Reply #200: No Chicago. Butt-ugly condos are a national illness

[Logansquare]

San Francisco is so beautiful that I don't know why anyone would want to build an ugly house there. You know, my grandfather was a salesman for Sears homes back in the 20s and 30s. These were, if I remember correctly, kits for building houses that you could buy from Sears--I think the blueprints could be customized and you could choose materials as well. They were (are, since many are still around) well-designed and aesthetically pleasing, and aimed at the working to middle class home buyer. I'm puzzled as to whether the market (consumers) demanded such lovely homes, or whether residential architects and builders simply provided them, assuming they would sell.