dgk wrote:

Not buying that. There are as many, or more, who like some control
over their neighborhoods than not.

We all do to some extent. I have no HOA, but we do have zoning
requirements. I don't want someone ripping down the house next door
and building a slaughterhouse. You probably don't either. And many
homeowners in retirement communities don't want kids pounding a
basketball next to their window all day long.

My mother's community maintains all the outside of the houses
(landscaping and so on). That keeps things nice and property values
up. Nothing like a neighbor who decides that it's too much work to
paint or mow the lawn.

On the other hand, if I own a piece of property I should be able to do with
it whatever I want. If I decide to do something not in keeping with the
neighborhood, I have to be prepared for a not-pleasant response..

Here's a true story.

In my town, there is no zoning. Some years back, Shell Oil bought a corner
lot in the ritziest part of town (by far). They announced plans to build a
gas station.

The neighbors didn't like the idea. They cut up their Shell credit cards and
mailed them to the company with notes that this was only the first step in
retaliation for such rascally behavior on the part of Shell.

Those who vowed retribution included John Connally (Sec of the Navy,
Governor of Texas, Sec of the Treasury, and wounded while riding with JFK in
Dallas) and the sitting Secretary of Commerce, Robert Mossbacher.

Shell donated the corner lot to the city for a pocket park.

We have our ways...