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Why Can't We Build an Affordable House?

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Re: Why Can't We Build an Affordable House?

#51

Post by DabAsteroid »

gojomo wrote: post #48
niels_olson wrote: post #25

The whole article is based on the failed idea that the burbs are the way to go. Many people who have read A Pattern Language understand that the neighborhood is also key, though they often can't realize it alone, so they instead build really fancy and eclectic single-family two-story homes, (how novel /sarcasm). I would be interested in connecting with more people who understand and want to realize Christopher Alexan…

I can't resist posting some patterns observed by a neighbor at Alexander's actual residence in Berkeley: "Another Pattern Language: Real Life Patterns Chez Christopher Alexander" http://internettime.com/Learning/alexander.swf

From that Jay Cross flashpaper:

Alexander goes beyond the drought-resistant, no-maintenance yard to the maintenance-free, barren yard. Natural as a hippy’s armpit, this hardscrabble, lifeless expanse, especially in the midst of neighboring houses with specimen plants and lush yards trumpets the owner’s iconoclastic avant-guard design sensibility. It screams, “I’m different.” ...

Alexander does both himself and his neighbors a favor by dumping the detritus of past projects in his front yard. Neighbors report that property values (and therefore property taxes) are lower when they have line-of-sight to the Alexander home. ...

Pattern No. 12: DISHEVELED ENTRANCE

You know you can get away with wearing blue jeans inside when you pass by this funky collection of neglected plants and broken fence just before getting to the door.

Re: Why Can't We Build an Affordable House?

#52

Post by anamax »

euccastro wrote: post #41
gaius wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, exactly. Here in the UK there are lots of people complaining that locals are being priced out of their own coastal towns, as city folk are buying up properties as second homes. But when the time comes to sell, those locals are perfectly happy to take the money. Most of today's problems are caused by people who want to have their cake and eat it.

The people that complain aren't probably the ones taking the money, but the ones that can no longer afford to buy a "first home" in their (increasingly deserted and dehumanized) hometown. I'm for taxing "nth-homes" exponentially to n. It would only hurt speculators who overall destroy value anyway. If you'll be using a house for two weeks a year, you should rent it.

> I'm for taxing "nth-homes" exponentially to n. It would only hurt speculators who overall destroy value anyway. If you'll be using a house for two weeks a year, you should rent it.

Who are they supposed to rent from?

How much time do I have to spend in a second or third residence to make you happy? Does it matter what I'm doing when I'm there?

BTW - Intel designs processors in the hope that folks will want to buy them and let Intel make a profit. How is housing speculation any different?

Re: Why Can't We Build an Affordable House?

#53

Post by anamax »

newaccountname wrote: post #47
eru wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Speculators are helping price-discovery. How do you want to distinguish between 'nth-homes' and landlords?

If it is rented, it isn't an nth home.

It's apparently okay for folks to rent two weeks a year and okay for someone to rent to said folks. Yet it's unacceptable for someone to own and use two weeks a year.

However, a huge fraction of the "stay there two weeks a year" folks try to rent the other weeks. So you distinguishing between folks who try to rent a secondary house all but two weeks a year and folks who try to rent a secondary house all but two weeks a year.

That seems a bit subtle. Perhaps you can elaborate.

Re: Why Can't We Build an Affordable House?

#54

Post by euccastro »

anamax wrote: post #52
euccastro wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The people that complain aren't probably the ones taking the money, but the ones that can no longer afford to buy a "first home" in their (increasingly deserted and dehumanized) hometown. I'm for taxing "nth-homes" exponentially to n. It would only hurt speculators who overall destroy value anyway. If you'll be using a house for two weeks a year, you should rent it.

> I'm for taxing "nth-homes" exponentially to n. It would only hurt speculators who overall destroy value anyway. If you'll be using a house for two weeks a year, you should rent it. Who are they supposed to rent from? How much time do I have to spend in a second or third residence to make you happy? Does it matter what I'm doing when I'm there? BTW - Intel designs processors in the hope that folks will want to buy t…

See replies to eru.

Re: Why Can't We Build an Affordable House?

#55

Post by euccastro »

anamax wrote: post #53
newaccountname wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If it is rented, it isn't an nth home.

It's apparently okay for folks to rent two weeks a year and okay for someone to rent to said folks. Yet it's unacceptable for someone to own and use two weeks a year. However, a huge fraction of the "stay there two weeks a year" folks try to rent the other weeks. So you distinguishing between folks who try to rent a secondary house all but two weeks a year and folks who try to rent a secondary house all but two weeks…

It's apparently okay for folks to rent two weeks a year and okay for someone to rent to said folks

a huge fraction of the "stay there two weeks a year" folks try to rent the other weeks

I disagree. Few people maintain a property only to rent it for two weeks a year. Once you bother to rent it, you try to do it for as long as possible. On the other hand, people who buy one, two, ... n houses for vacationing or speculating purposes can often afford to have them empty.

In any event, that's irrelevant to my point. Be them a huge or tiny fraction, I'm not so much against those. A house that gets occupied, by owners or renters, for most of the year, serves a genuine need.

Re: Why Can't We Build an Affordable House?

#56

Post by niels_olson »

gojomo wrote: post #48
niels_olson wrote: post #25

The whole article is based on the failed idea that the burbs are the way to go. Many people who have read A Pattern Language understand that the neighborhood is also key, though they often can't realize it alone, so they instead build really fancy and eclectic single-family two-story homes, (how novel /sarcasm). I would be interested in connecting with more people who understand and want to realize Christopher Alexan…

I can't resist posting some patterns observed by a neighbor at Alexander's actual residence in Berkeley: "Another Pattern Language: Real Life Patterns Chez Christopher Alexander" http://internettime.com/Learning/alexander.swf

For some reason, I can't imagine he'd be terribly proud of that. Do you think he's just really stupid? I wonder if maybe he's working on other stuff, or found he couldn't afford everything he wanted on a professor's salary, or maybe this is what the house looked like two weeks after he moved in? I'm not an apologist for the guy, but that flashpaper is basically some guy trying to gain some reputation by lampooning someone better known than himself, which belies a moral corruption that far exceeds the unfortunate physical corruption of Mr Alexander's house.

Have you read the book? Its merits are fairly self-evident if you read a few pages, regardless of the author's choice of paint colors for his own house.

Re: Why Can't We Build an Affordable House?

#57

Post by eru »

icey wrote: post #30
cabalamat wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The house I live in was built 120 years ago. Wanna bet that Cat-5 will still be around several decades from now?

Yeah, why build a garage when we'll all be driving flying cars in 30 years, right?

To house your startup?

Re: Why Can't We Build an Affordable House?

#58

Post by gojomo »

niels_olson wrote: post #56
gojomo wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can't resist posting some patterns observed by a neighbor at Alexander's actual residence in Berkeley: "Another Pattern Language: Real Life Patterns Chez Christopher Alexander" http://internettime.com/Learning/alexander.swf

For some reason, I can't imagine he'd be terribly proud of that. Do you think he's just really stupid? I wonder if maybe he's working on other stuff, or found he couldn't afford everything he wanted on a professor's salary, or maybe this is what the house looked like two weeks after he moved in? I'm not an apologist for the guy, but that flashpaper is basically some guy trying to gain some reputation by lampooning so…

I don't see the 'Another Pattern Language' presentation as any sort of serious critique of Alexander's oeuvre. It's just a bit of humor generated by the contrast between Alexander's professional image and personal circumstances.

I know the creator of the presentation, and do not see him as someone who tears down the famous for cheap notoriety, as you accuse. He truly lives not far from Alexander; his professional reputation as an author/consultant/educator is secure; he hasn't promoted his wry little parody widely.

I suspect neighbors did resent the 'curb appeal' of Alexander's property (and still do if circumstances remain similar). The Berkeley hills are fairly upscale real estate.

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