There's an 81-year-old lady in Southampton, Ms. Evelyn Konrad, who would like to put an end to the East End construction craze. Konrad uses zoning laws, Planning Board hearings, and protest letters as her weapons of choice. (She once referred to McMansion spec houses as "multimillion-dollar penis extensions.") And while her efforts are largely unsuccessful, they've forced citizens and developers to take notice. Says one preservationist: "Its about community and connectedness, and I think Evelyn has shown us that we could lose all that." Amen! [NY Times]
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