There is an old adage that says that real estate is a great investment because "they're not making any more of it!" While essentially that is true, it doesn't accurately represent what is happening in the real world.
Even though the aggregate amount of real estate as a whole varies very little, the number of parcels of real estate increases dramatically every year as the result of subdivision of larger tracts of land into smaller lots. And this phenomenon is not limited to land, as even large warehouses and commercial buildings are being divided into lofts and apartments.
County courthouses are bursting at the seams with plat and deed books, and the number of recorded parcels increases each year. Subdivision is a long standing method of increasing the market value of a property, and real estate as a business has always benefited from it.
But what is being lost in the process? In many areas, once beautiful vistas are being desecrated by encroaching development. In downtown areas, historic buildings are being demolished to make way for new construction. Picturesque farms are being sectioned off into monotonous housing tracts.
There are times that you cannot even tell in which town you are to be found, because all of the main streets now feature Wal-mart, McDonalds, Old Navy and all of the National chain stores. Uniqueness and individuality has given way to singular uniformity.
As a lover of history, I will always choose preservation over obliteration. I hope that my grandchildren can enjoy America's past in a visual way, and would like to think that they would have the same appreciation of the relics of America's colorful journey through time.
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Richard Weisser, Broker, Associate Broker, Auctioneer, E-Pro, CE Instructor |
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Richard you are so right, I went to Italy (the time of my life) and the history is so rich there.I was like a kid seeing candy for the first time when in Rome. Why don't we treasure our past here in the U.S.?
Richard, I agree 100% with you. . .America is losing it's identity and it will require the attention of it's citizens to stop it or lose it completely in a few more years. .
Darin...
In Europe, they seem to have a lot more respect for the past than we do here. I have Italy on my "bucket list" and I hope to get there at some point in the near future!
Fernando...
What surprises me is that preservation effort usually succeed economically so why not go for it?
Richard - I understand your concern and share it. I prefer open Vista's to cramped cookie cutter developments. I prefer charming older buildings to strip malls. However, I am also a free enterpriser, a supporter of property rights.
In China there is a massive move to modernization. They laugh at us in the U.S. and consider us somewhat inferior, or, the junior cousin because, as I have been told, we have no history. While the "New World" has been settled for some 500 years, they have almost 5000 years of recorded history. Yet today they are building McDonald's and KFC's left and right. They are tearing down traditional neighborhoods and building like we do.
Is it right or wrong? Who am I to judge. Countries evolve, architectures evolve. Sometimes taste doesn't.
Take care my friend. Do what you do so well and preserve some of that history in telling and moving images.
One of the many many reasons I like Texas is because we have a vast amount of developed and undeveloped land. The metroplex is a fun place for shopping and restaurants but ten miles away you find pastures and farms. However, Italy kicks it way out of the park!
Mike...
Now you know that i am a supporter of property rights. Heck, if all truth be told, I'm not crazy about zoning. I'm just considering heritage as part of the formula.
If we can find new uses for the old, that's fantastic! Preservation often depends on modernization. Other cultures have been doing that for centuries.
I just like the idea of Americana being presented on it's original canvas. It's a body of work that should not be dismantled for spare parts!
Mel...
My daughter has been to Italy, and loved every minute of it. I'll have to follow in her footsteps one day. Maybe she will accompany me and give me the grand tour! Ciao bambino!
We are also like Texas in a way (Melody) Alot of developement, but not far away, its back into the pristine Nature God gave us. Richard...at the rate we are going we will only have "your" pictures to preserve our past.
Richard,
So much history that has been lost and all we have are pictures, if that.
Thank you for the post my friend.
Don R.
Bill...
Looks like you still have a lot of God's country where you live!
Don...
I try to preserve all I can in photos, but I'd rather save the real thing! Thanks.