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Why we can’t build family-sized apartments in North America

centerforbuilding.org

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Re: Why we can’t build family-sized apartments in North America

#191

Post by DANmode »

QuercusMax wrote: post #188
bluGill wrote: post #154

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Kids yell for extended periods of time. Not all kids, but a large number of them do. If this is a problem it isn't with the kids. Demand better buildings.

Precisely. Architecture and construction can be improved, but kids are always going to yell. And unless you really believe kids have to live in detached housing, the answer is obvious - fix our environment to keep kids from annoying their neighbors.

> kids are always going to yell.

Your kids, maybe. This isn't a ubiquitous perspective. But, some people don't tell their kids "no" about anything, so...

I'll teach mine to mostly yell in big open spaces, while biking, on a playground, during sports.

Re: Why we can’t build family-sized apartments in North America

#192

Post by [deleted] »

nottorp wrote: post #110
watwut wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You cant legally drive when you had one small beer. You can legally buy beers or other alcohol when you already had one beer. If the store is not selling you alcohol due to intoxication, you should stop driving several drinks ago. I can get good selection of beers or other alcohol at reasonable price in the regular store within 5-10 min of walk anywhere in the city assuming it is not middle of the night.

Missing the point entirely, I see. The point is the europe apartment doesn't need survivalist style storage because it's close to stores. I could have said Mars bars or steaks but the OP post was about a beer fridge so I went along with it.

[deleted]

Re: Why we can’t build family-sized apartments in North America

#193

Post by xboxnolifes »

nottorp wrote: post #11
bouncing wrote: post #2

> In February, I, along with real estate developer Bobby Fijan, went on the Bloomberg podcast Odd Lots to talk about why it’s so hard to find a family-sized apartment in the United States. I argued that North American zoning and building codes work together to drive up the size of multi-bedroom apartments in particular, putting them financially out of reach for many parents raising children. In other words, even if d…

> the kitchen has a refrigerator smaller than the one my American best friend uses for beer It's possible that you can walk 5 min to get more beer while he has to drive 30 minutes?

The idea that the average US city/suburb is a 30 minute drive from everything is a serious strawman built up (seemingly) by the collective internet. There are a lot of issues I personally have with car dependence and road infrastructure in the US, but the average/median drive is reasonable. Like, 5-15 minutes to get to most things.

Re: Why we can’t build family-sized apartments in North America

#194

Post by xboxnolifes »

fusslo wrote: post #77

I keep seeing these articles pop up. The goal seems to be getting rid of regulations that hinder building European style apartments. I can't help but wonder if this is really a trend people are interested in, OR is there some effort to sway public opinion into deregulating housing. Why do the article ALWAYS mention Europe? Is it a marketing tactic designed to trigger our 'america-europe inferiority complex'? Is it an…

> I can't help but wonder if this is really a trend people are interested in, OR is there some effort to sway public opinion into deregulating housing.

Is there a difference? I mean, if public opinion is swayed, then does that not mean they are now interested in it?

Re: Why we can’t build family-sized apartments in North America

#195

Post by seanmcdirmid »

bouncing wrote: post #175
seanmcdirmid wrote: post #162

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ya, same in Beijing. The bathroom was also wet room, which is probably just an economy. The laundry machine was in the bathroom, my wife had to buy an external oven because she liked baking. But these were considered luxury by Chinese standards, older housing built before the 90s could get weird, like no hot water and instead you have a tank that needs to activated a half hour before your shower.

The "wet room" thing is in Korea too. I've been told it's for easy cleaning. You just pull the sprayer off the shower and splash the whole room like you're at a car wash. Having said that, the person who told me that was not Korean.

It’s true, cleaning is easy, although I imagine they don’t last that long since I can’t see the grout keeping up without a lot of maintenance. At least it’s not a shower over a squat toilet, those are the worst.

Re: Why we can’t build family-sized apartments in North America

#196

Post by bluGill »

DANmode wrote: post #190
bluGill wrote: post #155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a parent I can inform you that some kids are just that way. My kids are not in danger, but they still yell once in a while. It is NOT rude for kids to yell. It is rude to live in a building where kids yelling can distract you. The problem is the building though, not the people/kids inside.

You didn't read my comment thoroughly enough. I'll reiterate. It is not rude for kids to yell and laugh while playing. It is rude to let them keep screaming as if they're being hurt, in pain, or facing danger . It is rude if they're screaming for hours .

Trust me, sometimes kids do that and cannot be stopped.

Re: Why we can’t build family-sized apartments in North America

#197

Post by fusslo »

xboxnolifes wrote: post #194
fusslo wrote: post #77

I keep seeing these articles pop up. The goal seems to be getting rid of regulations that hinder building European style apartments. I can't help but wonder if this is really a trend people are interested in, OR is there some effort to sway public opinion into deregulating housing. Why do the article ALWAYS mention Europe? Is it a marketing tactic designed to trigger our 'america-europe inferiority complex'? Is it an…

> I can't help but wonder if this is really a trend people are interested in, OR is there some effort to sway public opinion into deregulating housing. Is there a difference? I mean, if public opinion is swayed, then does that not mean they are now interested in it?

Do you think it would make a difference if it was revealed that tobacco companies paid doctors to smoke and endorse smoking to make the public feel like smoking is safe?

Yes.

Found the shill! You working for Blackrock??

Re: Why we can’t build family-sized apartments in North America

#198

Post by DANmode »

bluGill wrote: post #196
DANmode wrote: post #190

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You didn't read my comment thoroughly enough. I'll reiterate. It is not rude for kids to yell and laugh while playing. It is rude to let them keep screaming as if they're being hurt, in pain, or facing danger . It is rude if they're screaming for hours .

Trust me, sometimes kids do that and cannot be stopped.

Trust me, there's nothing you "can't stop" a minor under your tutelage from doing - if you're motivated to.

If I did what I described, my parents would have simply picked me up, carried me into the house, and into my room (until I was done alert-screaming like I was in danger and needed help).

We get it, (from your repeated replies) - you are not motivated in the same way.

Just don't look at me strange when I look at you strange, if your kid is kicking and screaming in the middle of the walkway. That seems to be another commonly "uncontrollable" behavior of children, for some parents.

Re: Why we can’t build family-sized apartments in North America

#199

Post by jareklupinski »

strickinato wrote: post #84

Does anyone else find it to be odd that in all of the bedroom diagrams, they include an animal skin rug?

an animal rug is a very visualizable unit of measurement

it's like the architect's version of 'banana for scale'

Re: Why we can’t build family-sized apartments in North America

#200

Post by nostrebored »

engineer_22 wrote: post #104
nostrebored wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Right, but this makes sprawl. There is more space, but how much of it are we going to dedicate to parking, larger units, etc? How tall will we make the building? Things here are really, really bad. Zoning is the only lever we have to fix it.

Not bad, just different.

No, bad and unsustainable. Almost every city in the U.S. is supported by its urban core. The infrastructure cost of handling suburbs is absurd.

Increasing sprawl is fiscally irresponsible and most cities are underwater without extra funding as it is.

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