Halloween Special: Monster-Size Houses

The American home is getting bigger. And fatter. And, to some, uglier. Now, towns are fighting back.

Chevy Chase, Md., an upscale suburb of Washington, recently announced a six-month moratorium on home construction to make time to examine how to deal with the proliferation of oversized single-family houses.

Call them what you will -- starter castles, McMansions, monster homes -- these houses have become increasingly visible in metropolitan landscapes. Many residents hate them.

Todd Hoffman, town manager, said that more than 500 Chevy Chasers, a significant number in a community of just over 1,000 homes, signed a petition expressing their "concern about the effects of 'mansionization.'"

Folks in Chevy Chase aren't alone.

New York city councilman Tony Avella from Bayside in Queens, led a rezoning effort last April that combats the trend. He said, "Overdevelopment is the No. 1 issue in my district. It comes up more than education or police protection."

The Los Angeles city council recently passed an ordinance that limits home size in the Sunlund-Tujunga area.

New Canaan, Conn., enacted regulations this year that limit the height of new houses. Nearby Greenwich and Westport have similar rules under consideration.

Other opposition has surfaced in Boston, the Chicago suburbs and the Bay Area in California.
What's the big deal?

Are these new homes really so gargantuan that they should attract such fear and loathing?

Back in 1950, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the average new house clocked in at 963 square feet. By 1970, that figure had swollen to 1,500 square feet.

Today's average: 2,400 square feet. One in five are more than 3,000 square feet.

they should build these things far away from us "regular" folk. besides if you think youre worthy of living in a 5000 sq ft or larger home why would you want to be around the peons to begin with..?? opulence at its finest. its not that im against people spending their money as they please but why rub it in our faces..?? i do think some of that money spent so frivolously could be better spent helping others but hey to each his/her own.

Wow what a cool chateau,too bad it's in France. ;)

If the rich want it, they will get it. It's the American way. Money talks and you-know-what walks. And get it tax-free.

Wow! Fifty cents goes along way these days.

Half a buck? Yeah, that's what I'd pay to listen to him.

Half a buck? They would have to pay me a lot more to listen to his trash NOC music.

Half a buck is better than nothing.

The saddest commentary here is that 50 cent had the millions to spend.

He still worth only $00.50 to me.........

50 cent lives in dix hills long island new york correct????

this is all drug money and you and your children paid for it.

hey tojo hows everything in japan? say hi to fitty cent for me he he he

It's a rip off.

I hope he realizes the blessing that it takes to have a house like that. Now the question is, is it a house or a home?

You're just jealous. HAHA.

you are so right, but we have a lot of hating black people here too. when whites had these homes no one said anything but how nice!!!

I'll take my 700 square foot 1BR condo with a view of downtown LA from one side, and the Hollywood sign from the other, plus a swimming pool and jacuzzi on the roof, any day of the week over one of those "monsters."

The joke is on him when he can't pay the taxes. No one really owns anything in this world; the game is rigged.