But attempts to halt the menace defy common sense. Consider, for example, the case of San Jose, CA, mainstay of Silicon Valley. Many San Jose residents live in modest bungalows that reflect the charm of a bygone era but provide little living space, typically less than 1,500 square feet and considered inadequate for a growing family. Some families have decided to solve this problem by expanding and remodeling their homes.
Renovations preserve land and increase property values for an entire neighborhood.
But some in San Jose see them as a threat. It's two stories and it flaunts it. It gives the feeling of lording itself over the street like the lord of the manor. City government agreed and responded with regulations restricting expansion to 45 percent of lot size. Those expanding to 65 percent of lot size must meet a list of seven criteria and gain the approval of a planning director.