2679 replies to this topic

[Jon S]

Young people love them.....

http://www.ctvbc.ctv...ishColumbiaHome

[aastra]

What's the idea there? That people in New York or Hong Kong tend to be smaller than people in places like Victoria or Vancouver?

[Jeep]

Having lived in under 400sf before, I can say first hand that it's surprisingly doable. The possibility of being to actually get into the home ownership game early before I need a bigger space is something I'm glad to see coming. Not everyone out of school in their first job can get a mortgage for a larger unit.

[jklymak]

Agreed - there is lots of market for small spaces for people to live. I doubt I had more than 400 sqft until I was in my mid 30s.

[Sparky]

I found some of these pictures interesting.

http://www.google.ca...iw=1024&bih=603

[Jeep]

I'm hoping these will be more like it....

http://www.google.ca...btnG=&mvs=0#p=0

[Sparky]

^ Your link messed up Jeep, try again.

[renthefinn]

265 to 330 sq feet is small but possible to live in if you have a loft - a 100 sq foot loft area is large enough to be a bedroom leaving you 300 +- down below. To make it work you need a narrow space and not a square. A 12' wide space would be 25' long

This is a listing for a 482 square foot loft in Vancouver.

How long ago did this sell? Seems very cheap for the area, I've been looking at stuff in the area for quite a while and never saw this.... 300K is very hard to find near downtown Vancouver.... Lofts are also few and far between at reasonable prices....

[SamCB]

The notion of micro apartments in Victoria is ridiculous. This isn't Manhattan or Hong Kong, Victoria isn't even a big city. There is lots of space for development.

It's a sign of how distorted the housing market is that micro apartments are being considered.

I disagree. Edmonton has space for development. Calgary has space for development. Victoria is surrounded by water on 3 sides and is seriously constrained for space.

[Mike K.]

To add to what Mark said, we are also forced to comply with overly restrictive zoning and building regulations.

This region is actually very compact by North American standards. The urbanized area of greater Victoria (land we can build on, not including ALR), including urbanized Sooke, is at most some 150 - 175 sq. km. By comparison Metro Halifax's present-day urbanized area is 262 sq. km.

[Greg]

^ Are you saying that this idea is not a good one?

No, the project is a great idea. I was just referencing the quoted bit about well-tanned slightly inebriated tenants...a failed attempt at humor it would seem.

[UrbanRail]

CTV.....

http://www.ctvvancou...ern-junk-lands/

Hey that video rendering of the bridge showed rail.

[Bernard]

Is the idea condos or rentals for the building?

[G-Man]

I do not think they have decided at this point.

[phx]

What's the idea there? That people in New York or Hong Kong tend to be smaller than people in places like Victoria or Vancouver?

I suppose people in Hong Kong might on average be smaller, but that's not the idea.

Rather, those places are very crowded so houses and apartments must be small.

In the core of Victoria, it's not hard to find vacant land. And by vacant, I mean just dirt, not even a parking lot built on it. Much of the rest is underdeveloped.

Going outside the core, it's mainly suburban.

There is no need for people to live in shoe boxes.

[jklymak]

^ By that logic there would be no need for people to have roommates, or live in basements either...

[Holden West]

Young people making a modest hourly wage will be able to afford to live in a brand-new apartment in a spectacular heritage building on the waterfront considered one of the world's most beautiful urban harbours. Contemplate that for a moment.

[sebberry]

I have no doubt that micro-condos will sell well there. Anything like that will be a great addition to the neighborhood. Just not for me, I need space to breathe and move.

[LJ]

Young people making a modest hourly wage will be able to afford to live in a brand-new apartment in a spectacular heritage building on the waterfront considered one of the world's most beautiful urban harbours. Contemplate that for a moment.

I'm not sure that you would be living in it, you may be sleeping in it but thats about it.

I had a 400 sq. ft. apartment once but that was as small as I could manage, and then just for a limited time.

[Holden West]

IKEA has a microloft display in their showroom.

A lot of people can't wrap their head around the microloft concept. They think "Where would I fit my dining room suite--my hutch--my Hummell figurines?!" and declare it impossible for decent human habitation.