A Man's Eichler Is His Castle
Posted by: Jubal | 03/05/2008 11:45 AM
Here's a fine post by Steve Greenhut about the unfortunately predictable reaction by Eichler home enthusiasts to the City of Orange OKing a homeowner's request to build an addition to his Eichler home. I had the same reaction after reading this morning's OC Register story.Neighbors voiced their concerns to city officials and recently met with city planners seeking answers. Why was such a plan approved?Maybe because it's the guy's house? As in: he owns it, it belongs to him, he's paying for it and it's his private property.
Naturally, the Eichler-philes are vowing to git organized!:
"Now everyone is going to sit up and take a lot of notice," said Stephanie Raffel, a realtor who specializes in the homes and owns one. "This is going to galvanize people and hopefully stop this."Yes, because that's always the appropriate solution: use government to impose your aesthetic affinities on other peoples' property. I thought realtors were traditionally supportive of property rights?
It's not an empty threat:
Fabulous. I'll bring the wine and cheese and the latest Mother Jones.The city may later consider adopting a historic overlay or naming the Eichler tracts as local historic districts.
Many Eichler owners have worked toward achieving historic designation for the Eichler tracts that were built in the 1960s and regained popularity in recent years. The homes attracted a range of owners - writers, architects, graphic artists and art aficionados.
I would hope my representatives on the Orange City Council have enough sense and respect for liberty and private property to give these folks a respectful hearing -- and then send them on their merry way. When the Olde Towne Historic District was formed, proponents promised it wouldn't impact anyone's property rights. It didn't really work out that way.
I think Eichler homes are very cool.
To which I'd respond: then set an example by respecting your own Eichler home and don't use the coercive power of government to impose your hobby on someone else."The point is that people who buy these houses have respect for them," said owner David Cogswell.
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Property Rights
Mr. Ayer registered as a Republican to be electable in an interim election with no incumbents. He did...
This same "battle" has played out in select eichler neighorbhoods in Northern California. See northern california eichler information at http://www.eichlerforsale.com
one thing that is readily apparent is that homeowner values are adversely effected in Eichler neighborhoods were you DON'T have some level of conformity.
The neighborhoods with 2-story additions, 'non-eichler' additions and quasi-monster houses take a fairly significant hit in terms of the value of homes in the ENTIRE neighborhood.
Hopefully this won't be permitted.
I would like to suggest that the residents of the Eichler tracts petition for Mills Act tax benefits as incentives to preserve and protect those homes. Orange has a very successful Mills Act program in Old Towne, not a big deal to expand that and get people to respect those homes without becoming architecture Nazis. Go talk to Dan Ryan.