bobbyfijan.bsky.social
Building Housing for Families
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Someone who likes to watch TV?
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They give people a reason to imagine a longer-term future in the city and make it easier for them to put down roots in their neighborhood.
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Family-sized apartments cannot solve every urban challenge. Philadelphia still needs to improve its schools, public safety, and other quality-of-life factors. But these apartments can help.
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But without larger apartments to grow into, residents feel a ticking clock. Eventually, they leave. Not because they want to, but because they do not see a viable way to stay.
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It reflects a broader problem of short-term thinking. This mindset becomes a serious issue when we consider who cities are meant to serve. Places like Philadelphia attract people for grad school or early-career jobs, and many come to love the walkability, culture, and community.
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Developers, lenders, and equity partners tend to focus on short-term, 2–3 year windows. They analyze the current market, identify which unit types are renting best, and build more of those, without stopping to consider what happens if everyone follows the same strategy.
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Smaller apartments generate higher rent per sf than larger ones. While it’s cheaper in absolute terms to build a 1200sf 2BR than three 400sf Studios, the studios almost always bring in more rent relative to cost
Beyond construction economics, the structure of underwriting reinforces this trend
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as long as neither of them are on public lands in a downtown
Out in the suburbs where there's plenty of space, that's fine, but not where land is scarce.
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Well, good luck!
I’ve gotten my councilman, who is very robust NIMBY to agree to the title … so long as it is expensive and high end enough that only other wealthy (but younger) people will be moving in
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I think the design is good, but the most important part is designing for families … what it looks like doesn’t matter
They can put any requirement they want in terms of materials. And even 2 per unit parking is fine (since that’s what almost every family realistically needs)
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Thats why you don’t frame them as 3 story buildings. Building for kids hits different. And actually make them for little kids.
NIMBYs are worried about low rent/low cost units
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I have yet to meet a NIMBY who *didn’t* agree it a good for little kids to walk to existing schools … and everyone knows how annoying it can be for homeowners who live across from a school and experience the SUV pickup and drop off lines every day
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Can get rid of them on connected units, will be there for end units
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It’s already pretty low head height where the toilet is
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ID is always touting the importance of designing for "Instgrammable moments"
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A beautiful chess set at a small table in the middle of this room would be niche, but kinda cool
This is useless
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I'm pretty sure we can find space to put a "toddler room" in most apartment buildings without screwing things up for everyone else
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Couldn't even afford to put in-unit washer and dryer 🤦♂️
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Yes. The largest category being built right now is called Build to Rent.
Every single of the largest asset management firms are pouring billions into it. Massive greenfield development of small rental homes
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Will some families choose stay in the smaller home? Sure
But the objection “that house is too small for big kids” misses the POINT of a starter home.
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A “starter home” is inherently one that a family will grow out of. As kids get older, change schools etc then a family moves
Small is a feature, not a bug
Smaller means it’s more affordable so a *younger* couple can buy it