HOUSING BOOM
Our area has very few older homes and previously considered a resort destination, it has quickly become a middle to upper-class suburban building area. The farmers used to have fields full of crops on both sides of our street corners out to the main road. But now we have been told new housing will go up on one big lot before the corner, built for French vacation homes. The other big block of farm land has been divided up into 35 building lots but as you can see from the picture, the farmer still has plowed the fertile land until the sales are final. I will miss seeing the fields of cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, peppers, and melons. And what a waste of good fertile land!!
Our home is part of one of the last multiple ownership buildings constructed in the vicinity. We are still the only full-time year round residents for a long way, but there are full time residents across the valley in several sections. Because of the geography of our region, we can see for long distances especially when we climb up a bit further. One of the problems with this is seeing the concrete remains of an abandoned multiple housing project pretty close by. We have been told that the structures were not up to code on earthquake specifications. Whatever, they sit there silently, ominously overlooking the whole valley. What a shame that it has to mar the view for so many. In fact, I would not want to inhabit the new house going up right next to it!
But there are some really lovely houses nearby. The styles are Mediterranean and they vary enough to all be interesting. There are some tracts of houses that are all the same, but at least they have interesting architecture. Many houses are hidden behind fences and gardens but closer by the sea, they are more out in the open.
Some of my favorite ones are the older ones. Sicilians often have a house in the country as well as an apartment in town, so there are some rather old country homes nearby. However the older they are the older the vegetation is and it is hard to see them because they are so blocked off by foliage. The last two pictures are of an older country home that I think is really nice for its simplicity and its view.
Next time-construction in Sicily.
Our home is part of one of the last multiple ownership buildings constructed in the vicinity. We are still the only full-time year round residents for a long way, but there are full time residents across the valley in several sections. Because of the geography of our region, we can see for long distances especially when we climb up a bit further. One of the problems with this is seeing the concrete remains of an abandoned multiple housing project pretty close by. We have been told that the structures were not up to code on earthquake specifications. Whatever, they sit there silently, ominously overlooking the whole valley. What a shame that it has to mar the view for so many. In fact, I would not want to inhabit the new house going up right next to it!
But there are some really lovely houses nearby. The styles are Mediterranean and they vary enough to all be interesting. There are some tracts of houses that are all the same, but at least they have interesting architecture. Many houses are hidden behind fences and gardens but closer by the sea, they are more out in the open.
Some of my favorite ones are the older ones. Sicilians often have a house in the country as well as an apartment in town, so there are some rather old country homes nearby. However the older they are the older the vegetation is and it is hard to see them because they are so blocked off by foliage. The last two pictures are of an older country home that I think is really nice for its simplicity and its view.
Next time-construction in Sicily.
posted by Sicilian Mama at 11:56 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home