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The better formula is 'no empty walls'. Vancouver does this. Retail doesn't fit in every single location when that's the case ground floor is replaced by street

The better formula is 'no empty walls'. Vancouver does this. Retail doesn't fit in every single location when that's the case ground floor is replaced by street level townhouse style entrances to individual units..

lazerpants 9y ago
Exactly, NYC has a glut of unused ground floor retail space and a housing shortage, simultaneously.
- jermaustin1 9y ago
  It's so bad most commercial listings usually have something along the lines of "Not suitable as living space" in them. That's because you can rent a small ground floor office in some of the further north neighborhoods of Manhattan for almost half the price of the same square foot apartment, with similar amenities. The kitchen will be tiny (so is the one in your apartment), the bathroom will be tiny (so is the one in your apartment), and the offices might be tiny (so is your bedroom in your apartment). I understand you need egresses in case of fire and things like that which many offices don't have such things, but I feel they would be better served as apartments since they stay vacant for years at a time.
  - lazerpants 9y ago
    Indeed. My wife and I explored opening an "art gallery" in Mott Haven/South Bronx in a cool old warehouse that cost less than our small apartment. It didn't work out for a number of reasons but the size of the space was a tremendous value.
  - dfee 9y ago
    I wonder, what is the realistic chance of being caught and penalized for doing this anyway? Maybe it’d be worth it; maybe some folks are already doing this.
    - lazerpants 9y ago
      There is a "professional office" in a storefront two blocks from my office that I believe is just a guy's house. In my exploration of doing the same I found the following problems: - no lease protections due to the lies you need to tell in order to get the commercial lease - vermin issues in ground floor units (not bad until you need to store food and have bedding or clothes around) - lease terms that are usually much longer than a residential lease - lack of a shower in many commercial units (fixable but adds to the cost and may tip off a landlord) - generally undesirable living situation (poor ventilation, light, loud businesses next door, layout) - expense - these units are cheaper than similarly sized apartments, but they aren't usually cheap enough for one person alone, and the floorplans usually don't make for great roommate situations I think it would work really well as a pied a terre though, if you have another place close to the city and can afford the commercial unit. Sleeping in your office is totally legal and does not run afoul of most commercial leases. Using it as a residence violates the lease.
oftenwrong 9y ago
This article discusses the damage that empty walls (or blocks) do to the pedestrian realm. You might find it interesting. http://www.andrewalexanderprice.com/blog20151021.php http://www.andrewalexanderprice.com/blog20151021.php

lazerpants 9y ago

Exactly, NYC has a glut of unused ground floor retail space and a housing shortage, simultaneously.

jermaustin1 9y ago
It's so bad most commercial listings usually have something along the lines of "Not suitable as living space" in them. That's because you can rent a small ground floor office in some of the further north neighborhoods of Manhattan for almost half the price of the same square foot apartment, with similar amenities. The kitchen will be tiny (so is the one in your apartment), the bathroom will be tiny (so is the one in your apartment), and the offices might be tiny (so is your bedroom in your apartment). I understand you need egresses in case of fire and things like that which many offices don't have such things, but I feel they would be better served as apartments since they stay vacant for years at a time.
- lazerpants 9y ago
  Indeed. My wife and I explored opening an "art gallery" in Mott Haven/South Bronx in a cool old warehouse that cost less than our small apartment. It didn't work out for a number of reasons but the size of the space was a tremendous value.
- dfee 9y ago
  I wonder, what is the realistic chance of being caught and penalized for doing this anyway? Maybe it’d be worth it; maybe some folks are already doing this.
  - lazerpants 9y ago
    There is a "professional office" in a storefront two blocks from my office that I believe is just a guy's house. In my exploration of doing the same I found the following problems: - no lease protections due to the lies you need to tell in order to get the commercial lease - vermin issues in ground floor units (not bad until you need to store food and have bedding or clothes around) - lease terms that are usually much longer than a residential lease - lack of a shower in many commercial units (fixable but adds to the cost and may tip off a landlord) - generally undesirable living situation (poor ventilation, light, loud businesses next door, layout) - expense - these units are cheaper than similarly sized apartments, but they aren't usually cheap enough for one person alone, and the floorplans usually don't make for great roommate situations I think it would work really well as a pied a terre though, if you have another place close to the city and can afford the commercial unit. Sleeping in your office is totally legal and does not run afoul of most commercial leases. Using it as a residence violates the lease.

oftenwrong 9y ago

This article discusses the damage that empty walls (or blocks) do to the pedestrian realm. You might find it interesting. http://www.andrewalexanderprice.com/blog20151021.php http://www.andrewalexanderprice.com/blog20151021.php