific set of standards--you may not be eligible. You are right to approach the city; those are the people that can cause change. Perhaps you should also work to influence your County council person. Eden Prairie, which is nearby has been very successful in matters of historic preservation.
hans1167 4 years ago
i think the residents care less about property value and more about the emotional attachment to the history of the neighborhood and the older, uniform, charming houses
libbyjune 4 years ago
While I dislike monster houses also, this is America, "Land of the Free". Perhaps all communities who do not want monster houses could approach an historic organization and see if one can have ones entire community placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Much like Althea's Alley in Philadelphia.
mbowmanpaulson 4 years ago
Who would even want to live in a large house on a small lot? Are these families who are buying them? Don't they want their kids to have a yard to play in?
mcolson1590 4 years ago
These are upper middle class families buy for the school systems, not lot sizes.
strongforu 4 years ago
If I buy or sell a property, shouldn't I be able to build or remodel the structure to suit my needs? I would wager having the larger homes and a diverse housing stock in an older suburb will raise the property values, plus if the larger home increases the value of the property, wouldn't the city receive more property taxes?
rtrradman 4 years ago
Blaine and Eagan are great places to live. The point the resident is making is that both are newer communities. Some of these old neighborhoods in Edina and SW Minneapolis are over 80 years old. You can't duplicate homes from that era. And I'm sure it has nothing to do with the new homes being bigger than theirs. It might have something to do with the fact that they're loosing their history to a group of greedy spec builders. History that they value emotionally.
Hyper84s 4 years ago
What these builders don't seem to understand is that there are places for big houses! And what Mrs. Starkey says is completely right, they move because it's a charming place to be, but then they ruin it. And on a side note, why are the builders persisting to make their monster house now? Do they really want to live in a neighborhood where everyone is upset with them??
libbyjune 4 years ago
I so agree with the residents of the old
and established neighborhoods. They are slowly
being taken over and destroyed by developers
who completely ignore the character of the
existing houses and end up dwatfing the houses
around them, making thing out of balance and
even driving down the value of the neighborhood in the process. I am an architectural designer that believes in trying
to keep that character in tact.
notsobigdesigner 4 years ago 6
I would suggest that you not wait for the 'City Council' to come up with an answer, but examine the applicable ordinances for weakness, ie. small lot set-backs, maximum pad size and so on.
Write your own text amendment to create a conditional zoning or conditional zoning permit for replacement houses or even a change that would set the max percentage a house may occupy on a lot and limit the home height.
VillageScribeOnline 4 years ago 4
I'm completely on the side of these neighborhood residents, however this is clearly misplaced anger run amok because the developer is in compliance with all zoning laws. The only answer is to hold the Edina City Council accountable and elect an entirely new Council. I hope that one of these Oaklawn residents plans to run for that districts council seat
cnstratton 4 years ago 2
You are right. It would suck to live in this neighborhood and have a monster house built next door. Conversely, I hope they start doing the same thing in Richfield and SLP (where we live) as it will help renew the outdated housing stock and potentially help with values.
vers0014 4 years ago 2
There ARE some monster houses being built in Richfield! One of them is about 10X the size of the house next door. It makes the original house look like a servants' quarters. (They're the same color.)
margaretsch 4 years ago
you have my full support, the same thing is happening all over Eden Prairie. good luck to you guys!
fogadz 4 years ago
I find it ironic and silly that in TWICE the amount of time it would have taken the city council to see that video, they spent wrangling over so-called policy and thereby wasted everyone's time.
margaretsch 4 years ago
Nice work with the video.
I'm torn -- I want to respect property-owners rights, but also want to respect a neighborhood. The last message I'd want to send to homeowners, if I was the City, is "you buy the house, pay the property taxes, but we'll tell you what we can do with it".
But these homes do seem out of place. It is happening in Edina, Wayzata, SW Mpls, Excelsior -- basically any old "authentic" neighborhood is at risk.
Hazelmn 4 years ago
Thank you for posting this!
thelllut 4 years ago
Thank you for posting this!
As fellow Edina residents we must take political action now.
Call the City Council - tell your neighbors to do this as well.
Increasing the publicity will increase the pressure.
We need more than lip service from the Council.
Red2Groovy 4 years ago
We've lived in Edina for over 22 years. One of these monster eyesores is already on our block!!! We'll be selling our home soon, as we are relocating for work, and are VERY SAD to think the house where we raised our three children could be demolished. It's all about money. Why won't the city council work on this for the people of Edina? It's heartbreaking to see.
kimrose3 4 years ago
Wow. Good job. Good presentation. I wish you luck on your endeavor to stop the McMansion-izing of your neighborhood. You are doing the right thing by not being silent. Your video is very convincing without being shrill. I hope you win your case for your neighborhood, and set a good example for other similar neighborhoods! Maybe if you encouraged a boycott of the developer - that would help!
Leapfer 4 years ago
I live in an older neighborhood in Aberdeen, SD. I can't imagine having someone come in and destroy my 1928 home with it's old charm and ole trees. If you want to live in a new home, go live in a new neighborhood. DON'T destroy an old neighborhood.
DezinerSD 4 years ago
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Farm land until 1930s when greedy developers built oversized houses during the depression. This action blocked out sunlight and affected many deer and racoons. 2007: the 60x135 lot sold for $630,000. New house will be 3,700 sq. ft above ground, 27' high. Upset neighbors s/ have purchased the lot and returned it to use as a garden.
sbuffalo42 4 years ago
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If you allow hugely mismatched houses to be built in a neighborhood like this, the rest of the houses will fall like dominos. The immediate neighbors of the new house are the most unhappy with the change and most likely to want to move as a result, but their property value will have fallen as a result of the development next door, and their house will be less attractive to any buyer who wants to live there, but a bargain for the next developer who wants to build a big, out-of-character house.
ddurkee 4 years ago 2
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My earlier post didn't show up either. Must be a You Tube glitch. Too bad the Edina city council is so ineffective on this issue. It's just plain wrong to allow developers to make money at the expense of the neighborhood and the environment. I posted a link to the video on the Conservation League of Edina's website. The story in the Star Tribune will also win your cause a lot of support.
cycleseven 4 years ago
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Thank you for posting this! I live in the Morningside area and have been shocked by all the wonderful houses and old trees being torn down in Linden Hills, Morningside and Country Club neighborhoods. I am afraid to move for fear that my childhood home will then be torn down as well. Neighborhoods deserve to grow together for generations to come.
kateq7 4 years ago
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That sucks. But you got featured on the news! I think its an admirable cause. Large houses like that don't go with a neighborhood like yours, the fact that they tower over the other houses must really suck. It's disappointing to see that home owners like yourselves have extremely limited control over the planning and development of neighboring houses.
Weezerpwns 4 years ago
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Of course your control over the neighboring houses should indeed be limited to a certain point, I think that size limitations are a reasonable limitation to be put into a neighborhood such as yours. Who wants to see a wall when they look out their window? You can do that in the city...it isn't meant for the suburbs. Nice video and good job for opposing this tyrannical oppression. It reminds me of Sim City lol
Weezerpwns 4 years ago
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Edina Hornets ftw !!!!
megarobo96 4 years ago
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Edina City Council's meeting policies limit or prohibit resident comments. Builders are allowed to present as long as they like. City staff is allowed to talk as long as they like. City Council can talk as long as they like.
The meeting policies are unfair to residents and must change. I plan to go to the Oct 16th. meeting and voice my opinion. I encourage other's to join me or write the Sun Current.
bruceave 4 years ago
Impressive production. Solid work!
NoahSKunin 4 years ago
Stop the McMansion's, it has happened to our neighborhood in Atlanta. Edina is a great place, dont let developers ruin it.
MasterFlashTwo 4 years ago