There's a battle underway in many communities across the country. On one side is the irresistible force of progress - home builders and developers, and homebuyers in a hurry to move into brand-new homes. On the other side is the immovable object of community government and citizens already settled into growing neighborhoods. The combatants are fighting for the right to determine what neighborhoods look like - specifically, how to control "cookie-cutter" houses and assure diversity of architectural design.

The families that occupy the first few homes in a new neighborhood are often quite surprised when they find that a nearly identical version of the home they call their own is under construction two doors down. How did that happen? After all, when they met with their builder they chose the brick color, the siding color, and the roof shingles; they reversed the plan and picked the upgraded landscaping package. But suddenly their vision of home ownership, their biggest investment, their pride, is diluted by similar visions sprouting up all along their street.

Home builders and developers, on the other hand, are under intense financial and competitive pressure. Development starts many years in advance of construction, when land developers purchase and "stockpile" land for future use. It's a speculative game, and developers cross their fingers that homebuyers will desire today the land that they bought ten years ago. The trick is to appeal to a wide audience and buy land in areas now that will be in demand later. Part of that wider appeal is expressed in the design of the homes that are offered for sale or for construction in those neighborhoods. The safest route is always a small number of easily modified designs that can be accurately priced and that will satisfy the desires of the largest number of people. Read more...