Now ‘space’ has become a ‘non-essential’. It seems we’ve forgotten that Canada is the second largest nation in the world, and one of the least densely populated. -vreaa
Excerpts from an article in The Vancouver Sun 22 Jan 2010 -
‘Micro-lofts’ to come to Vancouver
“Two Vancouver property firms are expected to formally announce Monday the million-dollar creation of 30 so-called “micro-lofts” in the Downtown Eastside. At approximately 270 sq. ft. — about the size of two municipal parking spaces — the market rental units will be the smallest in the city.
“So many people contact us, not with a specific size they want, or specific amenities, but they tell us where they want to be in the neighbourhood and how much they can pay. So often that amount is just not achievable for anything but a very specialized product like this,” said John Stovell, general manager of Reliance Properties. “By cutting away the non-essentials, that is the only way to get to that price-point in Vancouver,” he said.
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Comments on living in small spaces by these posters on greaterfool.ca -
rubberduckie 23 Jan 2010 9:10 pm -”I lived in a sub-300sq.ft. bachelor suite for a number of years. Being in a space that small does stuff to your head. I think half of my dreams at night were about discovering extra space behind a door. Maybe it’s living in a small space in Vancouver that makes us lose our minds and pay way too much for slightly larger condos!”
Ronaldo 23 Jan 2010 10:06 pm – “I once lived in a 327 s.f. house for a time and I gotta agree with you that a person definitely can get “spaced out”, a condition that will become very familiar in Vancouver in the years to come. Welcome to Japan in the 90’s.”
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UPDATE 27 Jan 2010
Housing Advocate at vancouvercondo.info 27 Jan 2010 12:56 pm – “I do not think that people realize that 270 sq feet was previously deemed as non-livable space by provincial guidelines. The minimum space requirements, outlined in discussions on affordable housing strategies, identify a much bigger number. It is funny how concepts of “liveable space” get altered when there are profits to be made.”
Even with the bed and table both in their upright and locked positions, you still wouldn’t be able to swing a cat in your impressive new pad.
But I suppose with Canada’s population density well over 1% that of Japan’s, this is a welcome and necessary innovation.
I hadn’t seen the price point. S’posedly this is going to rent for $700. WTF?