Comments on: Housing development's bike amenities lure buyers http://bikeportland.org/2010/04/12/housing-developments-bike-amenities-lure-buyers-31851 Portland Oregon bicycle news, events, culture, travel and opinion. Tue, 29 May 2012 00:12:13 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Keith D. http://bikeportland.org/2010/04/12/housing-developments-bike-amenities-lure-buyers-31851#comment-1560202 Keith D. Fri, 21 May 2010 23:28:09 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=31851#comment-1560202 As neighbors next to Daybreak I can tell you that far more of their residents drive cars than ride bikes. Our neighborhood of single family homes has been inundated with parking problems. They assured us that a building of 30 units with no off-street parking would be managed by residents largely utilizing public transportation and bikes. However, their cars fill the more than 18 curbside spots around their project and have encroached into parking in the fronts of our homes - so we're forced to park further down our streets. And we constantly have residents of Daybreak who turn around in our drive-ways angling for spots closer to their building so they don't have to walk as far. We've had to accomodate a lot with their moving into our neighborhood: Four story buildings that shade our gardens and privacy lost to windows just 6 feet from our yard's fence. And please, have a visit sometime in the evening. They have lighting that makes the place look institutional and is so bright it fills our yards and bedrooms with light - all night long. How is that green? (Their biggest claim to being green is their density; many of the promised green aspects of their project were left on the drawing board.) As neighbors we've attempted to speak with them to no avail - they are their own insular community and have no interest with speaking to us as any other neighbor would. Unless we wanted to join as non-resident community members - for a monthly fee of course! I think Portland can do better than Daybreak Cohousing. As neighbors next to Daybreak I can tell you that far more of their residents drive cars than ride bikes.

Our neighborhood of single family homes has been inundated with parking problems. They assured us that a building of 30 units with no off-street parking would be managed by residents largely utilizing public transportation and bikes. However, their cars fill the more than 18 curbside spots around their project and have encroached into parking in the fronts of our homes - so we're forced to park further down our streets. And we constantly have residents of Daybreak who turn around in our drive-ways angling for spots closer to their building so they don't have to walk as far.

We've had to accomodate a lot with their moving into our neighborhood: Four story buildings that shade our gardens and privacy lost to windows just 6 feet from our yard's fence.

And please, have a visit sometime in the evening. They have lighting that makes the place look institutional and is so bright it fills our yards and bedrooms with light - all night long.

How is that green? (Their biggest claim to being green is their density; many of the promised green aspects of their project were left on the drawing board.)

As neighbors we've attempted to speak with them to no avail - they are their own insular community and have no interest with speaking to us as any other neighbor would.

Unless we wanted to join as non-resident community members - for a monthly fee of course!

I think Portland can do better than Daybreak Cohousing.

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]]> By: E http://bikeportland.org/2010/04/12/housing-developments-bike-amenities-lure-buyers-31851#comment-1551719 E Thu, 06 May 2010 21:27:58 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=31851#comment-1551719 My husband and I looked really seriously at Daybreak a while back. There is lots I love about it. My husband is a very social person, and I am not, so the combination of community and privacy is perfect. The built-in community and getting to know the neighbors in advance is a big plus; we have had a lot of difficulty with neighbors in our current location, and we hardly know any of them. And I absolutely LOVE the location - tons of cool pubs and restaurants nearby, and easy bike-access to downtown where I work. However it's clearly not for us. The biggest block is of course the price; the tiniest apartment is nearly $100k more than we paid for our 3-bedroom house on 6000sqft, 3 miles away; insurance and hoa fees would be on top of that. Admittedly, the price is not extreme for the neighborhood - my sister's house is nearby, and she paid nearly twice what we did for less space. But it's certainly much more than we can afford. In addition, the lack of private yards means no safe space for our dogs to be outside, where they are happiest when we are out. Finally, we are quite spoiled in our current home being 2 blocks from Fred Meyer; while New Seasons is only a mile away, it seems far to me. Overall, though, I wish them a lot of luck; I think cohousing is a great idea and hope to see more of it. :) My husband and I looked really seriously at Daybreak a while back. There is lots I love about it. My husband is a very social person, and I am not, so the combination of community and privacy is perfect. The built-in community and getting to know the neighbors in advance is a big plus; we have had a lot of difficulty with neighbors in our current location, and we hardly know any of them. And I absolutely LOVE the location - tons of cool pubs and restaurants nearby, and easy bike-access to downtown where I work.
However it's clearly not for us. The biggest block is of course the price; the tiniest apartment is nearly $100k more than we paid for our 3-bedroom house on 6000sqft, 3 miles away; insurance and hoa fees would be on top of that. Admittedly, the price is not extreme for the neighborhood - my sister's house is nearby, and she paid nearly twice what we did for less space. But it's certainly much more than we can afford. In addition, the lack of private yards means no safe space for our dogs to be outside, where they are happiest when we are out. Finally, we are quite spoiled in our current home being 2 blocks from Fred Meyer; while New Seasons is only a mile away, it seems far to me.
Overall, though, I wish them a lot of luck; I think cohousing is a great idea and hope to see more of it. :)

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]]> By: Lance P. http://bikeportland.org/2010/04/12/housing-developments-bike-amenities-lure-buyers-31851#comment-1534687 Lance P. Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:35:35 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=31851#comment-1534687 @ss29er. Unfortunately, it is the latter. My wife also has a Masters (as well as a ESD). She is now a teacher at a low income preschool all for an annual income around 20k/year. We do need to pay teachers more. They are grossly underpaid for the work that they do. That being said, some people in this society would rather get $0.90 back a year than to pay for improvements to our city that can help to save lives. With this environment, how are we as a society going to pay more taxes to help fund education? @ss29er. Unfortunately, it is the latter. My wife also has a Masters (as well as a ESD). She is now a teacher at a low income preschool all for an annual income around 20k/year.

We do need to pay teachers more. They are grossly underpaid for the work that they do.

That being said, some people in this society would rather get $0.90 back a year than to pay for improvements to our city that can help to save lives. With this environment, how are we as a society going to pay more taxes to help fund education?

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]]> By: ss29er http://bikeportland.org/2010/04/12/housing-developments-bike-amenities-lure-buyers-31851#comment-1533164 ss29er Thu, 15 Apr 2010 01:11:17 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=31851#comment-1533164 Wow. I'm a teacher with a Masters and six years up the pay scale, and those are 100K more than what I could afford (at the minimum price listed). So either that is really expensive, or teacher salaries really are pathetic. Wow. I'm a teacher with a Masters and six years up the pay scale, and those are 100K more than what I could afford (at the minimum price listed). So either that is really expensive, or teacher salaries really are pathetic.

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]]> By: jim http://bikeportland.org/2010/04/12/housing-developments-bike-amenities-lure-buyers-31851#comment-1532895 jim Wed, 14 Apr 2010 19:36:07 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=31851#comment-1532895 I have been through a lot of lofts downtown and these units do offer a lot of amenities that those downtown don't. This is a nice move for someone downsizing from a home to a loft but still wants a yard, blueberries..... I have been through a lot of lofts downtown and these units do offer a lot of amenities that those downtown don't. This is a nice move for someone downsizing from a home to a loft but still wants a yard, blueberries.....

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]]> By: matt picio http://bikeportland.org/2010/04/12/housing-developments-bike-amenities-lure-buyers-31851#comment-1532858 matt picio Wed, 14 Apr 2010 18:53:27 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=31851#comment-1532858 Thanks, beth (#32) - That's good to know. I haven't looked extensively at the co-housing model in the past. I think that models which focus on an exclusive community rather than an inclusive one are ultimately doomed to failure, though they may be wildly successful in the short-term. As you said, that's a discussion for another site. I don't wish this particular development ill will, I'd just like to see more projects in greater Portland which are focused on developing real community and in getting and keeping people engaged with their neighbors and the community at-large. This particular development doesn't seem to fit that bill. Thanks, beth (#32) - That's good to know. I haven't looked extensively at the co-housing model in the past. I think that models which focus on an exclusive community rather than an inclusive one are ultimately doomed to failure, though they may be wildly successful in the short-term. As you said, that's a discussion for another site.

I don't wish this particular development ill will, I'd just like to see more projects in greater Portland which are focused on developing real community and in getting and keeping people engaged with their neighbors and the community at-large. This particular development doesn't seem to fit that bill.

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]]> By: Lance P. http://bikeportland.org/2010/04/12/housing-developments-bike-amenities-lure-buyers-31851#comment-1532723 Lance P. Wed, 14 Apr 2010 16:27:14 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=31851#comment-1532723 "Too bad they didn't make use of brownfield or infill development." Agree. I was unaware that there was affordable housing on this site. There is plenty of parking and vacant lots in inner Portland that could have been used. I really hope something like this (and a grocery store???) could be brought into inner SE. There are hundreds of vacant warehouses and parking lots west of 12th st. "Too bad they didn't make use of brownfield or infill development."

Agree. I was unaware that there was affordable housing on this site. There is plenty of parking and vacant lots in inner Portland that could have been used.

I really hope something like this (and a grocery store???) could be brought into inner SE. There are hundreds of vacant warehouses and parking lots west of 12th st.

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]]> By: Ethan http://bikeportland.org/2010/04/12/housing-developments-bike-amenities-lure-buyers-31851#comment-1532625 Ethan Wed, 14 Apr 2010 14:52:57 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=31851#comment-1532625 Can a Bakfiets navigate the ramp/corner into the bike garage? Can a Bakfiets navigate the ramp/corner into the bike garage?

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]]> By: Perry http://bikeportland.org/2010/04/12/housing-developments-bike-amenities-lure-buyers-31851#comment-1532264 Perry Wed, 14 Apr 2010 04:02:09 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=31851#comment-1532264 Probably not for me - but I'm glad something like this exists in my town. I hope it succeeds. Probably not for me - but I'm glad something like this exists in my town. I hope it succeeds.

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]]> By: twilliam http://bikeportland.org/2010/04/12/housing-developments-bike-amenities-lure-buyers-31851#comment-1532171 twilliam Wed, 14 Apr 2010 01:31:39 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=31851#comment-1532171 "<i>In the case of much intentional co-housing in this country, exclusivity rather than inclusivity is the key. The reason it plays differently here may actually have less to do with what America looks and feels like than what Denmark, with its smaller and much more homogenous population, does. But that's probably a discussion for another Web site.</i>" Woah. That's exactly my thought when I visited the Daybreak website, but I could not articulate it into words. "In the case of much intentional co-housing in this country, exclusivity rather than inclusivity is the key. The reason it plays differently here may actually have less to do with what America looks and feels like than what Denmark, with its smaller and much more homogenous population, does. But that's probably a discussion for another Web site."

Woah. That's exactly my thought when I visited the Daybreak website, but I could not articulate it into words.

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