4 ms·

This is actually somewhat of a return to what used to be a historic norm: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-room_occupancy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sing

This is actually somewhat of a return to what used to be a historic norm: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-room_occupancy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-room_occupancy The idea that every single adult needs a single-family zoned space for themselves is something of a historic anomaly. The only reason these aren't more common or affordable is because housing like this got zoned to death.

int_19h 2y ago
It is a historic anomaly in the same sense that most quality of life improvements are. Thing is, when and where those arrangements are common, people try to get out of them as fast as they can, and for good reasons. Mind you, it beats lack of housing altogether as well as some other historic options (like say barracks). But I don't think we should consider this normal or desired when it's economically feasible to give everyone proper living space - which it is.
- legitster 2y ago
  If this type of housing is considered just fine for college students, why should it be illegal to provide for people once they graduate? I get that not everyone would want to live this way their whole lives, but part of the issue with the US housing market is that there are no entry-level housing options. This makes housing not just expensive for young people or poor, but drives housing prices up across the entire inventory. Most quality of life improvements, especially in urban areas, have been driven by efficiencies and economies of scale.
  - omnimus 2y ago
    Because the entry option becomes the mainstream option becomes the norm becomes the premium…
johnnyanmac 2y ago
It's not more common because the US has a metric fuck ton of land and people want to raise families one day. The wiki entry even says that this is traditionally for the homeless. I instantly got Army barrack vibes from this, but at least that's usually for the early bootcamp days for the first few years, not an entire lifestyle choice. I only really see it justified for single young people, but even then $700 for this is insulting (even for a place like SF) unless I'm missing something. Why not just rent a communal house at that point?
- javanissen 2y ago
  Because renting a room in SF costs more than $700. I understand asking $700 for this feels icky, but the only reason they can do it is because of the insane scarcity of housing in SF. If we want this to not be a competitive option, the way forward is just to build more housing - like these people are doing.
ASalazarMX 2y ago
> The idea that every single adult needs a single-family zoned space for themselves is something of a historic anomaly Guess we should give up on smartphones, air conditioning, personal computers, more than one pair of shoes, more than one TV, among many new historic anomalies.
DrNosferatu 2y ago
So were incurable bacterial infections, high childhood death rates and even Human Rights. In England, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has established the Nationally Described Space Standard [1], which specifies that a one-bedroom, one-person flat should have a minimum gross internal floor area of 37 square meters if it includes a shower room, or 39 square meters if it has a bathroom. I guess anything significantly below that can be called outright poverty. [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/technical-housing-standards-nationally-described-space-standard/technical-housing-standards-nationally-described-space-standard https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/technical-housing...
- DrNosferatu 2y ago
  Another common criteria for salubrity of habitation is that the rent shouldn’t be more than 1/3 of your liquid income.

int_19h 2y ago

It is a historic anomaly in the same sense that most quality of life improvements are. Thing is, when and where those arrangements are common, people try to get out of them as fast as they can, and for good reasons. Mind you, it beats lack of housing altogether as well as some other historic options (like say barracks). But I don't think we should consider this normal or desired when it's economically feasible to give everyone proper living space - which it is.

legitster 2y ago
If this type of housing is considered just fine for college students, why should it be illegal to provide for people once they graduate? I get that not everyone would want to live this way their whole lives, but part of the issue with the US housing market is that there are no entry-level housing options. This makes housing not just expensive for young people or poor, but drives housing prices up across the entire inventory. Most quality of life improvements, especially in urban areas, have been driven by efficiencies and economies of scale.
- omnimus 2y ago
  Because the entry option becomes the mainstream option becomes the norm becomes the premium…

johnnyanmac 2y ago

It's not more common because the US has a metric fuck ton of land and people want to raise families one day. The wiki entry even says that this is traditionally for the homeless. I instantly got Army barrack vibes from this, but at least that's usually for the early bootcamp days for the first few years, not an entire lifestyle choice. I only really see it justified for single young people, but even then $700 for this is insulting (even for a place like SF) unless I'm missing something. Why not just rent a communal house at that point?

javanissen 2y ago
Because renting a room in SF costs more than $700. I understand asking $700 for this feels icky, but the only reason they can do it is because of the insane scarcity of housing in SF. If we want this to not be a competitive option, the way forward is just to build more housing - like these people are doing.

ASalazarMX 2y ago

> The idea that every single adult needs a single-family zoned space for themselves is something of a historic anomaly Guess we should give up on smartphones, air conditioning, personal computers, more than one pair of shoes, more than one TV, among many new historic anomalies.

DrNosferatu 2y ago

So were incurable bacterial infections, high childhood death rates and even Human Rights. In England, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has established the Nationally Described Space Standard [1], which specifies that a one-bedroom, one-person flat should have a minimum gross internal floor area of 37 square meters if it includes a shower room, or 39 square meters if it has a bathroom. I guess anything significantly below that can be called outright poverty. [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/technical-housing-standards-nationally-described-space-standard/technical-housing-standards-nationally-described-space-standard https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/technical-housing...

DrNosferatu 2y ago
Another common criteria for salubrity of habitation is that the rent shouldn’t be more than 1/3 of your liquid income.