re: Is the mass new home construction industry good for our country?

The developer of my neighborhood was a dinosaur in today's construction market. He carefully laid out the lots to preserve as much of the old growth as possible and didn't pile up dirt around trees to deprive tree roots of oxygen. I'm in a culdesac lot on a hill and I have a mix of 10 post oaks and blackjack oaks, all aged between 95-165 years of age per an arborist who treated them during a borer beetle infestation in the area about 20 years ago. Most lots are similar in tree coverage, although some were lost in the infestation, including my next door neighbor who lost a beautiful 200+ years old post oak. I was fortunate that I treated my trees early.

There's a new neighborhood development going in a half mile from me on the same tributary. The developer is Toll Brothers (ugh). They stripped the land bare of all native forest with the exception of the required minimal amount of 'natural' land. Huge generic homes with front facing garage doors (because the lots are not wide enough for side entry garage parking like in my neighborhood) and no trees except two spindly saplings planted in the front yards per town regulations. It's all about the money, money, money with zero concern for respecting the natural landscape.