Apartments the Size of Parking Spots?
Jan 26, 2010 life
I’m absolutely astounded by this article from a Vancouver, BC website that talks about how a company is building mini loft-style apartments that are only the size of two parking spaces.
Think about it – two parking spaces. Now I’m fascinated by the idea of living in such a tiny space from an architectural viewpoint. You really need to compartmentalize everything and there’s definitely no room for clutter. Or even a roommate, really.
The article states the “apartments” – sub-studio size, to be sure – use murphy beds and other fold down furniture to make the space functional.
I suppose if you’re single and aren’t home much, this could be an option. But I’m astounded that they’re charging about $700 a month for this 270-sq-ft space. Granted, I haven’t lived in Vancouver for over 30 years (when I was a kid I lived there), but even in Orlando you at least can get a one-bedroom in a decent area for that price. That’s more than twice the space of these mini-lofts.
Would you pay so much to live in such a tiny space?
[Image courtesy of Reliance Properties]
Michelle Snow. Journalist. Photographer. Web Designer. Graphic Designer. Traveler. Couchsurfer. Geekgirl. Browncoat. Musicologist.
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January 28th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
I live in Vancouver, and I can tell you rent is outrageous over here. Don’t even get me started on the price of a home — which will set you back over $1 million (that’s the average price).
I consider myself lucky for finding my place. It’s a 500sq foot basement suite with rent all inclusive $650 — which I share with my fiancee. We live in South Vancouver, which is the closest to suburbia a Vancouverite can be without being in suburbia.
Partially, I fault the Olympics for the price of rent. In 2008, when the recession hit, the price of houses went down in most North American metropolitan areas. Not Vancouver. People kept moving here because of the Olympics, and too many of them have stayed.
January 31st, 2010 at 8:42 am
This looks like almost every apartment in Paris
Miss you !
Cee
February 24th, 2010 at 1:11 am
Wow, that makes my old 350 foot apartment in NYC seem palatial! I guess that Vancouver and NYC are so desirable as places to live, that landlords know they can get away with it.
March 6th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
I admit that downtown Vancouver is awesome. That price is surely worth it to be right there on the peninsula.
In Seattle I paid $1700 a month for something like 370 square feet that I shared with Dan. But it was in a killer high rise with all the mountain views and luxury amenities.
Out here in this dusty cowboy town I have an entire two bedroom house trailer for $450 a month. So it’s all about the location, really.
Now that we’ve moved back into the RV we are really learning to make the best use of every inch.
March 14th, 2010 at 2:03 am
@atomicpoet – I used to live there in the 70s with my mom. I just think something that small should never cost that much, but as long as people are willing to pay for it, that’s what market value will be for it.
@Cee – I’ll have to check that out next year.
I miss you tonz, too!!
@Jennifer – exactly!
@Jilly – that’s the whole trade-off nowadays, isn’t it? If you’re convenient to everything, you pay more. Live out in the boonies and you get twice as much space for half the price.