Source: saintpetersburgtimes.fl.newsmemory.com
It is challenging for home owners to accept the fact they do not own air rights or what a neighboring property owner can do with their property (within legal reason), especially in areas undergoing redevelopment.
As much as they feel their rights to privacy are being violated, they are in fact wanting to violate the rights of property owners who do not conform to what they think is acceptable or not.
In almost every single instance, the new homes being built are within the existing zoning regulations which were in place when the complaining owner purchased their own property. It is not as if the city only allowed single-story construction in a neighborhood and then all of a sudden changed the rules on everyone and said now two-story homes will be allowed.
There is an education process that needs to take place for real estate owners, particularly with property rights. Unless you live in a deed restricted area owners have rights and they may do things with their property that you do not agree with. Landscaping, paint colors, fence styles and so on all all rights individuals have as is the right to build what you want as long as it fits in with the zoning regulations.
Many of the existing neighborhoods where these changes are taking place in all likelihood took the place of a previous neighborhood where no one liked that change either. Basically, people are OK with any changes that happened previously because it did not effect them before, but once they move into an area its as if all change must cease…even change allowed by law.
The other side to the coin is the new construction taking place is almost assuredly raising the prices of all homes in that neighborhood. There are always a couple of alternatives people can make…by the property next to you so you can control what happens or move to an area which is deed restricted or is in low danger of being redeveloped.
Change in life is inevitable and this is especially true when it comes to real estate…particularly in demand real estate in highly sought after areas such as Davis Island and South Tampa.