No McMansion.org

McMansion mania just doesn’t make sense

nomcmansion — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 20:47:40 +0000

Here’s what financial guru Suze Orman had to say about McMansions in a recent article “When the already-expensive cost of heating your home in the winter and keeping it cool in summer could keep getting higher and higher, McMansion mania just doesn’t make sense. Why would you want to heat and cool a 4,000-plus-square-foot house when any family of four can live more than comfortably in a house half that size? A smaller home means smaller utility bills.”

Help us out here home builders and remodelers. Design, remodel, and build smaller homes. Let’s see how creative we can get with a smaller footprint, rather than trying to figure out how to fill a large space.

Voluntary Simplicity

nomcmansion — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 05:54:53 +0000

I think Stephanie Brail is on to something with her Natural New.com article entitled Voluntary Simplicity: Good for You, Good for the Environment when she said “…a person who is practicing voluntary simplicity may give up a large, expensive “McMansion” to move into a smaller home that needs less energy to heat in the winter and cool down in the summer.” She defines the philosophy of voluntary simplicity as “downshift(ing) from a high-pressure, high-cost lifestyle to one that is more spiritual, humble, and less materialistic.”

Queen Anne and Magnolia residents just received a flyer from Seattle City Light saying they want us to partner with them to help our neighborhoods conserve energy by passing out light bulbs. Neighborhood Power Project (NPP) It sounds like a good idea.

Maybe SCL should also consider partnering with developers and realtors to design and sell smaller, more efficient single family homes. A couple of light bulbs isn’t going to do much for my new McMansion neighbor with four bathrooms, three gas fireplaces, and a hot tub. We could all benefit by practicing a little voluntary simplicity.

McMansion Trend Over? Homes in excess of 3,400 square feet aren’t selling in Manteca

nomcmansion — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 20:37:27 +0000

“Instead of models 2,800 square feet and above dominating the new home plans being reviewed at City Hall, the trend is for homes less than that benchmark to effectively signal the end of the McMansion era in Manteca.” Manteca Bulletin

It looks like builders in Manteca, California have figured out what people want. How long do you think it will take for developers in Seattle to realize this? They seem to think that everyone with money wants to spend it on a big house so they can get lost in it.

It’s harder to trade in a McMansion than it is an SUV

nomcmansion — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 16:39:00 +0000

“It’s harder to trade in a McMansion than it is an SUV.” So said Stephen Schork, an analyst and trader in Villanova, Pa when asked by the Associated Press about the new record oil price set on Friday. Oil sets new record above $147 a barrel

Developers need a new game plan. How about designing smaller, greener homes with more space for trees and other plants?

Please email us a picture and description of a McMansion in your neighborhood. There is still time to convince developers and buyers that smaller portions are a good idea. Send suggestions to: nomcmansion@gmail.com

Here’s the McMansion version of the triple cheeseburger: McMansion #9

nomcmansion — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 02:32:07 +0000

1633 5th Ave W Seattle WA 98119

Neighbors say the house that used to sit on this lot had a wonderful garden. Move over fruits and vegetables! Here comes the beef! Adding one more patty sure improves the view. The new owners will be able to see the Sound and two mountain ranges. The neighbors will just get to see your house… No matter which way they look.

No room for tomatoes and lettuce. Boy, am I full.

3 McMansions for $1: McMansions #5, #6, and #7

nomcmansion — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:26:55 +0000

1024 W Ruffner St Seattle WA 98119

Okay, so you can’t really buy all three of these McMansions for $1, but listen to what one of our readers has to say about what can happen when a developer was able to replace one normal-sized house with three McMansions.

“3 huge box houses, no vegetation!, All painted the same color. Each house is at least 3600 square feet and sits on a 4400 square foot lot (this doesn’t included the green belt in the front of the houses). If you include the garages at 1020 and 1024 W. Ruffner, they are 4-story houses when viewed from the alley. The signature trend of this developer- make the street view of the house look “ok”, but use cheap siding/no details on the other 3 sides of the house. From all but one viewing angle, they look like apartments. Not your traditional
Queen Anne house.”

Those Dollar Menu items may sound good when you are hungry but the aftertaste is not so pleasant. I don’t know about you but I think I’ve lost my appetite.

Butterfly flying over your house: McMansion #4

nomcmansion — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 19:06:02 +0000

3439 10th Ave W Seattle WA 98119

What a lovely summer day. A butterfly gently flies over your house. Sounds like a pleasant thought unless the huge moth-like wings are actually the roof of a developer’s new McMansion next door.

Gone are the gentle breezes from the South, replaced with an odd looking giant insect on sale for more than twice the value of any home in the neighborhood.

Try to look on the bright side, or should I say the shady side? You will never have to worry about bubbling paint on the south side of your house again. Instead, I would recommend investing in a power washer as your new found shade will likely result in increased moss growth.

Here’s a burger that hangs over the bun: McMansion #3

nomcmansion — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 04:59:23 +0000

3222 10th Ave W Seattle WA 98119

Don’t you hate it when you bite into a hamburger and come up empty? All bun and no meat. No need to worry with this McMansion. The original house had three bedrooms. Now there are four. The bathrooms used to be two and now are three and half. The old house took up 1,920 sq. ft. This new whopper expanded to 3,400 sq. ft. The burger is practically hanging off the bun.

Supersize Me: McMansion #2

nomcmansion — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 03:10:09 +0000

McMansion at 1023 West Ruffner St Seattle WA 98119

These two houses used to be twins. Guess which one is currently owned by a flipper?

Oh, the life of a flipper… it’s a good life. You never have to cut the grass. No need for concern when you block neighbors’ views. You don’t have to think twice about building right up to the property line. You’ll be on to the next neighborhood just as soon as you can put up that sold sign.

You might even be tempted to tell the IRS that you lived in the house the whole two years it sat vacant waiting for you to convince Seattle City Hall that gentrification is good for the neighborhood. After all, doesn’t economic diversity mean that we need new neighbors who can afford higher property taxes?

As for maximizing the footprint of the house, who needs trees anyway? There is no need to worry about higher temperatures caused by global warming when your McMansion permanently shades the neighborhood. You can walk tall and feel proud that you build a house that looks like it ate too many french fries.

We have a winner! McMansion #1

nomcmansion — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 23:41:35 +0000

McMansion at 3456 12th Ave West Seattle, Washington

Here is a McMansion that is for sale before it has been built. How about a 4200 sq. ft. home on a 6000 sq. ft. lot? Sounds a little out of proportion. Okay, so this is a two-story house but it will also have a 990 sq. ft. deck. The deck will have a larger footprint than most houses in the neighborhood. That’s going to look a little out of place.

The seller is excited about the 18 ft. ceilings on the second floor. Must be a green house. The ad says that this Queen Anne neighborhood has “endless views.” I’m guessing they meant “ended views” for the neighbors.