CREJ - Journal

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Page 16 — Multifamily Properties Quarterly — April 2015
M ore than 43 million house-
holds in the nation rely on
rental housing, according
to Best in American Liv-
ing’s winter 2015 issue.
That population is renting for a
number of reasons. And it is impor-
tant not to overlook the need and,
in many cases, the desire to simply
rent an apartment. It gives a person
freedom to enjoy life without the
burden of taking care of a property.
The old thought pattern, “When the
stove breaks down, I don’t have to
fix it,” comes into play. The mobility
of a society that doesn’t have the
same values as the prior generation
is a real impact on our near-future
population, economy and lifestyle.
Being the owner of a single-family
residence, I find myself cursing at
the yard, exterior paint, garden,
trees (and even the dog!), which
bogs down my so-called “time off”
to enjoy my home. With our busy
lives, I believe generation X and the
millennials have it correct when
they value the extra time they have
with their family and friends, along
with the opportunity to pursue
their interests beyond work. This is
a great opportunity to learn a les-
son from our children and younger
generations.
So, now that we have established
the value of renting an apartment
in a multifamily unit, let’s peer
inside. What will make the expe-
rience a positive one when your
neighbors are across the hall or on
the other side of the wall?
Construction. Green construction,
low-flow fixtures, energy-efficient
boilers, high-performance windows,
solid-core doors,
and insulated walls
and floors should
be standard.
Unique architec-
ture with interest-
ing features, colors
and materials can
dress up a com-
plex. Some newer
units use interior
finishes that rival
luxury homes. One
of my pet peeves
in the Interna-
tional Building
Code is keeping all
the accessible units on the ground
floor, and they usually end up being
garden level. For apartments under
four floors, how about putting in
an elevator even when the building
code does not require the amenity?
I know many impaired citizens, par-
ents with kids in tow and seniors
with bad joints who would be very
grateful.
Floorplan. A nifty layout that has
adjustable closet shelving (even
walls) and an office nook would be
accomodating. Even one-bedroom
apartments should have a small
bathroom for guests, in order to
preserve the privacy of the master
suite. A comfortable kitchen, with
lots of storage (again adjustable
shelving) can house gadgets with-
out the clutter often associated
with living in less than 1,000 square
feet. Smaller, Energy Star appliances
that fit the lifestyle of the renter
will be a space saver. For example,
a stackable washer and dryer, tiny
refrigerator, and small stove or oven
often will satisfy most active peo-
ple. I have stayed in a one-bedroom,
one-bathroom condominium in the
mountains where the entire kitchen
disappeared when it was not in use.
None of the quality was sacrificed,
but the look was flush with the
walls and blended in with beautiful
wood accents and amazing sym-
metry. Many European apartments
follow this model and use space
effieciently. There is a lot we can
learn from this approach to small
spaces.
Amenities. A characteristic of a
healthy society is community. Hav-
ing a gathering place to keep in
touch with neighbors and friends
is ideal. One of my favorite memo-
ries as a young adult while living
in Florida was when the residents
would bring their cocktails around
the pool every afternoon. Cleverly
landscaped grounds with a place
to share your day, work out, hold
events and start clubs with people
having common interests adds to
apartment living. Amenities can
include a small community garden
with raised beds, dog parks, bench-
es, picnic tables, barbecue grills and
small shelters. A walking and biking
trail extending several miles that
connects with other trails would
round out the list in my perfect
world.
Location. As our transportation
Perspective
Patricia Parish,
AICP
Land planning
director, Rocky
Mountain Group,
Denver
Market to Place .
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