Who hates Quadrant homes?

[seattlehawk]

Needless to say, most people on this forum loathe urban sprawl and epidemic of cookie-cutter homes. However, whether we like it or not, sprawl is also a fact of life, meeting housing needs of growing population. So if sprawl is bound to happen, one would wish that the developers at least try to get the best out of it. Unfortunately, Quadrant homes, a home-builder in Seattle area, has pushed the concept of cheap, cookie-cutter, look-alike homes to the extreme. If that was not bad enough, they are doing so at the expense of natural beauty and lush forests that surround Seattle area.

For example, Snoqualmie Ridge and Redmond Ridge used to be heavily wooded, rather pristine wilderness. Quadrant homes came along and wiped out thousands of acres of forests. For me, that would still have been acceptable if the available land was being used to build beautiful, good quality homes. While several reputable builders have built quality homes in the area, hundreds of homes have been built by Quadrant as well and I am sorry to say that they look nothing more than cardboard boxes. You look at them and have this feeling that a slight breeze would blow them away. You have to look hard to see the difference between their elevations. If that’s not enough, they charge you extra to put grass in your backyard! How ironic! After all, that land used to be green before cleared it! I wish I had some photos to show what I mean.

Now, I know someone would mention affordable housing. However, these homes are not affordable. People are paying more than $400,000 for these!

Oh well, I was feeling a bit aggravated about this matter and wanted to vent it out. Feel free to rant along!

[VanSeaPor]

I agree. But your article here is helping demand to go up for nicer houses.

[kub86]

I always thought Quadrant Homes was more of a cheap builder? They're nothing compared to the Buchan brothers (IMO).

I think Quadrant Homes is the main builder in Dupont's Northwest Landing....which is some 3000 acre "urban village" with homes, shops, and offices. The houses there look more village-like. And are definitely affordable ($170,000 I think?) They're most likely affordable because the land is so cheap compared to king county.

Hmm..Northwest landing was all the rage when i was in middle school (I'm in college now), but not heard much about it lately. I wonder what happened to it. Did it get built out already? Or did it fizzle?

[Bond James Bond]

I've noticed this, too, about Quadrant Homes.

Their house designs are about the most boring and plain of any homebuilder I've seen around here.

[Bond James Bond]

Originally Posted by kub86

I always thought Quadrant Homes was more of a cheap builder? They're nothing compared to the Buchan brothers (IMO).

I think Quadrant Homes is the main builder in Dupont's Northwest Landing....which is some 3000 acre "urban village" with homes, shops, and offices. The houses there look more village-like. And are definitely affordable ($170,000 I think?) They're most likely affordable because the land is so cheap compared to king county.

Hmm..Northwest landing was all the rage when i was in middle school (I'm in college now), but not heard much about it lately. I wonder what happened to it. Did it get built out already? Or did it fizzle?

Northwest Landing is alive and well. I think it's about 2/3 built-out, or thereabouts.

[Rainier Meadows]

Quadrant Homes offer you a lot square footage for the money....but expect the workmanship of your house to be akin to any apartment complex you may have lived in. So cheap workmanship and lots of space....you do the upgrading on your own budget. Lame!

When I was house hunting we checked them out but was not impressed....we went with another cookie cutter developer in Mill Creek....well we are really using our first house an investment property until we are ready for our real home in about 3 years. We've made $75,000 in equity in 7 short months!

I am shooting for Issaquah in the future.

[seattlehawk]

Originally Posted by kub86

I always thought Quadrant Homes was more of a cheap builder? They're nothing compared to the Buchan brothers (IMO).
?

Quadrant is surely not comparable to Buchan homes. Buchan, Murray Franklin, Bunrnstead, Camwest, Chaffey are all pretty good builders. Conner, Staffard and Dr. Horton are second tier builder. Quadrant is way at the bottom. Recently, several home buyers even protested that the poor heating system installed in Quadrant homes was causing asthma in children.

Good builders have build a lot of nice homes in Issaquah, Sammamish, Redmond Ridge, and Snoqualmie Ridge and you can find many nice neighborhoods in these areas. I only wish Quadrant didn't build their homes in these communities.

[rj2uman]

I agree with you totally on this. In 10 years these will be new blighted areas. There is a Quadrant community called Fern Crest going up fairly close to where I live. They are putting up HUNDREDS of these souless, flavorless, ugly, sterile, cookie cutter homes up. I went to the model homes to check them out. I jumped up and down on the 2nd floor and swore the place was going to fall apart. All the display furniture and wall hangings would vibrate. The only plus that I could see in this community is that they all were on larger that postage stamp lots. At least in the backyards. Instead of the standard 12 feet or so it was probably 24 feet.

[seattleist]

In regard to Redmond Ridge and Snoqualmie Ridge, it could be worse. The new developments going up here are based on the new urbanism ideals of a close-knit community with dense housing and pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods with retail and workspace within walking distance.

I can't speak for Snoqualmie Ridge, but at least at Redmond Ridge, the homes have been built in clusters to minimize environmental impact to be far less than what's seen in typical tract developments like Redmond's Abbey Road, where almost no trees are left standing.

Redmond Ridge has been in the works since the 1970s, and I personally think it's better than the tracts of 3,000sf+ homes that are so typical on the Eastside.

And, of course, Quadrant Homes is a subsidiary of Weyerhaeuser (in a relationship that isn't all too well publicized for obvious reasons). I believe that the Redmond Ridge Property was a part of the checkerboard land trade made with the federal government during the building of the railroad. All in all, I think I would rather have cookie-cutter homes and some remnants of once was intead of a clear-cut field.

(Winchester Homes in the East and Pardee Homes in the Southwest are also parts of the Weyerhaeuser family.)

[smartlake]

Originally Posted by kub86

I always thought Quadrant Homes was more of a cheap builder? They're nothing compared to the Buchan brothers (IMO).

I think Quadrant Homes is the main builder in Dupont's Northwest Landing....which is some 3000 acre "urban village" with homes, shops, and offices. The houses there look more village-like. And are definitely affordable ($170,000 I think?) They're most likely affordable because the land is so cheap compared to king county.

Hmm..Northwest landing was all the rage when i was in middle school (I'm in college now), but not heard much about it lately. I wonder what happened to it. Did it get built out already? Or did it fizzle?

That place is Hella creepy, if you ask me.

[lastchance]

A lot of people associate new with quality. 9 foot celings, superior finishes, hardwood and tile... these mean nothing if it isn't brand new. These are the people that buy Quadrant Homes.

At least Quadrant is catching on to the "lifestyle center" concept. They're not all the way there yet, but very weak urban villages are better than just a bunch of houses in the middle of nowhere.

And please add Polygon to the list of below average builders. Any builder that thinks 4 bedrooms and 1,650 sqft. are compatible deserves to be on that list.

[Sounder]

Originally Posted by seattlehawk

Needless to say, most people on this forum loathe urban sprawl and epidemic of cookie-cutter homes. However, whether we like it or not, sprawl is also a fact of life, meeting housing needs of growing population. So if sprawl is bound to happen, one would wish that the developers at least try to get the best out of it. Unfortunately, Quadrant homes, a home-builder in Seattle area, has pushed the concept of cheap, cookie-cutter, look-alike homes to the extreme. If that was not bad enough, they are doing so at the expense of natural beauty and lush forests that surround Seattle area.

Blame UGBs, they are responsible for Quadrant. Weyerhaeuser used their land holdings, money, and political clout to become mega rich off of UGB regulations while the small land owner got screwed. Expect more of the same unless the UGBs are revised or eliminated.

[AZian]

Call me dumb, but what the heck are quadrant homes?

[J.A.C.]

Don't hate them, but I don't like them.

[sequoias]

Wait til 10-20 years and the trees and plants grow out and blend in better with those new homes that were built in the 2000's. It may look better with the bigger plants and trees growing out.

[lastchance]

^ A cheap house is still a cheap house, even with a big tree in front of it.

In 10-20 years, you will have a big tree with a house that has warped vinyl siding, swollen countertops, and rooms that have been too small for modern furniture for 10-20 years.

But that's just me. Some people love them!

[sequoias]

I hate when people build them cheap and sell it for too much money. It sounds like quanity over quality.

[Quall]

They are a lot more tasteful than the majority of new houses here. :/

[hemiltonfleming]

Yeah, choosing to buy a home in africa presents you with an opportunity to invest in a lifestyle like no other. Not only is the climate sublime, the landscape offers everything from golden beaches, to green belts.

cheap homes

[james159]

hi
build home in cheap and sell in high price is art.
you can't say its not fear. to do business is right of register person..