New Yorker pays $800 a month for 78-square-foot apartment

[Liberal_in_LA]

New Yorker pays $800 a month for 78-square-foot apartment

this pic shows the entire apartment. It looks to be about 5 ft by 15 feet







Is this the smallest apartment in America? $800 a month 'shoebox studio' in Manhattan is just 78 square foot


If you find your apartment a bit claustrophobic at times, spare a thought for this young New Yorker.

Architect Luke Clark Tyler designs grand houses for clients from his tiny 78 square foot shoebox apartment.

There is no space for a kitchen, or bathroom, and he had to build a bed from scratch because it is too narrow to fit full-sized ones inside.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2022915/Is-smallest-apartment-America--800-month-shoebox-studio-Manhattan-just-78-sq-ft.html#ixzz1UBmTnsfQ

[Rosco T.]

1. I think the technical term for that is "closet" n/m

[Liberal_in_LA]

2. It's got a window. Although I've seen fancy closets with window but the

closet may have been built around an existing window.

[XemaSab]

55. I bet it's the end of a hallway

:shrug:

[hobbit709]

3. I've been in bigger jail cells.

[Liberal_in_LA]

4. lol n/t

[MrDiaz]

9. lmao

me too

[slackmaster]

11. Me too

But I was framed.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[kctim]

6. New Yorker is crazy

[David__77]

15. That's not nice.

He's living in Manhattan, which he may really enjoy. He could be stockpiling money - who knows? Personally, I like spending only a small percent of income on housing, because I do not presently attach much value to my residence.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

30. New York is not ''Real America'', unlike all those good wholesome pro-family Red States down South.

:crazy:

[kctim]

37. Yeah, not nice at all really

I think they are crazy (not mentally) to spend that kind of money on a closet, but that does not justify the use of idiot.
I appreciate you're time and words, and I have changed mine.
Thank you.

[David__77]

41. Now "crazy," I can agree with lol...

But I suppose I could in with that too. People definitely attach value to things differently. There are seemingly frivolous things I value at least as much as the quality of my housing.

[izquierdista]

7. My sophomore dorm room!

But with A/C even......nice!

[arcane1]

8. I've seen SRO's in San Francisco two blocks from me that are not much bigger

but cost more

[Little Star]

10. Nothing is reasonably priced in NYC.

[KurtNYC]

43. You can ride from the Riverdale to the Rockaways or the far end of

Staten Island (about 40 or 50 miles travel) for $2.25 and you will have 3 or more great conversations on the way.

You can get the world's biggest gyro on fresh pita and be stuffed for $4. You can enjoy Central Park and everything in it for nothing. You can get Trader Joe's wine for $3 a bottle. Free newspapers and libraries, used books for $1, free Mozart concerts at Lincoln Center for a month (this month), free movies in Bryant Park, most of the major museums are free (if you don't want to pay you don't have to, or you can pay/donate what you want). America's best people watching 24/7 absolutely free. The UN - free. Staten Island Ferry ride - free.

...so I guess I disagree.

[Little Star]

52. All that is true however if you are a tourist it would be outta

sight expensive to stay and enjoy all that free stuff you mention.

But you have made your point very well. :toast:

[Firebrand Gary]

12. I bet it's really difficult to "hook up" with other people.

Lmao n/t

[David__77]

13. Or really easy!

I mean, what else are going to do?

[Yavapai]

17. Not after they enter the "apartment",

then you can't help but hook up...

[hobbit709]

14. That's a room, not an apartment.

An apartment would have plumbing and a cooking area.

[customerserviceguy]

66. There is a white door next to the window

I wonder if it's functional, and leads to some other (probably tiny) space. I'm not good at eyeballing distance from a 2-D photo, it does seem to be a bit smaller than 78 square feet.

I can understand not having cooking facilities there (a microwave might possibly do for minimalist living), but no bathroom? Maybe he has to share one down the hall with other people.

[yawnmaster]

16. Looks like he has everything he needs. If he is happy, I'm happy for him. eom

[Ilsa]

21. Except a toilet and running water.

I guess he keeps a piss bucket somewhere under the couch.

But I can appreciate his frugality. I suppose he belongs to an athletic club and gets his showers there.

[MADem]

25. He shares a bathroom with a few other "apartments."

I agree with the person who said this is not an apartment, it is a room.

[yawnmaster]

33. Many live in places where bathrooms/showers/water are shared. This is one. He appears happy. eom

[MADem]

35. Sure, but they're called roommates. This thing is not an apartment.

It's a room.

He may appear happy, but he shouldn't be proud of his design--it's really not very good.

[yawnmaster]

62. It appears adequate and serves the purpose.

I will make no judgments on what someone should or shouldn't feel proud.

[MADem]

77. Well, you're no damn fun! NT

[Rabblevox]

18. My apt is 9x 12 (82 sq. ft) and my only window has a lovely view of the air-shaft...

and I am here because I have no other options, not because I am trying to make some ridiculous "design statement".

And "Luke Clark Tyler"??? puhleeze!

He is a pretentious, ignorant ass, and a poser, who would not know good design if it fell on his head.

[MADem]

22. +100!!! NT

[Rabblevox]

29. ps, the (82 sq ft) subtracts for the fridge, sink, and closet. raw total would be 114 sq ft....

bath and kitchen down the hall.

[Liberal_in_LA]

34. :-( He's not hurting anyone.

[KurtNYC]

45. Your post really sounds like you dated this guy

and he dumped you.

[Rabblevox]

70. nah. I would have dated him if I could have ( he's pretty sexy), but never got the chance.../nt

[MADem]

19. Why the hell are they 'boasting' about that design? It's lame.

Look UP. Geez, there's space-a-plenty above that window...space for a platform bed, for example, and storage. With a little pushing and prodding, they could squeeze a crapper in there the size of a small shower stall--one where you can shit/shower/shave all from a seated position. Hey, they work in RVs! Of course, they'd need plumbing for that.

I agree with the poster who says this is NOT an apartment, it's a room--like a crappy dorm room from back in the sixties...only way smaller.

[XemaSab]

56. I'd put a sleeping loft

where the desk is and put storage under the bed, then move the desk over to the window and put built-in bookshelves around the window.

Jefe has no STUFF. At the very least I would need my books with me. :(

What is that thing behind the couch? It looks like a mattress, but it's unusable in that room and it's taking up space.

[Liberal_in_LA]

57. You are right, there is a mattress behind the bed. Removing it would add about 8 inches

more floor lengthwise.

[XemaSab]

60. I watched the video

it flips down into a bed that fills the entire width of the room.

The guy seems happy with the place.

I could not do it at all.

[MADem]

76. Yeah, that's the guy's bed--he flips it out and has a bed that is bigger than the couch.

What, he's expecting company? I think he's being optimistic!!

[Blue_Tires]

20. still not the smallest:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x3332123

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/the-hot-button/home-wee-home-new-yorker-lives-in-90-square-feet/article1972067/

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/159/159979_flat_that_was_a_cupboard_is_135_a_week.html

http://nymag.com/realestate/articles/11/04/superlatives/index8.html

[Liberal_in_LA]

46. that first one looks crazy claustaphobic small. I'd have to leave the door open.

[KittyWampus]

23. Move to Brooklyn or Queens. Problem solved.

[Yavin4]

27. Or Get Roommates

That's how I did it. I live Manhattan and I pay less than this idiot. We have four bedrooms and two bathrooms.

[HockeyMom]

24. My daughter's apartment in Astoria (Queens)

3 years ago was a one bedroom and a lot bigger than that. It was $750 a month. I think it was maybe 4 stops on the subway into Manhattan. She had a separate kitchen which could fit a table chairs and china closet, small living room, and separate small bedroom. It was in a 3 story townhouse off Astoria Blvd. within walking distance of stores, shops, restaurants, and subway. A 15 minute commute into Manhattan is nothing.

[KittyWampus]

28. Yup, in Queens it's easy to get over to Manhattan. Cab, subway, walk, bike.

[Liberal_in_LA]

32. The guy in the article values location over size

[closeupready]

40. Problem with Astoria is the Coned plant located to its west on the east bank of the East River.

?w=840

The theory being that you are more likely to suffer respiratory problems. Is that true, not true, I don't know, but I'm just saying, that's the popular cautionary thought about apartments there.

[HockeyMom]

44. I lived two miles from a dump on LI

They said it was a "hot" spot for cancer. We lived there for 27 years and I raised my kids there. I am almost 63 and don't have cancer. My daughters are 27 and 32 and aren't sick either. So after decades? Take these reports with a grain of salt. I grew up within walking distance to the 14th St. plant in Manhattan. Don't have respiratory, or cancer, problems. My whole life between Con Ed and the Kings Park dump. Nothing. With both, I should be dead by now.

[LiberalFighter]

26. How much does he pay for utilities?

[Liberal_in_LA]

31. the apartment has no running water, he shares a bathroom. Not sure if he

pays separately for electricity.

[flamingdem]

36. Now a decent hotel room is 250+ and those aren't even 5 stars yeesh nt

[abelenkpe]

38. When I was looking for a place in SF

I was shown several places that were really not much larger or different from this place for around the same amount of money.

So I moved back to LA.

Yes, it's warmer and more affordable.

Maybe smoggier too....

[rbnyc]

39. That's a deal!

It's amazing anyone can find any space at all for less than a grand a month. Looks clean.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

42. Please consider the view!

[Peregrine Took]

47. About same size as a relatives' apt in her retirement home + 2x the money.

Hers is around $1300.00 month plus meals.

[Vinca]

48. That would definitely make me claustrophic.

[customerserviceguy]

67. Me too

I'd have to go out into the hallway just to change my mind...

[saras]

49. I knew of a bunch of these when I went to college the first time

They usually rented for fifty dollars a month or so, but than this wasn't Manhattan either.

Personally I wouldn't want the place, but I imagine that he's weighed his priorities and finds it to make as much sense as living in Manhattan does in the first place. Where in America would you less need a kitchen than New York City? Where else would you spend as much time out at work or at play? I do wonder where he has sex, though.

Now if this were offered to a small-town handyman, or a working single mom with four kids, it would, of course, be ridiculous. But it's not.

[Liberal_in_LA]

59. I could live in that space while in college. Better than dealing with the crazy roommate

[LWolf]

50. So...with no bathroom, does the place come with a chamber pot? nt

[alphafemale]

51. Am I the only one who would jump on that with both feet and latch on with tooth and claw?

A chance to live in Manhattan for $800 a month?

Oh.

Hell.

Yes.

It's not like you have to spend much time in said apartment.

[yawnmaster]

64. exactly. eom

[Buns_of_Fire]

53. I'm thinking of the wild parties he must have!

Heck, you get more than five people in there and you're talking about a full-scale Grope Festival! (That's why he was checking the cabinet -- to see if he had enough Mazola.)

[Crabby Appleton]

54. Here's a 90 sqft - $700 - has a bathroom

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZSdrtEqcHU

[YellowRubberDuckie]

58. It should be illegal to rent a space that doesn't have a bathroom or running water.

That is just insane!!
Duckie

[Liberal_in_LA]

61. why? It's not a house without a bathroom. It's a room. Bathroom facilities down the hall.

[yawnmaster]

63. yes, why? it seems like a waste of space for 1 bathroom for a single person...

not to mention the waste of plumbing.
Shared resources are most efficient.
A bathroom somewhere nearby shared by tenants as well as running water is fine.

[Odin2005]

65. Easy to clean, though.

[DefenseLawyer]

68. I think we all know his political affiliation

[Brigid]

71. The "Rent is too damn high" guy!

:rofl:

For me, this place is just too claustrophobic. I like the city life too, but an affordable condo near downtown Indy will do just fine. I wonder how long it will take for him to tire of living in a shoebox. As easy as it is to get around in the NYC area, is this really all he could find? As somebody upthread suggested, maybe a less expensive borough with easy access to Manhattan?

[tammywammy]

75. "Rent is too damn high" guy is being evicted.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1668827

[MADem]

78. OK, you win!!

Best post of the thread--spit-take-worthy!!!

[undeterred]

69. It makes me nauseous to look at these pictures.

I think I'd rather live on the street than be cooped up in there. But I had a New York hotel room that was about this bad once. It was something like $290 a night and I could barely turn around in it and the walls were paper thin. Manhattan.

[ohheckyeah]

72. Each to his own...

I couldn't handle it. I'd rather live in a trailer.

[jdp349]

73. this guy sucks at finding apartments!

My god! I pay $900 a month in the upper east side and my place is FANTASTIC. My bedroom alone is twice the size of his entire apartment.

[GreenPartyVoter]

80. LOL

[Abin Sur]

74. It would drive me insane

Bad enough to live in one of the world's largest cities, but to be restricted to a closet that couldn't even hold a quarter of my library, let alone the rest of my stuff? (shudder)

Still...if he's happy with it more power to him. I'll stick to the Mountain West, where there's room. The inconvenience of a 70 mile round trip commute is well worth having the only neighbors I can see be elk, deer, and the occasional mountain lion.

[Shagbark Hickory]

79. If it's any cheaper to park in that area, there's small RVs with more ammenities than that

small space.
No bathroom, no kitchen. IF you have so few posessions and eat out every meal then why not just live in a van?