Comments on: Micro-lofts – The Shrinking Condo http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house/micro-lofts-the-shrinking-condo/ Living Simply in Small Spaces Fri, 25 May 2012 21:23:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Lee Lussier http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house/micro-lofts-the-shrinking-condo/comment-page-1/#comment-211627 Lee Lussier Wed, 21 Dec 2011 02:43:42 +0000 http://tinyhouseblog.com/?p=10794#comment-211627 In Europe, these are apartment-hotels and are very popular with businessmen, students and tourists. In fact, you may have stayed at an aparthotel and not even realised that your hotel apartment room was owned by an individual. Major Canadian ski resort hotels are now marketing their units to prospective investors as well. In Europe, these are apartment-hotels and are very popular with businessmen, students and tourists. In fact, you may have stayed at an aparthotel and not even realised that your hotel apartment room was owned by an individual. Major Canadian ski resort hotels are now marketing their units to prospective investors as well.

]]> By: Fresh housing ideas could serve young adults well | Babs Ray http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house/micro-lofts-the-shrinking-condo/comment-page-1/#comment-204166 Fresh housing ideas could serve young adults well | Babs Ray Thu, 17 Nov 2011 18:09:02 +0000 http://tinyhouseblog.com/?p=10794#comment-204166 [...] to “The Tiny House” blog, cities experimenting with small-size suites include “Shoebox Lofts in Portland, Ore., [...] [...] to “The Tiny House” blog, cities experimenting with small-size suites include “Shoebox Lofts in Portland, Ore., [...]

]]> By: The surge back home could spark a movement to make housing more affordable | The MacArthur Network on Transitions to Adulthood http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house/micro-lofts-the-shrinking-condo/comment-page-1/#comment-204163 The surge back home could spark a movement to make housing more affordable | The MacArthur Network on Transitions to Adulthood Thu, 17 Nov 2011 17:56:20 +0000 http://tinyhouseblog.com/?p=10794#comment-204163 [...] to “The Tiny House” blog, cities experimenting with small-size suites include “Shoebox Lofts in Portland, [...] [...] to “The Tiny House” blog, cities experimenting with small-size suites include “Shoebox Lofts in Portland, [...]

]]> By: Paul Albrighton http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house/micro-lofts-the-shrinking-condo/comment-page-1/#comment-108361 Paul Albrighton Thu, 15 Apr 2010 00:35:31 +0000 http://tinyhouseblog.com/?p=10794#comment-108361 This is a great idea, and I hope more developers can find ways to this close to the core of Downtown Vancouver. We do have a large shortage of affordable rental housing in Downtown. Recently looking with a friend for options under $1000/mn, they were left with very old and tired places which were very unsightly. Small but stylish always works! I look forward to more developments like this, both for rental and sales. This is a great idea, and I hope more developers can find ways to this close to the core of Downtown Vancouver. We do have a large shortage of affordable rental housing in Downtown. Recently looking with a friend for options under $1000/mn, they were left with very old and tired places which were very unsightly. Small but stylish always works! I look forward to more developments like this, both for rental and sales.

]]> By: Brand http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house/micro-lofts-the-shrinking-condo/comment-page-1/#comment-103872 Brand Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:05:30 +0000 http://tinyhouseblog.com/?p=10794#comment-103872 Yes, precisely! I'm a single professional myself, and I'd really prefer to be right in the middle of things. I live in a college town, and during the housing boom, we saw far too many developments with condos in the $300-400K range. Lots of rare in-town lots got purchased and low-end housing stock demolished so that the area could gentrify even further. I don't want to live in the beat up student houses right around campus, but I find $1500-2000/month rent to be somewhat preposterous, let alone a 1500 sqft "loft". Anything over 600-700 sqft is total overkill for someone of my needs. All the extra space, and thus rent money, is also a needless drain on my finances. I would rather be spending the extra money enjoying the campus activities and nightlife. It's possible to find diversified housing stock towards the boundaries of town, but then you end up with at least a 20-30 minute commute if you work downtown. That's preposterous in a city of only 125,000 people (excluding students), plus it necessitates owning a car in an otherwise very walkable community. The gentrified lofts are a crappy solution to urban infill, but I suspect it's easy to justify thanks to better property taxes. Of course, if you had a larger number of smaller units in the same sized building, maybe the tax number would be identical. It's also worth noting that although there are plenty of white-collar jobs in this city, many university workers have mundane jobs that pay perhaps $30-40K/year. A better housing mix would cut down on a lot of commutes and encourage people to spend money in their local establishments, both of which help the local economy. Yes, precisely!

I’m a single professional myself, and I’d really prefer to be right in the middle of things. I live in a college town, and during the housing boom, we saw far too many developments with condos in the $300-400K range. Lots of rare in-town lots got purchased and low-end housing stock demolished so that the area could gentrify even further. I don’t want to live in the beat up student houses right around campus, but I find $1500-2000/month rent to be somewhat preposterous, let alone a 1500 sqft “loft”. Anything over 600-700 sqft is total overkill for someone of my needs. All the extra space, and thus rent money, is also a needless drain on my finances. I would rather be spending the extra money enjoying the campus activities and nightlife.

It’s possible to find diversified housing stock towards the boundaries of town, but then you end up with at least a 20-30 minute commute if you work downtown. That’s preposterous in a city of only 125,000 people (excluding students), plus it necessitates owning a car in an otherwise very walkable community.

The gentrified lofts are a crappy solution to urban infill, but I suspect it’s easy to justify thanks to better property taxes. Of course, if you had a larger number of smaller units in the same sized building, maybe the tax number would be identical.

It’s also worth noting that although there are plenty of white-collar jobs in this city, many university workers have mundane jobs that pay perhaps $30-40K/year. A better housing mix would cut down on a lot of commutes and encourage people to spend money in their local establishments, both of which help the local economy.

]]> By: alice http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house/micro-lofts-the-shrinking-condo/comment-page-1/#comment-103870 alice Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:11:42 +0000 http://tinyhouseblog.com/?p=10794#comment-103870 There are lots of single working people in Vancouver that prefer not to have room(or other)mates and many of the people this type of housing appeals to spend most of their waking hours when not at work out taking advantage of the many local recreational activities. One would hope there'd be a secure gear lockup in the building for bikes, kayaks, etc. There are lots of larger spaces for couples and families that need it but very few options for people who prefer a small space all to themselves. The population is predicted to increase substantially in the next few years and urban density is a major issue here. There are lots of single working people in Vancouver that prefer not to have room(or other)mates and many of the people this type of housing appeals to spend most of their waking hours when not at work out taking advantage of the many local recreational activities. One would hope there’d be a secure gear lockup in the building for bikes, kayaks, etc. There are lots of larger spaces for couples and families that need it but very few options for people who prefer a small space all to themselves. The population is predicted to increase substantially in the next few years and urban density is a major issue here.

]]> By: Louise http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house/micro-lofts-the-shrinking-condo/comment-page-1/#comment-103868 Louise Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:11:33 +0000 http://tinyhouseblog.com/?p=10794#comment-103868 Cori, I agree. If you're living with another person, there is no guarantee that both will want to go to sleep at the same time. My husband often stays up 2-3 hours longer than I do. Being able to climb into bed while he still reads is important. Cori, I agree. If you’re living with another person, there is no guarantee that both will want to go to sleep at the same time. My husband often stays up 2-3 hours longer than I do. Being able to climb into bed while he still reads is important.

]]> By: Glen Aldridge http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house/micro-lofts-the-shrinking-condo/comment-page-1/#comment-103866 Glen Aldridge Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:58:15 +0000 http://tinyhouseblog.com/?p=10794#comment-103866 The other aspect of this is of course cost & profit. With average condo prices in Vancouver running $250 - 300,000. something affordable for the masses is going to have a sq. footage penalty. This may be good for those that want to live in a confined area but I wonder how long before Domestic Abuse calls are increased because of the lack of personal space. I'm sure these units are not in my definition of affordable & even if they were I don't think I would like to hear the arguments from my compacted neighbours. The other aspect of this is of course cost & profit. With average condo prices in Vancouver running $250 – 300,000. something affordable for the masses is going to have a sq. footage penalty.
This may be good for those that want to live in a confined area but I wonder how long before Domestic Abuse calls are increased because of the lack of personal space. I’m sure these units are not in my definition of affordable & even if they were I don’t think I would like to hear the arguments from my compacted neighbours.

]]> By: Susan McReynolds http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house/micro-lofts-the-shrinking-condo/comment-page-1/#comment-103865 Susan McReynolds Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:57:08 +0000 http://tinyhouseblog.com/?p=10794#comment-103865 My only problem with this is the crummy plan for the dinig room table. I do not want to move my entire workspace(isn't that what a dining room table really is?)/dining room table every night to pull down a murphy bed. Years ago, when my family was VERY poor we lived in a rental that had a REVOLVING murphy bed! It was from the 20's and rotated on a spindle into the closet when not in use. The living room was then smaller and a little table in the kitchen area sufficed. Where are those awesome Murphy beds these days? I have since seen a number of them in these old Berkeley homes. My only problem with this is the crummy plan for the dinig room table. I do not want to move my entire workspace(isn’t that what a dining room table really is?)/dining room table every night to pull down a murphy bed. Years ago, when my family was VERY poor we lived in a rental that had a REVOLVING murphy bed! It was from the 20′s and rotated on a spindle into the closet when not in use. The living room was then smaller and a little table in the kitchen area sufficed. Where are those awesome Murphy beds these days? I have since seen a number of them in these old Berkeley homes.

]]> By: alice http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house/micro-lofts-the-shrinking-condo/comment-page-1/#comment-103855 alice Wed, 27 Jan 2010 02:01:28 +0000 http://tinyhouseblog.com/?p=10794#comment-103855 The development company website and contact info http://www.relianceholdings.com/index.html Suite 305 111 Water Street Vancouver British Columbia Canada V6B 1A7 T 604 683 2404 F 604 683-6719 info@relianceproperties.ca Nothing on their site about these yet that I can see. The development company website and contact info http://www.relianceholdings.com/index.html

Suite 305
111 Water Street
Vancouver
British Columbia
Canada V6B 1A7

T 604 683 2404
F 604 683-6719
info@relianceproperties.ca

Nothing on their site about these yet that I can see.

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