There was a reason to the shift in quality the stock market crash and the living conditions in the 30’s for some were downright poverty. Not all developments from this time were poor quality or ugly but I catch the drift of this thread. The use of new cheaper materials was a choice it was seen as frugal after the ornate pre and inter war years.
I suppose when and where the development was built had a lot to do with the quality. Affordable middle class housing especially multi-family from that time has not held up well. Renters usually get the short end of the stick.
50’s - 60’s era duplexes and cheap apartments NW Detroit
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ydND9rpeSCXTJ5J87?g_st=ic
Late 70’s era development thin walls and crazy neighbors.
A affordable apartment complex in Warren, MI thin walls and not a good place to raise a family.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Xj5udvmgYfXvu2sC7?g_st=ic
Northwestern Warren especially has become a spill over area from the Woodward Corridor adjacent communities to the west that have become popular amongst young families with wealth. While the housing stock of Metro Detroit from the interwar to the 70’s
50’s-70’s development in Warren, Mi north of 12 mile.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/DnFquFQFn9MzFZo18?g_st=ic
Post war subdivision edition to Detroit’s Eastside.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/B2YZcjeFdBvFgmCD9?g_st=ic
Post war subdivision on Northwest side.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/B4G4ADnKmwKyGo8u9?g_st=ic
Post war upper middle class apartments NW Detroit.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/smeEHRAVqWnUj8rn9?g_st=ic
Similar area 7 Mile and Telegraph but a cheaper build though centered around a pool.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/3cFMBqVopCfUYMNz8?g_st=ic
A basic unit in NW Detroit post war
https://maps.app.goo.gl/i2CJiXPzPejtedr3A?g_st=ic
Upgraded basic post war housing unit
https://maps.app.goo.gl/odDLYVTTVyVkbozs8?g_st=ic
Well off middle class units
https://maps.app.goo.gl/xxyAKdmZ149Kueb6A?g_st=ic
Above basic but indicative of mass built GI Bill homes.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/qCnnRn1gRxvTTbJNA?g_st=ic
A former infamous hot spot for drugs in between the apartments & well kept neighborhoods. Note the type of home and quality that survived blight to become a well kept neighborhood again.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/nABPdnfpBEz1Aiga6?g_st=ic
The up hill part of the subdivision I grew up in I always admired the central common area and the stands of trees in front of the homes on this side. All the homes are the same but there’s enough customization that you don’t get lost. Circa early 60’s - early 70’s the part where my parents live.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/vU66DeuQUUgk91Ag7?g_st=ic
There was certainly a break in quality pre and post Arab Oil Embargo across the U.S. as the economy constricted. Pre-embargo homes while relatively plain on the outside had touches of quality along with the cheap crap. Real wooden floors & unique touches built in such as wooden bookshelves next to a fireplace trimmed with wood albeit nothing fancy. The house I grew up in was completed in 1971 for example we spent 20 years remodeling the poor quality & outdated materials. Modernizing on & off and but we found solid bones in the second smallest home in the neighborhood trashed when handed over in the 90’s. The 3/4 of an acre the second largest property along with a heated sun room and patio have pushed the price up from 120k in the 90’s to 420k estimates now.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/mvq9MgPzNEBDmqeP6?g_st=ic
The era of malaise, mergers & massive offshoring was right around the corner. As the US building boom even in the sun belt as disasters like the 2011 & 2013 outbreaks showed while new construction looks nice much of it cuts corners in after action reports. Moore, Ok hit by the infamous Bridge Creek F-5 saw neighborhoods hit again. There weren’t not bolted to the foundation and framing anchors not always being there. Lessons learned in the Jerrell, Tx F-5 & Hurricane Andrew.
I’m not singling any one state or city out building codes were relaxed except in certain states & areas especially prone to certain types of destructive forces. The west coast has good seismic standards for the most part pre-war and immediate post war construction not retrofitted not withstanding. Florida had good hurricane codes & areas of the plains have retrofitting to homes that only worst case scenario could make unsurvivable.
The boom in suburban growth from the 70’s to the 00’s was one of the engines that kept the American economy growing in certain areas & nationwide. It made a ton of money in finance but I don’t think other than higher end residences there has been a dramatic change most areas in. Just innovative techniques to improve sound proofing but in 30-50 years will the property hold up as well as the rust belt post 80’s. If the economy is well they can be gutted for the average American that kind of investment is difficult especially after buying the property. We may see homes from the suburban boom torn down and rebuild in a more sustainable way.
Things are designed to have an expectation date to encourage spending. You don’t buy a car you lease it you don’t buy and iPhone you get a contract with an upgrade available. Can we build things to last yes but there’s less money if the owner can learn to take care of their product & good forbid fix it.