Renovations?

Everyday when I drive to work, I go through a traditionally black neighborhood. When I began doing this, it was pretty seriously run down. The houses were old, the people were poor. There were problems with crime.

Then one day, I noticed that one of the houses was getting new siding. Then another got a new roof. The tiny concrete block houses on one street were getting very spiffed up with new paint, new roofs, new porches and new fences. It was like a wave moving through the neighborhood. Nothing too over the top, just a growing pride in house and home and neighborhood. It was lovely to see.

Soon, the vacant lots were partially cleared and new houses started going in. NICE houses. I miss the greenspace, but I understand that they really were just vacant lots.

The rolling fix up finally moved to the nicer houses in the neighborhood. One that was nice and big got new landscaping and new windows and was just spiffed up in general. The house next to it was quite a nice brick house with lovely landscaping.

Last week, I drove past and discovered that work was in progress. The bricks had been painted an off white. Dormers had been added to the roof. And a new entryway was being built. But apparently the owners couldn't decide which kind...

Shall we have a gable or a colonnade?

No! Wait! TURRETS are cool! Let's have one of those!!!

You have to wonder what the permit office was thinking when they approved this...