sq ft per person attitudes

lucillebluth: about 11 months ago

i agree with w81st, 350-400 to be comfortable

RonnieHats: about 11 months ago

This is the most hilarious thread ever on this site.
As a broker (gasp), I have seen tons of things you can't imagine.

600sf alcove studio, converted into a TWO bedroom for a couple that actually worked nice.
250sf studio that can fit five comfortably.
1400sf one bedrooms that are exactly what I would die for with a key to THE park.

Point being, NYCMatt hit the nail on the head a few pages back. West34 touched on it by area as well.
As an adult, I cook, have a wardrobe, store things and would like a party of five to join me every know and then. That being said, 700-800sf is the starting point for a proper one bedroom.

Girder to girder, laid out the right way, not all in hallway!
In Fi-Di, 100sf as few but the brave venture there for fun.
I might actually gain weight just staying home, watching TV and eating down there.

NYCMatt: about 11 months ago

So you need more space to live in FiDi?

Will you gain weight down there, or what?

West34: about 11 months ago

"Enough space":

- Facing Gramercy Park = 500sf
- CPW = 600sf
- Good Chelsea block = 700sf
- UES east of Lex = 800sf
- FiDi = 1000sf
- Washington Heights = $2000sf + pay me $5000/mo

bjw2103: about 11 months ago

"Sometimes the small-minded on this board need a major contrast to understand concepts."

NYCMatt: about 11 months ago

"Consider an eccentric billionaire who buys every building in a 20-block radius around yours, except for yours, because that's how much space he feels he "needs".

Please provide a real-life example of this EVER happening.

uwsmom: about 11 months ago

Sorites paradox. Vagueness rules.

Triple_Zero: about 11 months ago

"Too much space" is a subjective judgement call. It's not my call to say whether 20,000 square feet is "too much space" for Oprah. Only Oprah knows how much is "too much" for her."

It's not entirely subjective, because the people who live around you have their own living environments impacted by your decisions.

Consider an eccentric billionaire who buys every building in a 20-block radius around yours, except for yours, because that's how much space he feels he "needs".

Every business that you depend on in your neighborhood will close up shop and your life will be ruined, because they can't make a profit when there are no customers. The subway or bus won't stop there anymore.

That example is taken to the utmost extreme, but on a smaller scale it's been happening all across the USA. People "need" huge houses and yards, so automobile-dependent suburbias get developed. Corner stores can't stay in business, and the person living in a small apartment in the center of town sees his quality of life plummet.

inonada: about 11 months ago

His house is 6234 sq ft, presumably occupied by 2 people. Right around my "this is starting to feel wasteful point", thankfully it hasn't moved into the "definitely a uselessly-large amount of space" category ;).

jordyn: about 11 months ago

'Warren Buffet does not qualify as "people who can't afford the space they want or need".'

Yes, exactly. And yet, apparently, he doesn't need any more space than his $700K house will provide.

bjw2103: about 11 months ago

What concept are you trying to elucidate/proselytize? That there's no such thing as "too much space"? Matt, I think Siberia is just the spot for you. Virtually neverending space.

NYCMatt: about 11 months ago

It's an example. Sometimes the small-minded on this board need a major contrast to understand concepts.

bjw2103: about 11 months ago

""Too much space" is a subjective judgement call. It's not my call to say whether 20,000 square feet is "too much space" for Oprah. Only Oprah knows how much is "too much" for her."

Well done, Matt. Oprah is exactly what we've been talking about all along.

uwsmom: about 11 months ago

Brilliant nuggets abound on streeteasy.

"That's what people who can't afford the space they want or need tell themselves to justify their finance shortfalls."

NYCMatt is not wrong. Some, in fact, many people do this. It's part of city living. It is probably not the case that all people living in small spaces do this.

"By this logic, Warren Buffet lives in a $700K house because he can't afford anything bigger."

Warren Buffet does not qualify as "people who can't afford the space they want or need".

So, umm, anyway.....

NYCMatt: about 11 months ago

Agreed. I would consider as little as 500 square feet if it meant my own washer and dryer.

lad: about 11 months ago

The idea of having too much space is so far removed that it doesn't even compute.

I'd move just about anywhere not to live in a studio.

But once I hit 600 square feet and one bedroom, I'd put greater emphasis on location and apartment features. E.g., an in-unit washer and dryer and nice outdoor space become more important than square footage alone. This time of year reminds me that central air is high on my list, too.

NYCMatt: about 11 months ago

But Buffett isn't going around demonizing people for living in spaces larger than his as being "wasteful".

jordyn: about 11 months ago

"That's what people who can't afford the space they want or need tell themselves to justify their finance shortfalls."

Another brilliant nugget from NYCMatt. By this logic, Warren Buffet lives in a $700K house because he can't afford anything bigger.

NYCMatt: about 11 months ago

"But do you really mean to tell me that you'd truly prefer living in a 5,000 sqft home by yourself vs, say, 2,000 sqft? What about 10,000? At some point, there really is too much space."

"Too much space" is a subjective judgement call. It's not my call to say whether 20,000 square feet is "too much space" for Oprah. Only Oprah knows how much is "too much" for her.

West34: about 11 months ago

Hmm, I suppose theoretically there is an amount you could pay me to live in a bigger apartment in Washington Heights

bjw2103: about 11 months ago

Matt, not really sure what point you're trying to drive home. That people who proclaim their 800 sqft 2BR is ideal are full of it? Sure. But do you really mean to tell me that you'd truly prefer living in a 5,000 sqft home by yourself vs, say, 2,000 sqft? What about 10,000? At some point, there really is too much space.

NYCMatt: about 11 months ago

Not necessarily, West34. Some people put more of a premium over living like a human being *not* a sardine over being in "Prime" whatever.

West34: about 11 months ago

Only three things matter when it comes to space - location, location and location.

NYCMatt: about 11 months ago

You're free to disagree, bj. But it's been my experience that the sancti-spacers aren't very "respectful" when they call people who live in nice spacious apartments that THEY could never afford "wasteful".

bjw2103: about 11 months ago

Respectfully disagree, Matt. There are certainly limits to the space I would want, unless you crave impractical space. If you have to sit down and think of uses for it for more than 30 seconds, it's probably not worth it. But I'm sure you have a palatial spread in Washington Heights.

NYCMatt: about 11 months ago

Sorry, but there is no such thing as "too much space".

That's what people who can't afford the space they want or need tell themselves to justify their finance shortfalls.

bjw2103: about 11 months ago

swe, how much space do you have in Manhattan? And where were you in Brooklyn, if you don't mind the asking? I think those are pretty huge variables. If you have >1,000 sqft in a Manhattan neighborhood you love, and don't enjoy Brooklyn as much, that's kind of a no-brainer tradeoff. There is such a thing as too much space. The Ecclestone heiresses being the exception.

somewhereelse: about 11 months ago

I traded my Brooklyn apartment of twice the size for my Manhattan place. Outside of not being able to throw a large party or dinner party (which lots of Manhattanites didn't want to come out for anyway), I don't miss much at... and I am much, much (much) happier.

I think we all learn to live with the space we have (like investment bankers with salaries). I had to get rid of some things, but some of the space usage was just wasteful. I have everything I need now... and so much happier walking outside and being here versus in Brooklyn.

aboutready: about 11 months ago

I'm a very strong believer in free will. And personal culpability.

Truth: about 11 months ago

You were all set up by falcogold on bullyteam orders to beg and plead for ar and ah to return.
They were already here and going to be "back" anyway.
Suckers!

Brooks2: about 11 months ago

all we need back now is w67.

lucillebluth: about 11 months ago

Thanks ar. Glad you guys are back.

lucillebluth: about 11 months ago

Omg ALAN!! is it Christmas?

NYCDreamer: about 11 months ago

Yes Alan, welcome back. I missed our insight and humor,

NYCMatt: about 11 months ago

Hi Alan! I missed you!!

bjw2103: about 11 months ago

"Fuck -- my first instinct was to go with two cats, but I thought that would be too cliché."

Go with your instincts, nada. The 700 sqft alcove studio is most hilarious. Matt, I normally don't judge people THAT quickly, but you're better off. Yikes.

huntersburg: about 11 months ago

a little dirty is ok.

aboutready: about 11 months ago

i can say you go girl. it's a girl thing. you should get dirty looks at home, and the office. it's not fair. such is life.

huntersburg: about 11 months ago

I agree, lucille you go girl. Or you go woman (they don't like when I say girl in the office and I get dirty looks at home)

aboutready: about 11 months ago

sorry, hi lucille, i did't see your greeting (things can get lost here). i hope things are working out as well as they can, given the circumstances. good luck, and you go girl.