A modest proposal for the Environmental Movement

Just having a restless night, thinking, this is probably a bad thing, but happens nonetheless. For the past two and a half years I have been involved in the development and construction of large scale subdivisions here in Western NC. (I work for a regional bank and handled the loan set up and draw requests)

Upon many of these subdivisions were built "McMansions" , 3000+ square foot houses on small lots. From an architectural point of view these houses are hideous, a mish mash of clashing elements that have no unifying theme. They cost a fortune to heat and cool. Worst of all they were constructed on the cheap and are incredibly flimsy. In a few years they will begin to fall apart.

Now that we are the midst of the worst residential real estate market in history, with record foreclosures, high unemployment, falling home values and 10 months of unsold inventory on the market, I see a great opportunity for the environmental movement to not only restore a number of these subdivisions back to nature, but to preserve unspoiled land and also help to stabilize home values at the same time.

I believe that organizations such as the Sierra Club, The Audubon Society and the World Wildlife Federation should put together land conservancy trusts. These trusts could approach banks, to buy out the houses in the now abandoned subdivisions (There are many of these in Florida) demolish the houses, clean up the debris and restore the land, re-grading and planting native trees on the property. They could also purchase subdivisions that have not been developed and return them back to a natural state. In both cases the conservancy would hold the land and never allow development to occur. Alternatively in some places the hideous McMansions can be leveled and replaced with smaller, more affordable, environmentally correct houses, powered by sustainable energy sources (solar, wind etc) and built using eco friendly construction techniques.

I believe this would be a win-win situation for all. A win for the banks that need to unload the toxic assets, in order to free up capital more profitable lending, a win for the environment, because it would preserve nature, slow down sprawl and fight global warming (more trees trap carbon), and all without a dime of taxpayer dollars. Lastly a win for current homeowners as reducing the number of available houses would stabilize falling home values.

Maybe a good compromise would be to raze these monstrosities and build greener, smaller, more affordable housing. There's a big need for that, and I think there will be a growing demand as well. Replant trees in these subdivisions, provide space for gardens, have a community area. If I were a developer, you better believe I'd be doing this, both for ethical and profitable reasons.

I have never understood the attraction of those soulless treeless neighborhoods full of sterile boxes, no one outside, no kids playing, everyone sealed in their oversized building with garages so you don't have to encounter your neighbor.... One of these places is going in right behind me, and they ripped out old woods and displaced all the animals -- all that remains is maybe 2-3 acres out of what was probably 20 or more. It was horrible hearing the foxes screaming at night for a while, seeing animals that I've never encountered before wandering into my yard. And 14 months later, not a single one of the houses has sold. And yet they keep building them. Insane.

Good thinking Suze, and thank you for responding. One of my ambtions would be to construct an eco-based subdivision with the following features.

Concrete rather than wood homes

The home plans would be drawn be an actual licensed architect rather than some drafting student

No house would be larger than 2000 sq feet and no lot smaller than a half acre

There would be minimum of a 100 feet of green space between each house.

Each house would be solar powered with hydrogen fuel cell backup generators, each house would be reveresed metered so the subdivision could sell excess energy back to the local town or city, and all hot water heaters would be tankless. Each house would include a heavy duty outside outlet for charging electric cars.

I would develop a system for recycling gray water

No gas powered mowers would be allowed.

I would also arrange a subsidy to help make these affordable, with extra credit to a family which owns a hybrid, hydrogen or electric car.

Thats just a few things. I just wish I could raise the capital.

I've even read somewhere recently that there's a growing market for recycled materials from razed buildings -- even the lumber, so it wouldn't be a total loss for the owners.

My dream neighborhood would also have permeable surface roadways and driveways. I think there's paving material now for that. Fresh water runoff is also an issue.

Good ideas as well. -TJ