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I use to work in the Empire State building. There were stories about from tenants that in the mid 90's the building was pretty much empty and the rents per sq/f
by hijinks 11y ago
I use to work in the Empire State building. There were stories about from tenants that in the mid 90's the building was pretty much empty and the rents per sq/foot of office space was 75% less then an apartment.
So there are stories about people renting office space to live in. They'd also have a gym membership to use the shower and they'd save a ton of money.
- hitekker 11y agoIs that still the case in parts of Manhattan? I would seriously considering doing this.
- CPLX 11y agoThis has been going on for eternity and still does. The catch is that it's illegal and if the fire inspectors get wind of it you can have a very sudden and unpleasant removal from your "apartment"
- hitekker 11y agoI suppose I'll just stick to the plan of living out of a van then...
- deleted 11y ago[deleted]
- tannhauser23 11y agoHave you ever noticed how there are fortune tellers occupying prime storefronts all over the city? The places with a little chair behind the window and a thick curtain? I never saw anybody ever go in or out of those places. I asked a prosecutor friend whether these places are fronts for prostitution or drugs. Turns out the fortune teller stores are actually being used as homes for entire families. They cordone off a tiny area for palm-reading and live in rest of the space. It's a really cheap (and super illegal) way for a family to live in Manhattan.
- hitekker 11y agoNeato. Thanks for the anecdote. I recall reading from somewhere, probably on HN, that a lot of banks open up storefronts primarily as a means of shifting money around into different instruments, not because they actually need or want people to do business at that banking location.