Readers React: Sorry, Arcadia -- mansionization is unstoppable

To the editor: I hate to disillusion the Arcadia residents unhappy about enormous houses replacing traditional ranch-style homes, but that horse left the barn 30 years ago. (“In Arcadia, frustration builds as more homes give way to mansions,” Aug. 11)

I lived a couple of blocks outside the Arcadia city limits for 40 years, and I can well remember this trend to the humongous beginning in the 1970s. We moaned about it then, as the singular attribute of these homes is that they are huge; they are not attractive, much less beautiful.

I wish the dissidents good luck in their efforts to buck the trend, but it would have been nice if someone had paid attention long ago.

Carolyn Ziegler-Davenport, Pine Mountain Club, Calif.

..

To the editor: The Arcadia homeowner associations decrying the mansionization movement don’t protest the $1.5-million to $2-million prices for 1,900-square-foot homes described as traditional or ranch style. You can update the windows and put in quartz countertops — but that’s it!

Unfortunately the buyers of these properties don’t value quaint, 1940s and ‘50s bungalows; they value lot sizes and proximity to Los Angeles. They can pick up these homes, mess around with zoning codes for two years and still make a buck on the future McMansion.

Sorry, Arcadia, but these new settlers in America are richer than you, and good old-fashioned capitalism allows them to say no to worshiping and preserving your bygone era. They’ll take 2015 luxury and size, thank you very much.

Tricia Bregman, Santa Ana

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook