[loser777]

It gets exhausting seeing the same NIMBY talking points trotted around every once in a while. I guess the "new developments are just luxury housing" talking points have started to smell so we're back to the good old "character of the neighborhood."

Taking a look at the "character of the neighborhood" in South Bay and I couldn't be more thrilled that developers are putting up inoffensive boxes rather than some rehash of "Spanish/Mediterranean revival" that seemed to dominate circa 2000-2015. I have a little more hope that these "bland boxes" won't look garishly outdated in a generation. And that's neglecting the irony entirely of "European" styling applied to single family sprawl.

EDIT: Spoke too soon, "For many people, 5-over-1s have come to symbolize the most painful aspects of today’s housing crisis — stand-ins for gentrification, corporate landlords and excessively high rents." Do better, NYT.

[comte7092]

The frustrating thing is that these units aren’t even luxurious, they are just new and relatively expensive. Having lived in and visited other who live in this type of construction, you consistently see that these are slapped together to look nice in photos, while the laminate floors, sinks, etc are poorly installed, and the wear shows pretty quickly.

It says a lot about the state of America that in unit laundry and ~500 sq ft is “luxury”.

[girafffe_i]

And yet it's still an valued point. Some things can be trite and true, why spend energy entertaining contrairianism.

Being bold and out of character may inadvertently build character (brutalism). Movies have done the same: appeal to the masses by not being noticeably placeable.

Chicago has this many (show 1 finger) new floorplans replacing the brown/graystones which were themselves ubiquitous, and it's soul crushing. Every year I live in this city adds to the bane of noticing all the "misses" on long term investments and diversity (housing, minimal investment in public spaces, say "bike lane" as many times as you can in one sentence.)

Keep contention high by being noticeable and trying. not bland by contrast.

[brailsafe]

Agreed. Seems like you cut deep with the crowd on here who lives in those repulsive suburban spanish revival style mcmansions or w/e

[frogpelt]

Those "inoffensive boxes" look to me, like stuff I would expect to see being built in Russia. I'm offended by them.

[willnonya]

Speaking of tired talking points, do better... I'm sure that won't be cringe any time soon.

[calt]

What is this supposed to mean?

Why is the post cringe?

[jimbob45]

I think he meant to put double quotes around “do better”.

[2h]

Can you please speak English? I can even understand this where the sarcasm begins and ends anymore.