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Apartment living sucks. People love hearing their neighbors in the bedroom next door and their kids stomping on the floor upstairs while practicing their tumbli

by cudgy 4y ago

Apartment living sucks. People love hearing their neighbors in the bedroom next door and their kids stomping on the floor upstairs while practicing their tumbling moves. Walking groceries up multiple floors of stairs is great too. And if you want to tinker on your car or some woodworking project … too bad. Do you want to add a new bedroom for a new family member? … too bad. Want to plant some plants or a garden? … too bad. Want a pool, workshop, or a garage? … too bad. Want to allow your young kids to go outside safely? … too bad. Want to get a dog of a certain breed like a German Shepherd or Bull dog? … too bad. The restrictions of apartment living are numerous in comparison to a single family property. Not everyone wants to live like that.

carlmr 4y ago
> People love hearing their neighbors in the bedroom next door and their kids stomping on the floor upstairs while practicing their tumbling moves. In densely populated areas of Europe we have apartments everywhere. It's not that bad, if the building was well-built you barely hear your neighbors. > Walking groceries up multiple floors of stairs is great too. With the average American BMI it's great indeed!
- cudgy 4y ago
  Densely populated areas in the US are also loaded with apartments. However, there is a vast amount of land in the US, so 99% of it is sparsely populated. European homes are built to a higher standard than US homes and many are built from concrete and stone. US apartments are usually built using cheap particle board for floors that turn into bouncy, noisy trampolines over time and thin walls between units. None of that deals with the many other disadvantages of apartment living.
- nradov 4y ago
  Nah, it's pretty bad. I've been to Europe and visited people who live in those flats. Even if the sound insulation is good, it's a bleak existence compared to a typical American suburban house (or townhouse). Very cramped, little ability to customize or remodel it to fit your needs, no space for any hobbies or activities that involve anything large or heavy or loud or dirty. Can't really invite a large group for a party, or have overnight guests. Dense urban apartments should be available for those who want that lifestyle (primarily childless young people) but it's not a model that we should be pushing as the default for the general population. That would be a real step backwards.
mrguyorama 4y ago
>Want to allow your young kids to go outside safely? … too bad. Are you just pretending city kids don't exist?
- nradov 4y ago
  Sure city kids exist, but there has been a clear trend for decades of parents with growing families moving out to the suburbs in search of more space and higher quality of life at an affordable price. It's certainly possible to squeeze multiple children into a typical small city apartment, but it's a miserable experience and few people voluntarily choose that when they have other options. In San Francisco there are now more dogs than children. Pretty much the only parents who stay are the wealthy who can afford large homes in safe neighborhoods regardless of price, and the poor who receive subsidized housing and have no where else to go. When the middle class has kids they move out to the East Bay suburbs, where they can afford a back yard and don't have to put up with junkies on their doorstep.
pwinnski 4y ago
American apartment buildings are built incredibly cheaply, making noise complaints real and terrible. Dense living in well-built buildings is amazing, but hard to find in the US.

by cudgy 4y ago

carlmr 4y ago

> People love hearing their neighbors in the bedroom next door and their kids stomping on the floor upstairs while practicing their tumbling moves. In densely populated areas of Europe we have apartments everywhere. It's not that bad, if the building was well-built you barely hear your neighbors. > Walking groceries up multiple floors of stairs is great too. With the average American BMI it's great indeed!

cudgy 4y ago
Densely populated areas in the US are also loaded with apartments. However, there is a vast amount of land in the US, so 99% of it is sparsely populated. European homes are built to a higher standard than US homes and many are built from concrete and stone. US apartments are usually built using cheap particle board for floors that turn into bouncy, noisy trampolines over time and thin walls between units. None of that deals with the many other disadvantages of apartment living.
nradov 4y ago
Nah, it's pretty bad. I've been to Europe and visited people who live in those flats. Even if the sound insulation is good, it's a bleak existence compared to a typical American suburban house (or townhouse). Very cramped, little ability to customize or remodel it to fit your needs, no space for any hobbies or activities that involve anything large or heavy or loud or dirty. Can't really invite a large group for a party, or have overnight guests. Dense urban apartments should be available for those who want that lifestyle (primarily childless young people) but it's not a model that we should be pushing as the default for the general population. That would be a real step backwards.

mrguyorama 4y ago

>Want to allow your young kids to go outside safely? … too bad. Are you just pretending city kids don't exist?

nradov 4y ago
Sure city kids exist, but there has been a clear trend for decades of parents with growing families moving out to the suburbs in search of more space and higher quality of life at an affordable price. It's certainly possible to squeeze multiple children into a typical small city apartment, but it's a miserable experience and few people voluntarily choose that when they have other options. In San Francisco there are now more dogs than children. Pretty much the only parents who stay are the wealthy who can afford large homes in safe neighborhoods regardless of price, and the poor who receive subsidized housing and have no where else to go. When the middle class has kids they move out to the East Bay suburbs, where they can afford a back yard and don't have to put up with junkies on their doorstep.

pwinnski 4y ago

American apartment buildings are built incredibly cheaply, making noise complaints real and terrible. Dense living in well-built buildings is amazing, but hard to find in the US.