Interesting idea for affordable housing (2015, apartment, condos)

[adr3naline]

Anyone else find this oddly appealing?

I mean the details aren't there so viabiltiy is a big question mark.....but for those that don't mind living in a walk-in closet, this company's approach to mobility and affordability could be of interest.

KASITA

[fluffythewondercat]

You too can be a Pod Person.

[BennyPhoenix]

A nice livable apt can be created that only uses about 220sq ft. The cost of bldg each unit, including appliances would be about $18,000-$20,000 plus permits and cost of land. It would be a cost effective way to provide low cost housing for lower income folks who do have full time jobs.
It would only make sense in a place like LA, SF, or NYC.
Try getting the permits to do it.
The roadblocks are tremendous and effectively insurmountable. No developer wants to try since they can do other things with their time and money that are easy and more profitable.

[adr3naline]

I'm quite interested in the idea of a movable 200sqft home as a vacation pad, but only if there were abundant options for moving locations would it actually sorta kinda make sense. I can imagine that would be a huge hurdle for kick starting this thing.

[nightlysparrow]

Originally Posted by adr3naline

I'm quite interested in the idea of a movable 200sqft home as a vacation pad, but only if there were abundant options for moving locations would it actually sorta kinda make sense. I can imagine that would be a huge hurdle for kick starting this thing.

200 square feet and movable? Try this:
Small 200 Square Foot Off The Grid Residence | 2015 interior design ideas

[MordinSolus]

I don't understand why they're mobile pods and not just stationary units. What is the advantage? They're not on wheels, like most tiny houses, so moving them would be costly and likely difficult. If you wanted to move your pod you would have to wait for a vacancy in a different pod receptacle building, which couldn't happen unless 2 people wanted to swap locations at the same time. And the engineering of pods would be so much more difficult and complex than the engineering of small condos. All of the plumbing, electrical, HVAC and data would have to be specialized and connect like LEGOs into the pod buildings.

[jm1982]

Originally Posted by BennyPhoenix

A nice livable apt can be created that only uses about 220sq ft. The cost of bldg each unit, including appliances would be about $18,000-$20,000 plus permits and cost of land. It would be a cost effective way to provide low cost housing for lower income folks who do have full time jobs.
It would only make sense in a place like LA, SF, or NYC.
Try getting the permits to do it.
The roadblocks are tremendous and effectively insurmountable. No developer wants to try since they can do other things with their time and money that are easy and more profitable.

Yeah that is true as there are already people living in small studios in LA or even rooms that might be that size.
I think that companies and nonprofits should be encouraged to build these kinds of units for employees on any available land they might have . This would also help a lot with cutting down on traffic .
Of course it's tough as there isn't much available land but land can be used more efficiently by creating denser units.

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by BennyPhoenix

A nice livable apt can be created that only uses about 220sq ft. The cost of bldg each unit, including appliances would be about $18,000-$20,000 plus permits and cost of land. It would be a cost effective way to provide low cost housing for lower income folks who do have full time jobs.
It would only make sense in a place like LA, SF, or NYC.
Try getting the permits to do it.
The roadblocks are tremendous and effectively insurmountable. No developer wants to try since they can do other things with their time and money that are easy and more profitable.

Zoning laws and NIMBYism are the biggest reason why places like LA, SF, and NYC have such high cost housing in the first place. It drastically restricts the amount of housing that can be built, which jacks up home prices and rents.

[Exitus Acta Probat]

I'm all for this as long as we can put them underground so I don't need to look at them ever.

[John_marts]

That doesnt look affordable at all.