Further to the post about our new home way down south, I had one of my goofy ideas that could possibly, in the long term, work here. Please read the quote at the end before reading on so's to get a 'feel' for where this post came from.
This idea sprang out of ma' heed this AM and, although not a hundred percent sure, I seem to remember a taxi driver mentioning this was the way things worked where I was being taxied at the time which was somewhere far, far, far away.
Let's talk about here as if we were local authority planning folk, okay? We take a large brown field site and build a block of apartments. We use only local building firms, electricians, plumbers, decorators and fitters. Don't build 'em too high as those didn't work out all that well last time. These, let's call 'em 'flats' rather than 'apartments' to save future typing time, would be a mix of one and two bedroom, basic low rental homes suitable for young singles or young newly married couples who are just kicking off in work and life away from home.
Let's call this Block A. Next door to this block we would build Block B. These would be a mix of two and three bedroom flats finished to a slightly higher standard with a slightly higher specification of fixtures and fittings than those in Block A thus commanding a higher rent.
The renters in Block B would be slightly older folk who are progressing in their work area and earnings and are fixing to start families.
We then build Block C, These will be high-end, two and three bedroom flats finished to extremely high specifications so are classed as high rental executive flats.
All three blocks could have penthouse apartments at a rental premium. All three blocks could have ground floor areas for lease to selected businesses; Pharmacy? Doctors surgery? 24 hour coffee-shop/diner? Convenience store with ATM? Gym? Block B, the main 'family' block, could have a crèche or playschool or whatever they call 'em now.
Car parking will between the blocks to keep the blocks a respectful distance apart and to facilitate space for the action we'll make when we get to complete the circle down below.
What happens next? Many folk from Block C will, over time and increasing income, eventually wish to move on to house purchase and so move out.
May folk from Block B will see their kids grow and move out into the world of work and independence and so will have more disposable income, thus be able to move into Block C.
Many folk in Block A will be advancing in their careers and starting families so would like to move into Block B.
The empty flats this would create in Block A will be snapped up by the kids leaving home from families in Block B.
Let's now complete the circle that'll keep the local economy ticking over big time.
Let's start building another block; Block D. On completion, this will be the new Block A taking into account new technologies in building, insulation, soundproofing etc. Time has passed, the economy is improving so rents for the new Block A flats will be marginally higher than the old Block A.
Once built, the residents of the old Block A, those not moving into Block B, will move into the new Block A.
You see where this is going? You got it. We then knock the old Block A down and build a new, up to date, state of the art, marginally higher rental, Block B. Then old B comes down and up goes new, high spec., higher rental, Block C and round and round and round we go over the years.
Just keep going. Work a-plenty for the local area and modern accommodation always available for "ordinary hard working people".
Remember, this is a long term plan that would be tailored to requirements and could be replicated on any number of brown sites or areas of dereliction, as needed.
How about a specialist retirement block? The old Block C dwellers who moved out to buy their own homes, eventually retire, sell the house to fund their old age and move into the shelter and companionship of Block D.
All sound a bit Soviet style? Especially with the use of the word, 'Block'? Okay, we'll ban the use of the colour grey anywhere at all and call 'em Apartment Parks. That'll work.
The other idea is we just stick to what we're doing now; attempting, not too successfully, to tread housing water.
Quote; Lauren Myracle.
“I live in my own little world. But its ok, they know me here.”
No comments:
Post a Comment