Comments on: Cape Cod Meets Jersey Shore

By: Ken Kneeland

Ken Kneeland — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:56:59 +0000

My question is: who would want to clean and maintain these bloated structures (or even PAY someone to clean and maintain them)?
Will the need for status– i.e.: trumping the proverbial Joneses– ever take a backseat to practicality in this country again?

By: Karen Thompson

Karen Thompson — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 01:30:57 +0000

This is so true. And so sad. Here too many of the lovely 1900/1920 c houses across the street from Rice University are replaced by stone and cedar Texania “ranch things” that
destroy the mood…Cape builders should travel south and take a look…may spark a quick fix!

By: Denny

Denny — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:29:06 +0000

Good Mornin Maureen, I feel the same way about farm property here in central New York. The land that is sold is either torn down or falls down over years of New York weahter and the fields just grow up . It is so sad to drive thru farm country here as I do regularly and having been raised on a small farm in western Ma. that is now fully grown up and is not even recornized as former hard worked family supporting farm. Your feeling about the Cape and mine about farmlands is the same,but, that is the sad part of growing older and seeing times change. I would love to buy them all and keep them active like they used to be. Then again ,if I had that much money I probably would not care!

By: Don

Don — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:10:58 +0000

Maureen, please! To use “Cape Cod” and “Jersey Shore” in the same breath is just too repulsive. Have you ever seen the real Jersey Shore…..uck! Disgusting!
Sadly, I’ve witnesssed the same thing happening over in Dennisport over the past few years, albeit it on a smaller scale, for now.
Where are the brains of the municial officials who allow this to happen? Are they that enamored with more tax revenue? I would think the Cape would have severe zoning restrictions. To allow buildings that tall on the ocean is bordering on criminal. And I thought those officials would be one tough bunch. The Cape is simply too special for this kind of activity to continue. No outcry down there???
I have familiarity with Naperville, IL, just outside Chicago. It is a large city, with a downtown area that consists of upscale dining and shopping, with a college thrown for good measure. It is a bedroom city, with mature, established neighborhoods and middle aged developments, and some newer developments.
The favorite pastime of new (and some current) residents is to buy a house in the older sections, tear it down, and build a monstrous home in its place. It is not uncommon to see three story houses erected. They all fill up the lot completely, creating a postage stamp effect. And the architecture is totally different from any surrounding housing. They are monsters that stick out like sore thumbs and look totally out of place in this setting. Progress…..go figure.
Don

By: Carol

Carol — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:14:51 +0000

“Post Card Pretty”. I can so identify with your view. I have always loved the Cape and for all the reasons you identified. I sold my house in Liverpool Village last year. I have a wonderful picture of it in snow. A perfect Cape. Hot in summer, cold in winter but so charming and beautiful. Real Estate said I had the best curb appeal ever but due to a very hot summer, it took awhile. I’m in Clearwater Beach north and they are just starting to build 3 story houses. This isn’t the Cape, but probably as close as I can get to easy living. Home next week. Miss those grandkids and wish I was there to taxi this week off of school.

By: Joan F.

Joan F. — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:41:29 +0000

My husband and I started noticing over a decade ago the old cars and trucks of Cape locals were disapearing, and luxury cars were everywhere. Now the McMansions. How sad that the beautiful Cape homes are being torn down, and these mammoth beauty-blockers are going up.
Great blog!

By: Sandy Jurkiewicz

Sandy Jurkiewicz — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:08:52 +0000

Great article Maureen. wow, I hate to see that happen. The street we are on in Eastham is perfect, I’d hate to see BIG take over.