bkshopr_IHB
New member
Most of the Olson projects have similar names “something-walk”. Most of the builders who do infill projects employ staffs that know politic and process projects through a very vigorous review procedure in matured cities or towns. Staffs often were recruited with strong marketing and MBA background rather than strong construction and design background. The outcome of the project with the strength and expertise of the type of personal fulfills the social and revitalization role in a neglected neighborhood but fails to deliver function and amenities for quality living and architectural aesthetic.
Live/work is an indication where the Townhouse floor plans fall short in delivering functioning bedrooms with adequate light and ventilation. The width of the plan is often too narrow and the lack of light in the interior sandwiched units were forced to open up without walls to define bedrooms to the large glass windows wall located at both ends of the narrow unit.
The small footprint forbids active living spaces on the ground floor since the alley loaded garage occupied most of the area. The remainder is just enough for a home office and an ADA (America Disability Acts) handicap powder room. This ground floor space meets all the handicap requirements as a retail and business use. This ground floor is called B-2 occupancy by the building permit. The residential portion of the town home has to be legally separated by a fire door. This door helps to control fire from spreading from one area to another. In theory a space for business is likely to catch fire than the residential. This is the reason why there is a door that protects stairs going up to the living area at the second floor. The lack of yard and outdoor space is evident in this type of product so the term “loft” really means the lacking of a real house.
The bedrooms are all scattered between levels and is not for family with kids. Most of the time there are not even decent bedrooms. For those who own a loft with real functional bedroom are lucky.
Since live/work is a terrible setup with bad floor plan. The only thing to do is to open up the space and create lots of glass and volume to distract the occupants. It is all about the spaciousness, airy and lots of modern glass. The furniture has to float and privacy of the bedroom is often compromise. Who cares this is a product since a bachelor or a newly weds who want no children so privacy is not an issue.
The key component of the infill site has to be big enough for some repetition of cookie cutter layouts. Sites with large abandoned warehouses and manufacturing are choice properties. Many are located in undesirable and abandoned part of town where often occupied by homeless and graffiti artists. Very few builders would buy residential lots and combine them into a single contiguous parcel. The zoning change and home owners holding out are two discouraging factors. Since any development would clean up the blight in the community. Cities love these project and the home owners near by most of the time don't care to object. Getting rid of the homeless and loiterings are great.
Maximization of the lot without recreational amenities is the key to optimize profit. Homeowners who live there have to rely on the existing urban fabric such as pedestrian oriented stores, restaurants and places of cultural interests. Projects such as the Santiago Lofts and Olson’s Depot Walks are located at the wrong places where the restaurants and retails are too isolated from the projects.
The business component at the lower level of the live/work if is used as service and retails then must be at places of high exposure and easy to find locations. Safety and security is paramount for consumers. Santiago Lofts fail miserably at its location.
Since the floor plan is bad for living so 100% business use is a strong possibility. Location and abundance of safety parking are the key to success for live/work. So far I have not found any that solve the parking, safety issue and high exposure location. The quiet locations are the worst for live work. It will become more for residential than commercial and residents will dictate its final fate. Front Street and others in Ladera Ranch are jokes as live/work.
City Place across the street from Nordstrom Main place is by far the only one that makes sense and solves all of the issues I mentioned earlier. It has sold very well in this sluggish market. All the wide units are all sold out. Price ranges from 700k-800k.
Live/work is an indication where the Townhouse floor plans fall short in delivering functioning bedrooms with adequate light and ventilation. The width of the plan is often too narrow and the lack of light in the interior sandwiched units were forced to open up without walls to define bedrooms to the large glass windows wall located at both ends of the narrow unit.
The small footprint forbids active living spaces on the ground floor since the alley loaded garage occupied most of the area. The remainder is just enough for a home office and an ADA (America Disability Acts) handicap powder room. This ground floor space meets all the handicap requirements as a retail and business use. This ground floor is called B-2 occupancy by the building permit. The residential portion of the town home has to be legally separated by a fire door. This door helps to control fire from spreading from one area to another. In theory a space for business is likely to catch fire than the residential. This is the reason why there is a door that protects stairs going up to the living area at the second floor. The lack of yard and outdoor space is evident in this type of product so the term “loft” really means the lacking of a real house.
The bedrooms are all scattered between levels and is not for family with kids. Most of the time there are not even decent bedrooms. For those who own a loft with real functional bedroom are lucky.
Since live/work is a terrible setup with bad floor plan. The only thing to do is to open up the space and create lots of glass and volume to distract the occupants. It is all about the spaciousness, airy and lots of modern glass. The furniture has to float and privacy of the bedroom is often compromise. Who cares this is a product since a bachelor or a newly weds who want no children so privacy is not an issue.
The key component of the infill site has to be big enough for some repetition of cookie cutter layouts. Sites with large abandoned warehouses and manufacturing are choice properties. Many are located in undesirable and abandoned part of town where often occupied by homeless and graffiti artists. Very few builders would buy residential lots and combine them into a single contiguous parcel. The zoning change and home owners holding out are two discouraging factors. Since any development would clean up the blight in the community. Cities love these project and the home owners near by most of the time don't care to object. Getting rid of the homeless and loiterings are great.
Maximization of the lot without recreational amenities is the key to optimize profit. Homeowners who live there have to rely on the existing urban fabric such as pedestrian oriented stores, restaurants and places of cultural interests. Projects such as the Santiago Lofts and Olson’s Depot Walks are located at the wrong places where the restaurants and retails are too isolated from the projects.
The business component at the lower level of the live/work if is used as service and retails then must be at places of high exposure and easy to find locations. Safety and security is paramount for consumers. Santiago Lofts fail miserably at its location.
Since the floor plan is bad for living so 100% business use is a strong possibility. Location and abundance of safety parking are the key to success for live/work. So far I have not found any that solve the parking, safety issue and high exposure location. The quiet locations are the worst for live work. It will become more for residential than commercial and residents will dictate its final fate. Front Street and others in Ladera Ranch are jokes as live/work.
City Place across the street from Nordstrom Main place is by far the only one that makes sense and solves all of the issues I mentioned earlier. It has sold very well in this sluggish market. All the wide units are all sold out. Price ranges from 700k-800k.
