Elek.borrelli wrote:Although they might seem out of place here, I'd love to see some form of Vinyl Victorians like those attached. I think it could be a lot more cost effective than brick while being a lot better looking than the suburban junk in other areas of North City. In the end, I think the appearance comes down to density. Fingers crossed that any infill is not more than 6 feet apart.
Aren’t there some examples of vinyl Victorian in Columbus square?
New Town in St. Charles was successful due to heavy promotion and demand driven by those seeking a "family oriented" suburban community within a good school district. Most enjoy/choose to live in the City due to density, architecture, nearby amenities and employers. The City neighborhoods with the greatest success (strong demand, increasing property values, economic/racial diversity) remain dense, retain irreplaceable architectural integrity not found in the suburbs and are near institutional/employment anchors. The NGA may be a significant development, but most making an average of $100K+ annual income prefer quality construction, safety and good school districts for their children. The Net Zero style of construction is a nonstarter. I fear many involved in some of these initiatives are "speculative get rich via real estate novice" without the practical knowledge of what truly attracts an economically diverse buyer pool leading to sustainable communities.
I'm not sure I would call either of these Victorian, but they are certainly more thoughtful and easier on the eye than similar infill in the Gate District for example. IMO, no amount of ornamentation can make thin white siding look good.
