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I've seen a few of these being built in Mountain View... now I understand that it's a trend. I haven't been inside one, but it has to be better than the Karate
by russellbeattie 8y ago
I've seen a few of these being built in Mountain View... now I understand that it's a trend.
I haven't been inside one, but it has to be better than the Karate Kid-style apartment building with all the entrances facing inwards towards a central courtyard/pool/garden which is common around California. Those are like living in a Motel, where every noise from your neighbors echoes around the central area.
The other style is the 'mega-apartment' complexes which have their own issues as well. I have been inside those, and they're universally depressing. I wonder what it is that Americans can't figure out how to create housing which encourages community instead of killing it. Maybe the One-Plus-Five is the answer?
- sand500 8y agoI don't see a problem with the 1+5 style. I think the street level retail is important for making the area seem lively especially if they are built near the caltrain station "downtowns" like Palo Alto, Mountain View or Sunnyvale. I certainly prefer this style to gated or enclosed apartment communities style. The best style I saw was in Northern Virginia where around every DC metro station was a cluster of high rise apartments, high rise offices and malls with regular suburb once you walk a couple of blocks away.