See NYC‘s Most ’Offbeat’ Apartments: Indoor Skate Park, Repurposed PanAm Cabinets, and Even a Bus
- Posted on August 10, 2012 at 8:54am by
Liz Klimas
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TheBlaze has reported extensively on the tiniest apartment spaces around the world, but what of the most outlandish and unique or, as the YouTube channel SPACEStv puts it, “offbeat” apartment dwellings.
The Offbeat Spaces series “showcases the most interesting rooms in the world.” Here are just a couple.
The first, owner Geoff considers more of a “compound.” Located just off the MTA train tracks headed through New York City, Geoff shows off his warehouse space that includes inventions like a giant tricycle, an indoor skateboard half pipe and a basement with old, slightly creepy biology posters that he couldn’t bear to part with. Geoff said he hopes the compound will be an investment property someday.
(Image: YouTube screenshot)
Check it out:
The second would still be considered a micro-apartment — it’s only 500 square feet — but TheBlaze has seen smaller. Still, the interesting features of this apartment aside from its space-saving efficiencies are some of its design elements. The white Plexiglas walls move on particularly windy days in such a way that they appear to shimmer. His upper kitchen cabinets were from an old PanAm plane. And his bathroom floor is heated.
(Image: YouTube screenshot)
(Image: YouTube screenshot)
Watch the quick tour through Bill Di Paola’s Lower Eastside “Tron Apartment”:
As a bonus, Fair Companies, a website regularly featuring tiny and unusual houses, has a new profile up on a mobile home made out of a repurposed school bus. For $3,000 Richard and Rachel bought the bus and converted it into a home that can sleep 10. Total renovations cost $9,000, but it was designed with features that allow it to be completely off-the-grid and they’re living mortgage free.
(Image: YouTube screenshot)
“Really what we’re paying for is the efficiency of the items that we have,” they said according to Fair Companies. “We want to live high-tech, but we want to live with the lowest amount of energy possible.”
Take look inside Richard and Rachel’s school bus home:
Related stories
– NYC Planners Turning Toward Tiny, ‘Micro-Unit’ Dwellings (Bonus: 1-Square-Meter House)
– Here‘s the Full ’Tiny House People‘ Documentary You’ve Been Waiting For
– This Tiny Mobile Home Is Only 27-Square-Feet — And It’s Electric
–Find more tiny house stories on TheBlaze here.
This story has been updated since its original posting to correct the spelling of Geoff’s name.
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estilo1622
Posted on August 12, 2012 at 3:25pma complete remodel of an old crack house in north hollywood, it turned out pretty good
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4y_3BVV3RDo
Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 10:32pmMy fave school bus conversion project will forever be: http://steampunkworkshop.com/bus1.shtml
Report Post »4xeverything
Posted on August 11, 2012 at 2:54pmNice, I just hope they never gain a pound. Those are some skinny doorways.
Report Post »ThoreauHD
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 11:03amIf you are paying taxes on something you already own, then you don’t own it.
Report Post »LameLiberals
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 11:57amI assume you are speaking about home property taxes.
The people who own the bus home still have to pay for annual tags and vehicle insurance and when they park it, they have to pay rent or property tax.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 10:55amI like the bus. Too bad though for all the Rv dwellers cities are banning them from parking on the streets atleast in my area. They have to tax and fine everyone for everything these days.
Report Post »Openentrollment
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 9:59amCool idea, but doesn’t seem very practical. Especially if this couple ever decides to have children.
Report Post »Landon410
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 9:17ami know this is a little off topic, but its just crazy when you think about the cost of houses and apartments in places like NYC and other larger cities.
Report Post »The MRS likes to watch those tv shows about people buying houses, and you’ll see a 1,200 house for $500,000, just seems crazy to me because I have over 2500 finished sqr ft and my house didn’t cost even in the same ballpark! However Omaha does bend me over when it comes to property tax rates
woodyee
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 9:34amLandon, when you say Omaha taxes the cr*p out of you, what do you mean – can you give us an example? Here in CA we have Prop 13 (which we fight tooth and nail to keep against the DemonicRats in Sacto). Prop 13 allows for me to pay taxes at the rate they were when I purchased my home. If I refi, then my rate can change, but it remains at the change.
Prop 13 should be studied by pro-American activists across the country, and implemented wherever possible…at least until the next best thing comes along. Prop taxes in NY, NJ and MA are confiscatory!
Report Post »MrBigBillyB
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 10:09amAs far as property taxes go, they should be abolished and replaced with a sales tax. Because, as it is, you may think you own your home and/or land, but just try not paying the taxes on it, and they will take it right away. However with a sales tax, you truely own the home (once the mortgage is paid off.) Think about how often people move from place to place, (or even refinance) and the state stands to actually make more money than just a standard property tax.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 10:53amI pay 36k in property taxes a year. If I move 1 county over it would be 9k. I hate how the states and counties bend us over regarding taxes.
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