The Pittsburgh Apartment Rent Bubble (Baldwin, Brentwood: new house, school, living)

[Geeo]

That's why I don't like these "open floor plan" concepts. I don't want to be looking at the frig and everything else from the living room. It just looks cheap, like they didn't want to spring for a wall. Why not just sprinkle the appliance in among the furniture? Save a few steps by cooking from the couch or loading the dishwasher from your easy chair.

[doo dah]

Originally Posted by NYCTelevisionWriter

Looks pretty dreadful.

Modular style "architecture" with tiny rooms and no kitchens -- only kitchen appliances and fixtures in the living rooms.

That is the trend these days for new houses, as well.

[theta_sigma]

Open plan makes small spaces appear to be larger. I live in an 800 sq ft house and thank god the previous owners remodeled and knocked out the wall between the kitchen and dining room (it's now a counter) becasue otherwise my kitchen would be a shoebox and my dining room would be dark and claustrophobic. If you've got a house with large, high-ceilinged rooms then great, you can have walls and doors everywhere. In a small apartment or bungalow, walls just create tiny, dark rooms.

[ferraris]

Originally Posted by NYCTelevisionWriter

Actually, it's not.

What's your car payment? How much is your car insurance? Car maintenance? Gas?


How about renter's insurance? Groceries? Dry cleaning? Entertainment?

And ... health insurance?

$1800/month goes REAL fast.

Yet 10's of thousands of Pittsburghers live on that much or less each month while also paying rent. $1,800/month after rent is quite doable. Penny-pinching not even required.

$300 car payment
$100 car insurance
$100 gas
$100 electric
$100 heat
$100 cable/internet

That leaves $1000 for food, fun, savings, and yes, even dry cleaning. Easily doable.

I was going with $1,800 being after payroll deductions, but I know some people who have average insurance coverage through the exchange for ~$150/month. It doesn't change the result of $1,800 after rent being easily livable in Pittsburgh.

[friendsheep]

Originally Posted by Geeo

That's why I don't like these "open floor plan" concepts. I don't want to be looking at the frig and everything else from the living room. It just looks cheap, like they didn't want to spring for a wall. Why not just sprinkle the appliance in among the furniture? Save a few steps by cooking from the couch or loading the dishwasher from your easy chair.

The young professionals that can afford these rents (and want an urban lifestyle) don't want a full kitchen. They eat out, order from Grub Hub, etc. They're not cooking full meals.

These floorplans are a great way to maximize usable space without dedicating it to a kitchen that won't be used.

[doo dah]

Originally Posted by friendsheep

The young professionals that can afford these rents (and want an urban lifestyle) don't want a full kitchen. They eat out, order from Grub Hub, etc. They're not cooking full meals.

These floorplans are a great way to maximize usable space without dedicating it to a kitchen that won't be used.

Also, I can certainly think of parties I've been to, where everyone ended up in the kitchen.

It's not my thing, though, personally, and we have a kitchen with doors in our place.

[UKyank]

Originally Posted by Aqua Teen Carl

Thought this would be a good time to post the rents for the new Hot Metal Flats:

Hot Metal Flats - Opening Summer 2015 - Walnut Capital

Minimum rent (studio): $1200/month
Maximum rent (2 bedroom): $2700/month

Livable as hell.

$2700 for 1200 sq ft at that location is just stupid

[gortonator]

Originally Posted by doo dah

Also, I can certainly think of parties I've been to, where everyone ended up in the kitchen.

It's not my thing, though, personally, and we have a kitchen with doors in our place.

Doors?????!!!! Wow ..

[gortonator]

Originally Posted by UKyank

$2700 for 1200 sq ft at that location is just stupid

It does say 'maximum'. Its not unusual for new developments to have one super swanky penthousey type place as a signature for the building. This was super common in Sydney. All the plebs in the rest of building paid normal-ish rates.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by UKyank

$2700 for 1200 sq ft at that location is just stupid

Not really. It's dirt cheap for the "new Pittsburgh".