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A Startup That Wants to Build Cities

buildcampus.com

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Re: A Startup That Wants to Build Cities

#21

Post by epicureanideal »

infecto wrote: post #18

Looks at some of their properties in SF. 3 level house in Haight-Ashbury, ~18 units. Each unit is around $1500/month and they estimate clean/utilities at $200-260 per month. Is that insane to anyone else? Where the heck is all the money going for utilities?!?! I have a two bedroom in the richmond, one roommate and we use maybe $30-40 a month in electric and gas, including the washer/dryer.

For some reason I'm paying around $100/mo for water and sewer, $150 for electric per month, then there's garbage service. I'm not sure if they're including cable TV, internet service, etc. Maybe there's some HOA fees?

Re: A Startup That Wants to Build Cities

#23

Post by epicureanideal »

Animats wrote: post #20

It's not that building a new city is hard. Real estate developers do it routinely. The problem is jobs. There are, at present, quite a few places in the US with more houses than jobs. Only in a few places, such as SF and some areas of Oklahoma where there's heavy drilling activity, is the reverse the case. If you want to buy an empty town of new houses, there are plenty in San Bernardino. Vacant lots run about $7500.…

I know a way of solving this, but "ideas are worth nothing, execution is everything". If anyone's willing to value the idea as significantly more than nothing, I'd be happy to discuss.

See my reply to commenter below. I for one don't believe ideas are worth nothing, and am willing to pay for ideas/information useful to me.

Re: A Startup That Wants to Build Cities

#24

Post by brogrammer90 »

maerF0x0 wrote: post #5

I wonder if they'll choose to make a whole diverse city or just a "monoculture" of 20 somethign roommates. ? I dont imagine seniors are usually attracted to Campus' main market (see the communities on their website). But cities usually have all sorts of demographics.

I imagine these communities will end up resembling the student ghettos of Allston, MA. An amazing place when you're 18, but just depressing when you're 28.

Re: A Startup That Wants to Build Cities

#26

Post by davidw »

epicureanideal wrote: post #23
Animats wrote: post #20

It's not that building a new city is hard. Real estate developers do it routinely. The problem is jobs. There are, at present, quite a few places in the US with more houses than jobs. Only in a few places, such as SF and some areas of Oklahoma where there's heavy drilling activity, is the reverse the case. If you want to buy an empty town of new houses, there are plenty in San Bernardino. Vacant lots run about $7500.…

I know a way of solving this, but "ideas are worth nothing, execution is everything". If anyone's willing to value the idea as significantly more than nothing, I'd be happy to discuss. See my reply to commenter below. I for one don't believe ideas are worth nothing, and am willing to pay for ideas/information useful to me.

http://journal.dedasys.com/2007/04/26/ideas-are-worthless/

Ideas may be worth something, but how would the market for them work?

Re: A Startup That Wants to Build Cities

#27

Post by darkmighty »

Animats wrote: post #20

It's not that building a new city is hard. Real estate developers do it routinely. The problem is jobs. There are, at present, quite a few places in the US with more houses than jobs. Only in a few places, such as SF and some areas of Oklahoma where there's heavy drilling activity, is the reverse the case. If you want to buy an empty town of new houses, there are plenty in San Bernardino. Vacant lots run about $7500.…

Perhaps they could sign with a company or group of companies that don't rely on physical location, e.g. software companies.

Even then, it would only have potential if it filled a bunch of other checkboxes of desirable qualities people wanting for those companies might want which are not filled by established cities, like great outdoor activities nearby, proximity to large cities, extremely low property costs ...

Re: A Startup That Wants to Build Cities

#28

Post by epicureanideal »

davidw wrote: post #26
epicureanideal wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know a way of solving this, but "ideas are worth nothing, execution is everything". If anyone's willing to value the idea as significantly more than nothing, I'd be happy to discuss. See my reply to commenter below. I for one don't believe ideas are worth nothing, and am willing to pay for ideas/information useful to me.

http://journal.dedasys.com/2007/04/26/ideas-are-worthless/ Ideas may be worth something, but how would the market for them work?

Same as any other market. If there is a potential value of say, $5M assuming a problem can be solved, but that potential disappears without the solution, then it's worth $5M. Obviously the other side will want to keep some of that potential value otherwise they won't make the deal.

I don't understand why this is getting downvoted (not that it matters much). I'm totally serious. Ask a question if something isn't clear.

Re: A Startup That Wants to Build Cities

#29

Post by epicureanideal »

epicureanideal wrote: post #23
Animats wrote: post #20

It's not that building a new city is hard. Real estate developers do it routinely. The problem is jobs. There are, at present, quite a few places in the US with more houses than jobs. Only in a few places, such as SF and some areas of Oklahoma where there's heavy drilling activity, is the reverse the case. If you want to buy an empty town of new houses, there are plenty in San Bernardino. Vacant lots run about $7500.…

I know a way of solving this, but "ideas are worth nothing, execution is everything". If anyone's willing to value the idea as significantly more than nothing, I'd be happy to discuss. See my reply to commenter below. I for one don't believe ideas are worth nothing, and am willing to pay for ideas/information useful to me.

Actually nevermind, I just thought of a way to execute on this. I'll just do that.

Re: A Startup That Wants to Build Cities

#30

Post by epicureanideal »

davidw wrote: post #26
epicureanideal wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know a way of solving this, but "ideas are worth nothing, execution is everything". If anyone's willing to value the idea as significantly more than nothing, I'd be happy to discuss. See my reply to commenter below. I for one don't believe ideas are worth nothing, and am willing to pay for ideas/information useful to me.

http://journal.dedasys.com/2007/04/26/ideas-are-worthless/ Ideas may be worth something, but how would the market for them work?

For the record, I'm very much open to buying ideas (or other information) that help me make more money. If you're selling ideas that would help me make more money, and willing to make payment conditional upon me being able to utilize your ideas (and I'll certainly try, given that it's in my interest) post your contact info and I'll get in touch.

I realize there isn't a very efficient market for ideas, and I have difficulty understanding why. I suppose other market participants are just not like me in being interested to buy them, but I suspect a reasonable number of similar people exist. My 6-second guess about the situation is that the market for ideas is inefficient because the small percentage of people willing to buy ideas is difficult to market to and ideas are not equally useful to each person.

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