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My fav takeaway is that no one is angry at them. They built nice homes for 10 and 40k. If they were to do it legally, it would cost 900k. Where are the extra 85
by ambyra 3y ago
My fav takeaway is that no one is angry at them. They built nice homes for 10 and 40k. If they were to do it legally, it would cost 900k. Where are the extra 850 Ks going? Transit workers probably don’t make much money in the first place, maybe they should be provided housing anyway.
- stetrain 3y agoValue of land and cost of utilities. If you want to build a 6 unit residential building in the Bay Area you first have to buy the land it will go on, and then build a building on it which will tie into and distribute utilities for electricity, water, sewage, and possibly gas. The cost of finishing out each unit within goes on top of that foundation which already existing in this case, where the units were converted offices inside existing buildings already owned by Caltrain. Maybe it should be easier to rezone and repurpose existing land and buildings into residential units. A lot of the regulations that hinder conversion of non-residential buildings into residential are there for good reason, for things like ventilation and fire escape. Regulations written in blood after previous tragedies.
- ambyra 3y agoI don’t understand what new codes they would need to follow, these buildings were already made to be occupied by people, with all applicable codes covered.
- stetrain 3y agoMost residential codes require an exterior openable window in each bedroom. If you take an office building and subdivide it into residential units that may not be easily achievable. Things that may be adequate in a large open floor office may not be when turned into individual separated dwellings.