Comments on: Smaller is Better

By: Decatur Metro

Decatur Metro — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:01:49 +0000

Glad you enjoyed it!

Indeed you are right Kim, we are not alone in the metro area in terms of house size, but we’re still not the majority, in either the ATL metro or nationwide. Also I’m not sure there are really that many 2-3 bedrooms anymore…I’d say 4 is the average these days…even in built-out DeKalb. On top of that, throughout the housing boom we saw countless examples of huge houses being built on small intown lots where a 2 bedroom American Small House used to be.

By: Kim->CommunityRadar.com

Kim->CommunityRadar.com — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:52:09 +0000

… pun intended, not pub … perhaps a Freudian slip!

By: Kim->CommunityRadar.com

Kim->CommunityRadar.com — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:51:04 +0000

Great perspective from 17 years ago! I have to say, though, that while Decatur is certainly a great example of smaller is better I don’t think you are alone in Atlanta metro. All over DeKalb and other inner Atlanta burbs, there are many neighborhoods from the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s that are still dominated by the original housing stock. My grandfather’s house still stands pretty much as it did in the 30’s off Cascade Rd. My own family lives in our 1955-built home with a 1350 sq ft footprint.

Despite the high profile (pub intended) McMansion movement in infill construction, most of us in DeKalb still live in modest 2 or 3 bedroom homes. Smaller is indeed better … and it is still dominating ITP.

For smaller is better enthusiasts, here is a great resource:

http://www.notsobighouse.com/

A great site to dream and plan for the best use of your current home or your small dream home of the future! Thanks for sharing the Atlantic article.