Is Los Angeles ready for the 250-square-foot apartment? (Pasadena, Santa Monica: rentals, mattress)

[JackSparrow]

Originally Posted by Angel Bear

Where do you put all of your clothes? LOL

LOL

[LALady]

Originally Posted by AdmiralNorton

250 square feet? That's a bedroom, a bathroom and... maybe even a closet... naaaw, no closet. 250 square feet is a joke, not an apartment.

I lived in the teeny apartment shortly after college. I hadn't accumulated much. Had very little furniture. I wouldn't suggest that someone move from a 2,500 square foot house to a 250 apartment.

[LALady]

Originally Posted by lucero32

As others have mentioned, my first thought was of young professional and students. Let's say they built one of these near the new L.A. Live center that's going up by Staples Center. Between USC students and professionals looking for a place convenient and with some nightlife, these would be highly desirable.

I know when I was at SC if they had something like this, i would have jumped at the opportunity.

College students with their parties and stereos would make the place like a dorm. The small size would encourage them to have the door open, visit from room to room. Read some the websites that rate apartments. The large complexes near USC or UCLA (or any other college) are nightmarish for the professional. The two groups don't mix well.

[lucero32]

I disagree, I think students and young professionals definitely get along. During my time in college I lived in both K-Town (The Versailles) and Miracle Mile (Dunsmuir just off of Wilshire). In both places you had a lot of young people, limited parking, small apartments, and an overall great atmosphere. As for noise and such, well... hopefully a young professional or anyone choosing to live in a building with small surrounding would enjoy that type of environment. City lights, music, socializing, open doors in the apartments, it sounds like a great place for a young 20-something to be living.

[greggd]

Properly managed a small apartment or condo can serve a purpose. Poorly managed and it becomes slum.

There is actually a 100 unit development going up in Santa Monica that will be all studios and roughly 4-500 sq ft each. Not 250 sq ft but pretty small.

[LALady]

Originally Posted by greggd

Properly managed a small apartment or condo can serve a purpose. Poorly managed and it becomes slum.

It will be interesting to see who rents these studios... the family of 10 or the professional.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by LALady

College students with their parties and stereos would make the place like a dorm. The small size would encourage them to have the door open, visit from room to room. Read some the websites that rate apartments. The large complexes near USC or UCLA (or any other college) are nightmarish for the professional. The two groups don't mix well.

My ex-wife lived in what was essentially a private dormatory in Madison Wisconsin. They seemed to mix just fine there, though the bulk of those who weren't students seemed to be retirees rather than professionals. But in any case, it was a pretty calm place. I'm guessing that's because they didn't have to deal with the political BS that universities deal with so they had a freer hand to boot troublemakers and screen them out in the first place.

[katenik]

tomorrow's OPRAH will feature home designer nate berkus tackling a 250 sq ft apartment.

[think.reciprocity]

Originally Posted by Sorcerer68

I've lived in many older buildings in the L.A. area in the last 20+ years. Most had bachelor/efficiency units. Not one place I lived in was crawling with undesirables or had many people crammed in one apartment. I lived in these in Redondo Beach, Torrance, Glendale and Pasadena. Pretty much without exception they had singles and older people in them. It's a great alternative to renting a room in a house. There are some nice old buildings that are former hotels along Wilshire that have nice apartments like this. I almost moved into one years ago. FYI, 250 square feet is a standard hotel room. Many of these places, like the Gaylord or the Villa Riviera in Long Beach(pictured below) have units this size. The Villa Riviera (and buildings like it) allows people to live in the style of a grand old gothic hotel, oceanfront no less for dirt cheap condo prices. Many of these are rentals as well. Other buildings throughout town have lobby, doorman and concierge. Newer ones will offer an affordable housing alternative for many people. I think it's all about location and of course management.

I guess true to form of this forum, people can find something bad about everything including affordable housing alternatives. L.A. is ready for the 250 square foot efficiency because it's had them for 100 years. Although not grand old hotels, the new versions will offer an updated version of a tried and true theme.

This building is BEAUTIFUL!!!

I certainly appreciate the positive perspective. I often wonder "how much space is enough" for some folks. They must have these big fancy houses with countless rooms but work endless hours to pay for them - therefore rarely being able to enjoy the space in the first place.

I want SOOOOO badly to move to the LA area & feel like I am willing to have less to get more (if that makes any sense), BUT, a one room apartment with no kitchen at nearly 40 years old? I realize some other areas and/or cultures deal with far less, but I think this could almost drive me stir crazy. I suppose the fact that I am currently disabled & confined to my home a great deal of the time does factor into my thinking greatly.

But, still. YIKES. How do grown folk manage not having any kitchen? And their bed in their living room - eliminating much reality of having company? I have very little material possessions - but I would at least like a small living room, kitchen, bedroom, & full bath (actually I don't need the shower - but REALLY want the bathtub).

As an aside: Can anyone explain to me why a refrigerator is not a standard appliance in rental units in the LA area? I see full kitchens but no fridges & often no stoves either... do renters really own their own? Also, seems like a lot of buildings don't have laundry facilities, is that true? Lastly, any other hints about LA renting that may likely differ from my area (Mpls - things like maybe that fee that all rental units have in LA that we don't have here or is air conditioning units a standard offering in all units?)

Thanks all...

Oh, and what should a transplant such as myself know about housing / building code regulations as they relate to earthquake safety/durability/whatever?

[monti]

Good choice on leaving MN - that place is ghastly