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It sounds like you guys really thought this through (with the LLC, etc), however I can't shake the feeling that you're going to find this a bit like owning a bo

It sounds like you guys really thought this through (with the LLC, etc), however I can't shake the feeling that you're going to find this a bit like owning a boat: it sounds like much more fun before you actually do it. Five acres is slightly more land than I have (in the exurbs of Toronto), and is almost certainly much more awkward, with less usable space. I mention that because I can't imagine trying to facilitate the desires of 10 different owners on such a plot, and the practical limitations of such a space will become quickly apparent. Notions of being sovereign and all of that seem really strange -- you fall under just as many regulations (if not, in some ways, more) than a plot on the mainland. Assuming that you will fly under the radar is a dangerous gambit. To visit this place you rely upon the graces of what is to you a foreign country. A simple DUI or possession charge in the US == barred from Canada. And so on. Totally get the thought (I have bid on various large parcels of land throughout Ontario), though, just think 5 acres is just much too small.

saalweachter 13y ago
Totally agree on the size. In much of the rural midwest, 5 acres is the _minimum_ plot to build a house on. One single-family house. Five acres was how far we could play as children without going "far". It's 3.78 American football fields. That said, it's five more acres of island than I own.
- jacquesm 13y ago
  5 acres in si units is 20,000 square meters. A typical house in nl is on 200 square meters if it is a house in a row and on maybe twice that much or a bit more if it is freestanding.
  - lostlogin 13y ago
    This always blows my mind. Our last house was 85 square metres and our current is 95. With a small child we need a little more, but any more than 120 is just too big. Too much crap accumulates, too much cleaning, too much maintenance (I could prep and paint the whole interior of our house in 2-3 coats in a week after work in pretty sure). Property taxes cost more with bigger houses and things get complex fast. For example, all water in and water out happens over about 7m of one side of the house. Leaks, supply etc are so much easier to deal with. I can get above and below any problem fairly easily as it's single level. When the child goes feral at night, it sure would be nice to have 10 doors between us, but no house could stop that noise. Medium/small house believer.
    - jacquesm 13y ago
      Those were the lot sizes, houses in the US/Canada are typically a little larger than those in Europe. Property taxes in the US/Canada are a small fraction of those in Europe.
      - lostlogin 13y ago
        oh, that changes everything.
eldavido 13y ago
I can't see the appeal of this at all. Random list of why: Inevitable fights/headaches when one person wants out -- yes, you planned for it, but it's still a hassle. All the pains of homeownership (leaky roofs, pipes, HVAC problems, etc.) x 1000 due to difficulty of getting a construction crew to the island. Lack of a police force to enforce basic property rights against squatters/hunters/other "intruders" with different ideas about the meaning of "private propety" than you Water: is this all being brought to the island, or do you have a plan for on-island desalination? Are you prepared to regularly service the desalination plant and/or haul giant jugs of water to the island constantly? Medical care: when someone breaks a leg, steps on a sharp stick, etc., where is the nearest hospital? This article reminds me why we live in a market economy, because tastes and preferences differ, and there's no way I'd buy this, but great if you guys want to.
- papercrane 13y ago
  > Medical care: when someone breaks a leg, steps on a sharp stick, etc., where is the nearest hospital? Well the nearest hospital to YHZ is about a 30min drive. The island is an hour from the airport, so at most 1h 30m drive, plus a boat ride. Not really any worse then if you decided to go outback camping at the provinces national park. > Lack of a police force to enforce basic property rights against squatters/hunters/other "intruders" with different ideas about the meaning of "private propety" than you "Hello, RCMP..", it's not exactly Somalia here. Honestly though I doubt you'd have any trouble, other then the occasional canoer poking around. Lack of infrastructure definitely is a turn off, not insurmountable though, there are plenty of people doing these kinds of things on islands around here.
- auctiontheory 13y ago
  I'm not saying you're "wrong," but that attitude will certainly cut out much of the fun in life.
  - zorbo 13y ago
    Doesn't sound like he or she considers it "fun". Different tastes I guess. To me, all the "problems" mentioned are the whole reason I'd love to undertake something like this.
S_A_P 13y ago
I live on 4.1 acres. I can't imagine splitting it 10 ways in a manner that would allow for free space on an island with rugged terrain. It's big but not get away from 10 people you may or may not like big.
mathattack 13y ago
Do you see this ending in Lord of the Flies? I just can't imagine 10 friends all growing together with the land at the same pace. Some will have kids. Other want to be more rowdy. Or less. It sounds awesome though, I hope they make it work.
- auctiontheory 13y ago
  If it does, I hope Tynan becomes Jack.
ballard 13y ago
If it drives, flies, floats, fornicates or floods, someone will launch a startup to share them.
jezebel6 13y ago
Also, bears can swim.

saalweachter 13y ago

Totally agree on the size. In much of the rural midwest, 5 acres is the _minimum_ plot to build a house on. One single-family house. Five acres was how far we could play as children without going "far". It's 3.78 American football fields. That said, it's five more acres of island than I own.

jacquesm 13y ago
5 acres in si units is 20,000 square meters. A typical house in nl is on 200 square meters if it is a house in a row and on maybe twice that much or a bit more if it is freestanding.
- lostlogin 13y ago
  This always blows my mind. Our last house was 85 square metres and our current is 95. With a small child we need a little more, but any more than 120 is just too big. Too much crap accumulates, too much cleaning, too much maintenance (I could prep and paint the whole interior of our house in 2-3 coats in a week after work in pretty sure). Property taxes cost more with bigger houses and things get complex fast. For example, all water in and water out happens over about 7m of one side of the house. Leaks, supply etc are so much easier to deal with. I can get above and below any problem fairly easily as it's single level. When the child goes feral at night, it sure would be nice to have 10 doors between us, but no house could stop that noise. Medium/small house believer.
  - jacquesm 13y ago
    Those were the lot sizes, houses in the US/Canada are typically a little larger than those in Europe. Property taxes in the US/Canada are a small fraction of those in Europe.
    - lostlogin 13y ago
      oh, that changes everything.

eldavido 13y ago

I can't see the appeal of this at all. Random list of why: Inevitable fights/headaches when one person wants out -- yes, you planned for it, but it's still a hassle. All the pains of homeownership (leaky roofs, pipes, HVAC problems, etc.) x 1000 due to difficulty of getting a construction crew to the island. Lack of a police force to enforce basic property rights against squatters/hunters/other "intruders" with different ideas about the meaning of "private propety" than you Water: is this all being brought to the island, or do you have a plan for on-island desalination? Are you prepared to regularly service the desalination plant and/or haul giant jugs of water to the island constantly? Medical care: when someone breaks a leg, steps on a sharp stick, etc., where is the nearest hospital? This article reminds me why we live in a market economy, because tastes and preferences differ, and there's no way I'd buy this, but great if you guys want to.

papercrane 13y ago
> Medical care: when someone breaks a leg, steps on a sharp stick, etc., where is the nearest hospital? Well the nearest hospital to YHZ is about a 30min drive. The island is an hour from the airport, so at most 1h 30m drive, plus a boat ride. Not really any worse then if you decided to go outback camping at the provinces national park. > Lack of a police force to enforce basic property rights against squatters/hunters/other "intruders" with different ideas about the meaning of "private propety" than you "Hello, RCMP..", it's not exactly Somalia here. Honestly though I doubt you'd have any trouble, other then the occasional canoer poking around. Lack of infrastructure definitely is a turn off, not insurmountable though, there are plenty of people doing these kinds of things on islands around here.
auctiontheory 13y ago
I'm not saying you're "wrong," but that attitude will certainly cut out much of the fun in life.
- zorbo 13y ago
  Doesn't sound like he or she considers it "fun". Different tastes I guess. To me, all the "problems" mentioned are the whole reason I'd love to undertake something like this.

S_A_P 13y ago

I live on 4.1 acres. I can't imagine splitting it 10 ways in a manner that would allow for free space on an island with rugged terrain. It's big but not get away from 10 people you may or may not like big.

mathattack 13y ago

Do you see this ending in Lord of the Flies? I just can't imagine 10 friends all growing together with the land at the same pace. Some will have kids. Other want to be more rowdy. Or less. It sounds awesome though, I hope they make it work.

auctiontheory 13y ago
If it does, I hope Tynan becomes Jack.

ballard 13y ago

If it drives, flies, floats, fornicates or floods, someone will launch a startup to share them.

jezebel6 13y ago

Also, bears can swim.