Conservation Districts vs. McMansions: Which is Better?

These two homes are located on Richard Ave. in Vickery Place. There are many more homes that looks just like these scattered throughout Vickery Place yet the Conservation District doesn't seem to do anything about it.

In the never ending debate over which is better, bulldozing old homes to make way for McMansions or encouraging renovation of older homes with "character", there never seems to be hard data to clearly support either side. What I will say - bluntly, cuz that's how I roll - is that Vickery Place should have NEVER been allowed to be a Conservation District.

You tell me, are these homes increasing Vickery Place's property values more than if a $500K+ McMansion were to be built on the very same lots? (Yes, I know a builder can still build in Vickery Place, but not without a bunch a red tape and getting approval from a biased Board.)

If you think McMansions ruin property I suggest you talk to residents of Preston Hollow, Park Cities, Lakewood and Lakewood Heights. They don't seem to be complaining too much about their property values.

Neighborhood Stabilization Overlay = "I Hate You and Your House"

This has to be my favorite blog picture. And so very apropos for this article in DMN which just adds to the tension being built up in parts of East Dallas. (Is East Dallas really this bitchy?) It's no secret the residents here - yes, I live in Lakewood - have been dividing neighborhoods for years regarding tear downs and McMansions. But guess who's been doing the dividing? It's not the people tearing down homes and bringing higher income families to East Dallas schools. Have you ever seen or heard someone saying, "Screw you and your old home! I'm going to tear this bitch down and build the biggest and gaudiest house I possibly can just to piss you off. And I'm going to spend $700K doing it! So there!". I didn't think so.

If your 2 bedroom, 1 bath home is really that cute then someone will buy it and live in it. So until then, East Dallas, the Park Cities and Preston Hollow will continue to "one up" you when it comes to real estate values, Whole Foods, retail, restaurants, schools...get the picture?

Wikipedia says, "Cutting off the nose to spite the face is an expression used to describe a needlessly self-destructive overreaction to a problem." It's called change. Deal with it.