Comments on: Toll Brothers is Hungry: Eating our Land and Spitting it Back Out http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2008/06/03/toll-brothers-is-hungry-eating-our-land-and-spitting-it-back-out/ Dispatches from the Youth Climate Movement Sat, 20 Mar 2010 22:12:59 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: GMF77 http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2008/06/03/toll-brothers-is-hungry-eating-our-land-and-spitting-it-back-out/#comment-69748 GMF77 Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:36:45 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.wordpress.com/?p=4809#comment-69748 I completely disagree with the houses not being well built. Our house has a 10 year limited warranty and the developer wouldn’t offer that if they didn’t stand behind their work. The only things gone wrong with our house were manufacture error and the problems had nothing to do with the installation (which was done by the developer). I completely disagree with the houses not being well built. Our house has a 10 year limited warranty and the developer wouldn’t offer that if they didn’t stand behind their work. The only things gone wrong with our house were manufacture error and the problems had nothing to do with the installation (which was done by the developer).

]]> By: Alisha http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2008/06/03/toll-brothers-is-hungry-eating-our-land-and-spitting-it-back-out/#comment-69741 Alisha Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:47:20 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.wordpress.com/?p=4809#comment-69741 I see Toll Brothers as nothing more than a greedy entity, one that has senselessly destroyed farmland in the name of extremely (deceptively) well-marketed, mass produced, luxury estates made out of little more than cardboard. So, we may not find much common ground! And I don’t really understand your strong defense of Toll Brothers’ practices in the first place. The job loss, sure, but their craftsmanship? One thing you should check out, though: An interesting article about Toll Brothers and the economic slump <a href="http://www.portfolio.com/executives/features/2008/09/18/Toll-Brothers-Chief-on-Housing-Slump" rel="nofollow">here</a>. Toll Brothers invented the idea of mass-produced luxury living, and as the article suggests: “stoked America’s demand for cathedral ceilings, Roman tubs, and four-car garages.” The fact that they are hurting right now makes sense, I do not pity the company itself, and I would challenge you to reflect on whether they ought to consider building more appropriately sized houses given our economic situation, and adopt more sensible land-use practices. I also would NOT agree it’s “well built housing” My dad used to hammer in extra nails into our old house when it was being built by a large construction company like Toll Brothers. As evidenced by a “field trip” over to this development, the houses are not excellently crafted by talented carpenters (although the price suggests they may be!). I see Toll Brothers as nothing more than a greedy entity, one that has senselessly destroyed farmland in the name of extremely (deceptively) well-marketed, mass produced, luxury estates made out of little more than cardboard. So, we may not find much common ground! And I don’t really understand your strong defense of Toll Brothers’ practices in the first place. The job loss, sure, but their craftsmanship? One thing you should check out, though:

An interesting article about Toll Brothers and the economic slump here. Toll Brothers invented the idea of mass-produced luxury living, and as the article suggests: “stoked America’s demand for cathedral ceilings, Roman tubs, and four-car garages.” The fact that they are hurting right now makes sense, I do not pity the company itself, and I would challenge you to reflect on whether they ought to consider building more appropriately sized houses given our economic situation, and adopt more sensible land-use practices.

I also would NOT agree it’s “well built housing” My dad used to hammer in extra nails into our old house when it was being built by a large construction company like Toll Brothers. As evidenced by a “field trip” over to this development, the houses are not excellently crafted by talented carpenters (although the price suggests they may be!).

]]> By: GMF77 http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2008/06/03/toll-brothers-is-hungry-eating-our-land-and-spitting-it-back-out/#comment-69716 GMF77 Tue, 09 Dec 2008 01:36:35 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.wordpress.com/?p=4809#comment-69716 Serenity is right... if you could live in one of these homes you would love it. I just moved into a Berger development and I love it. I don’t know why you have to be so against people who build these houses. You work for a living I guess and so do they. They too have to make a living doing something... they choose providing well built housing. If Toll Brothers went under thousands of people would lose their jobs, and with an economy like the one we have now job loss is inevitable. Building houses is about the only job that can’t be outsourced to China. Think about it... Serenity is right… if you could live in one of these homes you would love it. I just moved into a Berger development and I love it. I don’t know why you have to be so against people who build these houses. You work for a living I guess and so do they. They too have to make a living doing something… they choose providing well built housing. If Toll Brothers went under thousands of people would lose their jobs, and with an economy like the one we have now job loss is inevitable. Building houses is about the only job that can’t be outsourced to China. Think about it…

]]> By: In appreciation of actors…and the Righteous Jolly Fan Club « Notes on Gemini Rising http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2008/06/03/toll-brothers-is-hungry-eating-our-land-and-spitting-it-back-out/#comment-66755 In appreciation of actors…and the Righteous Jolly Fan Club « Notes on Gemini Rising Thu, 24 Jul 2008 08:53:50 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.wordpress.com/?p=4809#comment-66755 [...] up in Central Bucks I have to tell you that I doubt there are too many geniuses living in those McMansion developments that once were the fields and farmlands I road horses in as a young girl, but I do think some of [...] [...] up in Central Bucks I have to tell you that I doubt there are too many geniuses living in those McMansion developments that once were the fields and farmlands I road horses in as a young girl, but I do think some of [...]

]]> By: local used cars pa http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2008/06/03/toll-brothers-is-hungry-eating-our-land-and-spitting-it-back-out/#comment-64602 local used cars pa Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:29:55 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.wordpress.com/?p=4809#comment-64602 [...] quaint riverside towns, open spaces and working farms. Well, it used to be that way at least. ...http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2008/06/03/toll-brothers-is-hungry-eating-our-land-and-spitting-it-ba...Anderson man counting on raising profile for new elevator The Joplin GlobeANDERSON, Mo. ?? An [...] [...] quaint riverside towns, open spaces and working farms. Well, it used to be that way at least. …http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2008/06/03/toll-brothers-is-hungry-eating-our-land-and-spitting-it-ba…Anderson man counting on raising profile for new elevator The Joplin GlobeANDERSON, Mo. ?? An [...]

]]> By: CSCH http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2008/06/03/toll-brothers-is-hungry-eating-our-land-and-spitting-it-back-out/#comment-64576 CSCH Wed, 04 Jun 2008 01:07:53 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.wordpress.com/?p=4809#comment-64576 Not only do these oversized houses waste a lot of materials and energy, they are shoddy as you point out and won't last. They'll soon need major repairs, or be tomorrows slums or tear-downs. No matter how many "green" counertop materials or energy saving lighting packages builders include, a house is never "green" until it is built to last. Most new homes today will not last. Too many shortcuts and too many junky materials. The money is put into frills and the builders' pockets. Builders made record profits during the housing bubble but it sure didn't take long in the bust years for them to start going under. Bad business practices, no planning for down times, (which are common in real estate), overbuilding, and a lot of outright fraud created the housing bubble in the first place. The toxic loans were sold as "investments" and the house of cards came predictably down. Toll is just one player in this tragic comedy. If these big houses manage to last long enough, they will probably end up as multi family housing. Few can afford to maintain and heat such behemoths, and since many bought them with builder's in-house lenders' toxic loans, some are going back to the banks, (if they can figure out who even owns the loan at this point). Not only do these oversized houses waste a lot of materials and energy, they are shoddy as you point out and won’t last. They’ll soon need major repairs, or be tomorrows slums or tear-downs. No matter how many “green” counertop materials or energy saving lighting packages builders include, a house is never “green” until it is built to last. Most new homes today will not last. Too many shortcuts and too many junky materials. The money is put into frills and the builders’ pockets. Builders made record profits during the housing bubble but it sure didn’t take long in the bust years for them to start going under. Bad business practices, no planning for down times, (which are common in real estate), overbuilding, and a lot of outright fraud created the housing bubble in the first place. The toxic loans were sold as “investments” and the house of cards came predictably down. Toll is just one player in this tragic comedy. If these big houses manage to last long enough, they will probably end up as multi family housing. Few can afford to maintain and heat such behemoths, and since many bought them with builder’s in-house lenders’ toxic loans, some are going back to the banks, (if they can figure out who even owns the loan at this point).

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