We need to make our cities and towns more family friendly. This is called the “missing middle” in housing, and it’s why in north america all we see are either large condo towers or single family homes, which also drives our urban sprawl problems. Which exacerbate out dependency on cars.

Almost all new large towers/buildings in north america prioritize bachelor’s units 1 and 2 bedroom units. Trying to find a well priced 3 or 4 bedroom in a “lively” downtown center, close to transit and work, with plenty of schooling in the area is almost impossible. It’s also a factor in why cities became so empty during the pandemic, ie. Not to many families living permanently in cities.

Here’s a good article that also talks about the same issue with some different apparment layouts, and why developers don’t provide adequate family units.

https://www.centerforbuilding.org/blog/we-we-cant-build-family-sized-apartments-in-north-america

This together with zoning requirements in north america is pushing most cities and developers to only cater towards large towers or single family housing.

  • Seven@startrek.website
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    11 months ago

    As mentioned in another comment, when my other half was rebuilding a motorbike in the living room of our old flat, I didn’t even have to move any furniture. She would tinker away pulling the engine out while I practiced guitar.

    Are the hobbies that you have things like indoor rock climbing at home?

    • Tavarin@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      11 months ago

      Well I was in a pretty well laid out 590 sq. ft. with my girlfriend, and we had a queen bed, two computer desks, a piano, an L-couch coffee table, entertainment stand, dining table, guitar amp, and kitchen. That and 3 cats and a gecko terrarium.

      So no, I could not bring my motorcycle up into the condo and work on it without moving any furniture. And hobby-wise I ran out of space for my 3D printers and CNC set-up, and she was incredibly cramped with her piano and desk against each other.

      • Seven@startrek.website
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        11 months ago

        And how much of that did you actually need? Why have two desks and a dining table when you can put a laptop on the table? Why have an L shaped sofa and not a compact 2 person sofa? Why have a grand piano (I’m assuming since you had a lot of space) rather than a compact electric piano?

        In our first apartment we had a king size bed BTW, the space under it was great for storage and good sleep is important!

        • Tavarin@lemmy.ca
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          4
          ·
          11 months ago

          Our desktops aren’t exactly easy to move onto and off a dining table, and there is no way I’m settling for a laptop. We have an L-couch because we like to host people, and have parties. We have a full length electric keyboard, because that’s what there is space for.

          You sound very condescending by the way, you should lighten up your tone.

          • Seven@startrek.website
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            2
            arrow-down
            2
            ·
            11 months ago

            Ah, ok. You want to consume more, have more stuff, bigger and better and newer and faster.

            Well, good luck with that if that’s what it takes to make you happy.

            • Tavarin@lemmy.ca
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              3
              ·
              11 months ago

              No, I want a computer powerful enough to actually do my job and laptops don’t cut it.

              Why are you still being so condescending?

              • Seven@startrek.website
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                2
                arrow-down
                3
                ·
                11 months ago

                Because the world is on fire, while the richest humans want to consume more. Your replies are typical of that mindset, you could hardly contain your consumerism while living in an area which in much of the world would be considered large and luxurious.

                • Tavarin@lemmy.ca
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  arrow-up
                  3
                  ·
                  11 months ago

                  Yeah, I barely contribute to climate change and have a vastly below average carbon footprint.

                  So kindly fuck you cunt.