Standing outside her home on Hesby Street, Breice Reiner points to a new house a block away as an example of the mansionization creeping into her Valley Village neighborhood of nearly 45 years.
"This is a box," said Reiner, vice president of the homeowners association. "This is not an articulated home."
Reiner and others argue that the oversized structures -- many built on small lots and stretching up to 5,000 square feet -- are ruining the character of their suburban community.
But many, such as Morris "Fritz" Friedman, a Valley Village Neighborhood Council board member, oppose more building regulations for homeowners.
Friedman has even suggested that the community be split in two, with east Valley Village adhering to strict new anti-mansionization regulations and the west side retaining the current building rules.
The proposed split has raised tempers in the community and has even brought religion into the debate because a majority of the neighborhood council's 15 members are Orthodox Jews, many of whom support Friedman's motion.
One resident compared Friedman's proposal to the division of occupied territories in Israel.
Because of the controversy, neighborhood council meetings often are standing room only and community newsletters are filled with articles about development.
Many residents have become instant housing experts with a knack for estimating square footage and an uncanny knowledge of floor-to-area ratios.
"This just brought out passion on both sides of the issue," said Tony Braswell, secretary of the neighborhood council. "You didn't have anybody that said, 'Aw, shucks, this doesn't really bother me that much.' It's a very black-and-white issue."
Nevertheless, changes may be on the way to halt the push for big-box homes that is remaking neighborhoods across the city and has spurred a backlash in such communities as Valley Glen, Sunland-Tujunga and Cheviot Hills.
Some residents refer to the newer homes as "McMansions" because of their alleged poor construction.
"The quality of the material and the quality of the construction work tends to be subpar," said Kevin Hughes, president of the Cheviot Hills Homeowners Assn. "Not only are [developers] trying to fill out every bit of living space, so they make a box, but they're doing it quick and cheap."
Responding to those concerns, the Los Angeles Planning Commission last month passed an ordinance that demanded reduced floor space for new homes that are developed in most areas of the city, excluding hillside and coastal zones.
