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I wonder if it would make sense in some cities to set-up "internet café" or capsule hotel-like accommodations[1]. Dense urban areas in other countries have the

I wonder if it would make sense in some cities to set-up "internet café" or capsule hotel-like accommodations[1]. Dense urban areas in other countries have these "overflow" spaces which diverged somewhat from their original design have come to serve either laborers, workers from other cities as well as people stranded by train schedules. [1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_cafe_refugee https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_cafe_refugee

sp332 10y ago
It probably wouldn't hurt to have those places as a fallback in case someone really needs them. At the same time, it seems like a bad idea to expect people to need them on a regular basis.
mindcrime 10y ago
I'm picturing something like an "Uber stop" somewhat similar to a truck-stop... combine a gas-station and restaurant with some of those Japanese "capsule hotel" sleeping pods[1], add wifi and maybe even a few coin-op washing machines / dryers. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsule_hotel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsule_hotel
- chadgeidel 10y ago
  I honestly don't know why the US doesn't have these capsule hotels. I can see so many upsides and very few downsides. "But the homeless might sleep in them". Better there than on the streets, no?
  - sedachv 10y ago
    Cheap short-term (nightly to weekly) housing used to be all over the United States in the form of dormitories (YMCA was huge), SROs (single room occupancy), cage hotels, flophouses, and boarding houses. Because of zoning and building code changes this kind of housing essentially stopped being built after WWII. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flophouse#Cage_hotels_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flophouse#Cage_hotels_in_the_U...
  - pizzetta 10y ago
    And importantly, proper sanitation facilities.
  - 77pt77 10y ago
    Even Hong Kong which is incredibly dense resists this. They are mainly found in Japan and I've seen a few in China and Singapore. They range from bad to almost wellness/SPA centers but usually are at least decent, convenient and good value for money.
DashRattlesnake 10y ago
I think it would make more sense for cities to mandate that workers be paid a livable wage for the area, rather than setting up and endorsing underclass-level living arrangements.
- pizzetta 10y ago
  In the Case of some of these Uber drivers, they are kind of arbitraging costs. They live in Sacto but work in SF. But yeah, I'd support a tiered living wage (more for over 25yo, less for younger adults to give them a way to get into the labor force).

sp332 10y ago

It probably wouldn't hurt to have those places as a fallback in case someone really needs them. At the same time, it seems like a bad idea to expect people to need them on a regular basis.

mindcrime 10y ago

I'm picturing something like an "Uber stop" somewhat similar to a truck-stop... combine a gas-station and restaurant with some of those Japanese "capsule hotel" sleeping pods[1], add wifi and maybe even a few coin-op washing machines / dryers. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsule_hotel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsule_hotel

chadgeidel 10y ago
I honestly don't know why the US doesn't have these capsule hotels. I can see so many upsides and very few downsides. "But the homeless might sleep in them". Better there than on the streets, no?
- sedachv 10y ago
  Cheap short-term (nightly to weekly) housing used to be all over the United States in the form of dormitories (YMCA was huge), SROs (single room occupancy), cage hotels, flophouses, and boarding houses. Because of zoning and building code changes this kind of housing essentially stopped being built after WWII. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flophouse#Cage_hotels_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flophouse#Cage_hotels_in_the_U...
- pizzetta 10y ago
  And importantly, proper sanitation facilities.
- 77pt77 10y ago
  Even Hong Kong which is incredibly dense resists this. They are mainly found in Japan and I've seen a few in China and Singapore. They range from bad to almost wellness/SPA centers but usually are at least decent, convenient and good value for money.

DashRattlesnake 10y ago

I think it would make more sense for cities to mandate that workers be paid a livable wage for the area, rather than setting up and endorsing underclass-level living arrangements.

pizzetta 10y ago
In the Case of some of these Uber drivers, they are kind of arbitraging costs. They live in Sacto but work in SF. But yeah, I'd support a tiered living wage (more for over 25yo, less for younger adults to give them a way to get into the labor force).