Whack that Drum
Every Week - boom boom boom Local governments have taken notice. New York City, for one, has waved its minimum 400-square-foot housing requirement for a pilot project with units between 250 and 370 square feet. Last year, Pocket Living -- which makes 400-square-foot units for those who earn less than around $100,000 a year -- received roughly $36 million from the mayor of London to build approximately 400 units for first-time home buyers. Small units are seen as an affordable way to make cities accessible to more people.
If you earn $100,000 a year, you are in the top 92 % of individual wage earners, and in the top 78% of households, and you are going to live in a 300 Square foot place, rather than say.. move to Dallas where $150,000 buys a a 3000 sq foot home on a couple of acres? Oh right..
But it was the design, she says, that she sealed the deal. The tiny space -- all enamel-like white cupboards, foldout tables, and wall-mounted design hacks -- was not only smart, but stylish.
"I wanted something that looked pretty modern. The use of space was really good," she says. "I didn't feel like I was living in a jail cell or anything."
Her friends marveled. Her place was officially cool.
Maxwell Ryan, the New York-based founder of home design website Apartment Therapy, isn't surprised that micro-condo developers are pushing design and utility as their major selling points. To him, it shows an awareness of how generational priorities have shifted.
"As a culture, there's been a renaissance of interest in design -- design as a lifestyle choice, design as a way of life," he says.
Ryan believes young people will happily accept smaller spaces, but only if done properly.
Because you can't possibly live elsewhere and be seen as cool can you. Certainly not Dallas.
A number of elements, like a bathtub and oven, have been left out. But even these omissions are meant to cater to the millennial lifestyle.
"This generation wants to live within the city," says Peter Clewes, of architectsAlliance.
When they aren't working, they're eating out with friends and enjoying city life, not spending time at home. For a unit that offers elegance on a budget (Smart House units, which have yet to go on sale, will likely start at $285,000), Clewes thinks they'll be willing to make a few sacrifices.
Got that? $285K. Assuming a 20% down ( which is assuming a lot) that is around $900 a month on a 30 year loan, and no, you don't have an OVEN. My first house cost me $230K in Denver's inflated market, and it was 1800 finished square feet, with a 900 sq ft unfinished basement, a 2 car garage and a suburban postage stamp of a lawn (600 sq feet) so they are sacrificing and paying more to do it- why? So they can be cool. Oh and moral
"Five years ago, if you suggested units of 258 square feet, people would say that's mean, that's immoral. But that's starting to flip the other way," Clewes says. "It's become a moral cause. We need all (income) groups to make a healthy city."
Yeah. Well someone's bank account will be healthy anyway.
For Wong, the initial novelty of micro-living wore off as time wore on. She started to resent not having space for her screen-printing and acrylics projects, or an oven for cooking. When it came time to renew her yearlong lease, she decided to move to a 620-square-foot unit across the street, even though it cost almost $400 more per month.
Today, Wong lives with her boyfriend in a 900-square-foot apartment in East Vancouver. Now 35, she's more focused on settling down. But she doesn't regret giving micro-condos a try.
"My lifestyle has changed a lot since I lived down there," she says. "I liked being there at the time, but I like the space I have now."
Hmm, I am sensing a pattern among those who actually
try fall for this scam
Be sure to check out the videos at the link.. they may be more appalling than the actual article.
Especially this:
http://www.scadpad.com/Yes you too can have a home that is parked in a disused parking garage.. scampad is more like it.