From Steven Greenhut:
The Register reported today that homeowners in Orange are furious that the city approved an addition to an Eichler-designed home. Joseph Eichler was a developer who created magnificent modern houses after World War II — simple designs known for their interior courtyards. I love Eichler houses and am a huge fan of mid-century modern, but the neighbors here ought to mind their own business. One of the homeowners told the Register that neighbors want to create an Old Towne-like neighborhood: “After this event, everybody’s motivated to get something down and get these houses protected.”
Talk about busybodies. Why don’t they simply protect their own homes and leave other people alone? In Old Towne, the busybodies patrol the neighborhood looking for design violations. Anything anyone wants to do to the exterior the home, including minor alterations is subject to a board dominated by architects who do business in the area. Here’s my column about the Old Towne Orange Taliban. I’ve lived in historic neighborhoods before and I much prefer putting up with the occasional taste-lacking addition or unkempt yard than put up with the Historic Preservation Nazis prying into my life and making sure that everything I do fits their vision.
Call a doctor! Someone must have slipped me mind-altering drugs! I agree with Greenhut! Aaaaargghhhh, the humanity…..
Don’t worry voter, I’ll make sure this doesn’t happen too often!
I agree with you Steve. If preservationists are so concerned about ensuring the neighborhood remains static they should buy all the homes.
It’s a simple solution.
It’s the same as when a homeowner sues to stop a remodel that now blocks a view. If the view was so important they should have also bought the adjoining lot and planted poppies.
Steve, how refreshing to hear someone actually speak about that little obnoxious thing known as property rights. Unfortunately, it had to come from a reporter, no insult intended Steve, rather an elected politician who is sworn to uphold the Constitution.
If the City of Orange decides to do an overlay of that area and restrict the usage of the land, then it will affect home values. Exercising their use police powers of zoning and building codes in an onerous manner is not going to solve any problems but rather as you pointed out; It will create more
This is exactly why this state needed Prop 90. Because local, state and federal Govt’s have over stepped their authority in “taking” of property, up zoning, findings of blight and other cheap redevelopment devices, homeowners suffer.
Orange will probably cave and create the dreaded “Association Nazi’s”
to keep control over there.
I’m not sure Steve but I think Mark Twain said this; “high fences make for good neighbors”. In the City of Orange the fence height limit is only six feet, too bad.
H.
“If the City of Orange decides to do an overlay of that area and restrict the usage of the land, then it will affect home values”
Indeed it will, Hydrangea - they will likely go up.
However property value is not the main issue. The issue is reasonable use of property. The City should only pursue this if there is unanimity of consent by the affected property owners to an overlay; and make sure it’s in writing.
BTW, Hydrangea, that was Robert Frost exploiting a proverb: Good fences make good neighbors.
Now that I think about it, that twist on the proverb does sound a lot like Mark Twain.
Maybe Siu-Fun Wong should forego the remodel and dump old engines and appliances in his/her front yard. Let’s see what the fussies would do then.