Friday, June 8, 2007

A Midtown McMansion looms over neighbors

Here, at 3129 E 27th St, a modest 50s/60s ranch-style house was leveled and replaced. The new house dwarfs its neighbors: the roofline is more than twice as high as any of its neighbors. All the landscaping, except one single tree, was sacrificed to make room. Despite their grand appearance, homes like this are typically constructed with surprisingly fragile materials. Masonite siding is commonplace, and when water finds a seam, the material swells and rots rapidly. New homeowners are typically surprised by the maintenance required to keep their houses from deteriorating.