Going for the gold

[Gaspar]

The first LEED Gold Midtown home is almost done.  Located at about 34th and Rockford. 

[TheArtist]

Glad its LEED gold and hope to see more.  But for my own tastes, I dont really like how the garage is in the front like that. That type of house seems to "distance" itself from the rest of the neighborhood and the street. Its aloof and set back, versus the older homes were up front and welcoming. When your walking, biking or driving through the old neighborhoods they feel different than when you go into one of the newer neighborhoods were you find a lot of houses like this one. In the older neighborhoods the front porch, windows, and front door are right there up front. It creates a fresh and inviting feeling down the whole street. When the "people part" of the house is set further back behind the "car part" its almost like they are saying, "We dont want to be part of this neighborhood. We want to hide back behind this big, boring garage." The interaction, the feel, of the home with the rest of the neighborhood and streetscape are unimportant. Its a garage with an attached house.

The LEED is the right direction, BRAVO!, but the "snout house" design is the wrong direction to take a neighborhood imho.  

[Gaspar]

Glad its LEED gold and hope to see more.  But I dont like how the garage is in the front like that. That type of house "distances" itself from the rest of the neighborhood and the street. Its aloof and set back, versus the older homes were up front and welcoming. When your walking or driving through the old neighborhoods they feel different than when you go into one of the newer neighborhoods were you find a lot of houses like this one. In the older neighborhoods the front porch, windows, and front door are right there. It creates a fresh and inviting feeling down the whole street. When the "people part" of the house is set further back behind the "car part" its almost like they are saying, "We dont want to be part of this neighborhood. We want to hide back behind this big, boring garage." The interaction, the feel, of the home with the rest of the neighborhood and streetscape are unimportant.

The LEED is the right direction, but the "snout house" design is the wrong direction to take a neighborhood. 

The problem is that these lots are very narrow, leaving virtually no room for a driveway.  Originally the homes in this neighborhood had a single car garage that really wouldn't house much more than a car and a couple of folding chairs.  In order to create a modern home with the space requirements that families are looking for, the garage has to be positioned in front of the home. 

If the garage were to be set front facing you would sacrifice a significant amount of square footage.  There are some other options such as shotgun garages, but this style sells very well.  Many people don't like a front facing garage door.

[carltonplace]

I'm not certain why people prefer the garage poking out to the street with the front door back in an alcove. A front door is welcoming, a garage door is not (astheticaly speaking). If you live in the home, you are going to come and go through the garage and probably rarely use the front door. Guests on the other hand have to walk around the garage to find the portal to your home.

[BierGarten]

A home that says, essentially, "welcome to my garage house" is not pleasing to the eye, to say the least, and often times upsets me, especially when such a house is built in midtown.  Architecture wise, such a house just doesn't belong in midtown.

There is one such house just now on the market, built spec, at around 38th and Utica.  Makes me want to throw up every time I drive by it.  It is like the builder went to suburbia south Tulsa, picked the ugliest design possible, and plopped it at 38th and Utica.  I have a hard time picturing the buyer who wants the south Tulsa cookie cutter look in the middle of midtown, but there must be such buyers out there or else builders wouldn't build these things, right?  I'll try to post a picture of it later.

At least the LEED house has the garage doors perpendicular to the street and not facing it...

[brianh]

How come there is a window on the garage facing the street?

[cannon_fodder]

I've never liked the garage first homes either for the reasons listed.  Now I own one.

The reason it works out better is simple space management.  My driveway is short as my garage is situated up front with my house next to and behind it.  This gives me less driveway and more yard.  That's the only advantage I can really think of and honestly, I use the garage as an entrance at least as often as the front door.

It bothered me at first and I would prefer another design, but alas, it is what it is.  I prefer it to a driveway wasting half my lot I guess (snaking around back).  I also prefer having more backyard to more front yard.  Guess Im trying to find the positives.

Basic designed: H = house.  G = garage.  P = front porch

-----------
|HHHHHHH|
|HH____H |
|gg|P   |_|
|---

I am available for architectural renderings if anyone is hiring.

[Conan71]

You're good.  Why are you wasting time practicing the law when you have this gift?

[OpenYourEyesTulsa]

I like the houses in midtown with the detached garage in the back with an apartment above.  I would probably want a covered walkway to the garage.  I also like the garage on the side of the house.  I'm sure it will change to some other style in a few years and they will think our modern houses of today are out-dated.

[carltonplace]

For the most part, people that have garages don't park in them...they park in the driveway.

[RecycleMichael]

For the most part, people that have garages don't park in them...they park in the driveway.

We have two garages, one attached and one detached form the home. Yes, we park both cars on the driveway.  The garage is for more important things, like storing croquet sets and recyclables.

[cannon_fodder]

For the most part, people that have garages don't park in them...they park in the driveway.

I disagree with that statement.  For the most part - people who have older small garages don't park in them perhaps.  But my neighborhood there is only one garage that isn't used for parking.  Well, 2 if you count the old lady who doesn't have a car.  Maybe 3 if you count JNE, but I don't think he has a garage now that I think about it.

Bah!  Still.  Most people use them. 

I figure my car is worth $20,000 . . . all the crap in my garage is worth $100.

[carltonplace]

I disagree with that statement.  For the most part - people who have older small garages don't park in them perhaps.  But my neighborhood there is only one garage that isn't used for parking.  Well, 2 if you count the old lady who doesn't have a car.  Maybe 3 if you count JNE, but I don't think he has a garage now that I think about it.

Bah!  Still.  Most people use them. 

I figure my car is worth $20,000 . . . all the crap in my garage is worth $100.

I disagree with that statement. I have a spacious garage that I "choose" not to park my car in because it's filled with my (and everyone else's) stuff. Attached or detached, a garage is a big storage shed for the lawn mower. I have one friend that I can know of that parks in his garage (he lives in BA and  has a three car garage with a smaller garage for the ephemera of life). Everyone else parks in the drive way because it's easier than pushing the button and waiting for the door to open.

[Conan71]

I disagree with that statement.  For the most part - people who have older small garages don't park in them perhaps.  But my neighborhood there is only one garage that isn't used for parking.  Well, 2 if you count the old lady who doesn't have a car.  Maybe 3 if you count JNE, but I don't think he has a garage now that I think about it.

Bah!  Still.  Most people use them. 

I figure my car is worth $20,000 . . . all the crap in my garage is worth $100.

I'll give you $100 for all the crap in your garage, especially the micro-brewery and keg cooler.

[BierGarten]

For the most part, people that have garages don't park in them...they park in the driveway.

People that care about the look of their neighborhood park in the garage.  Lazy, trashy, unorganized people park in the driveway when they have the option of parking in a garage.