Small is Beautiful

Have been looking for small houses lately for a couple of clients who want simple, functional living space that are conveniently located. This has led me to a couple of wonderful finds in the downtown area and reminded me again of how functional a small space can be. There is a renovation project going on in the old high school. They are doing a good job of green renovation there but the result is high end loft apartments for sale. In the surronding area, however, there are lots of old (50+) small homes less than 1400 square feet that are well built but run down. With a little imagination, some of these homes will become wondeful living spaces again.
Storage space is an issu in many but there are many creative storage solutions available now and, of course, the best solution is to own less stuff anyway.
An ongoing issue in housing is how to upgrade the housing in an area without gentrifying the neighborhood. While the high school renovation is an admirable reuse of space, it prices many people out of the neighborhood. I hope we can maintain a conciuosness that allows us to seek the highest and best goals for everyone, not just the most money for developers and real estate investors.