2nd of 29 WAYS TO MAKE MONEY FROM YOUR WELL DESIGNED HOME AND NEIGHBORHOOD
By Brian Skeele, on April 14th, 2011
I’ve started a list of good ideas that come about if we rethink the functions and interplay of our home and its neighborhood. So far I’ve got 29 killer (If I do say so myself) ideas. The first 7 are home oriented, the last 22 are more neighborhood oriented. Add to the list via the comment area!
Home Design
Granny Flat Above Garage
#2. Rent Out “Granny Flat” Over Garage
The space above the garage is an opportunity for a guest room, separate residence, or a home office. A typical garage is what, 20′ x 24 ‘? That is 480 sq ft. I know I want to stay independent when I get older, and having my own space would be fabulous!
The space could work really well for a young person as well. They’re learning to be more independent and they have a bio-clock that likes to stay up late and get up late.
Maybe you’d like to move into the granny flat, and rent out the main house, staying in the neighborhood with long time friends.
Design tips.
Going up stairs is a great way to stay in shape. Maybe at some point, … READ MORE >>
1 of 29 WAYS TO MAKE MONEY FROM YOUR WELL DESIGNED HOME AND NEIGHBORHOOD
By Brian Skeele, on April 11th, 2011
As we face higher gasoline prices again, we’re getting more practice in the emerging, post peak oil economy. Our ingenuity will kick in, our lifestyle will transform, all “good for people, the planet, and the polar bears”. With this global warming dealie, time is of the essence; we can evolve faster, learn from our mistakes, share good ideas, and have fun! Share your ideas, dreams and ingenuity! We can make sustainable real!
I’ve started a list of good ideas that come about if we rethink the functions and interplay of our home and its neighborhood. So far I’ve got 29 killer (If I do say so myself) ideas. The first 7 are home oriented, the last 22 are more neighborhood oriented. Add to the list via the comment area!
Home Design
#1. Rent Out a Room
Maybe one of your family boomerangs, and ends up back home. Maybe you just got sick and tired of trying to do it all yourself. Maybe you’re ready to change careers, go back to school, retire, or get divorced. Our suburban, rugged individual, nuclear family lifestyle isn’t set up to be as supportive as it can be. Just the opposite, sprawl and isolation throw up barriers. So take a sledge hammer to it! Tear out a wall, add a door! make it a private entrance. Make life easier on yourself…. READ MORE >>
A more sustainable neighborhood…Bed ZED
By Brian Skeele, on April 5th, 2011
Built and occupied in 2002, Beddington Zero Emissions Development, Bed ZED, helps people go green with time tested encouragements. The resident on the right took too long a shower. the one on the left failed to recycle a beer can. What were they thinking, what planet are they living on????
Remember, don’t take too long a shower!
As you can see, my sense of humor loves to go gonzo. Twist the lines of reality and poke fun at our collective humanity. Hey, I own it…one of my favorite sayings is of the late Hunter Thompson, “When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.”
This post started out to be about Bed ZED and floor plans. It still is, just had a zany intro…
The point I want to emphasize is the relationship between neighborhood, shared amenities and your home’s design. In Bed ZED, the transit friendly location creates a deeper affordability as alternatives to private car ownership are expanded….WATCH BED ZED VIDEO>> READ MORE >>
WANTED: Killer Modeling Tool to Sell Sustainable Urban Villages! Part 2
By Brian Skeele, on March 10th, 2011
Continuing the walk thru of my take on the Killer Modeling Tool…
As the amount of input from the Charrette (design) process builds, the needs and desires of the future residents, landowners, finance people, city planners, designers, the school district, neighbors, etc, are collected. People are starting to get excited. The question is “How can we tell how close we are to achieving a socially, economically and ecologically sustainable lifestyle? ” or in other words “Where’s the Killer Modeling Tool??!!”
We can convert the demand and jump-start the emerging sustainable economy, if we can make all the numbers and qualities of life real (or at least a reasonable facsimile). Future residents will be assured of the quality and cost of moving in. The development/lending community will be reassured of the strength of the demand. The City will see the increased tax revenue vs the costs of infrastructure, etc.
How much residential does it take to make the commercial successful?… READ MORE >>
WANTED: Killer Modeling Tool to Sell Sustainable Urban Villages! Part 1
By Brian Skeele, on March 8th, 2011
1/3 of the Boomers want to move in. 88% of the Millennials want to move in. The problem is, Sustainable Urban Villages don’t exist!
Building Your Neighborhood Sustainable
Well they do, between my ears and in my heart, but we need a great modeling tool so all the future residents, landowners, finance people, city planners, designers, the school district, and neighbors can see what there are signing up for/signing off on. Then the resuscitation of the construction industry can begin in earnest, the emerging sustainable economy can…emerge!
As this is the ultimate sales tool, we are building the neighborhood on paper, so the future residents can say, “Yes, if you build that, I’ll move in!”. And of course, the numbers have to work for everyone involved. Let me give you a walk thru of “the Killer Modeling Tool” as I conceive it…. READ MORE >>
Vibrant, Alive, Affordable + Living Lightly Locally= Sustainable NeighborhoodsBy Brian Skeele, on June 17th, 2015 5 Planets! How are we, the US of A, going to be a serious leader if our lifestyle requires 5 planets of resources?? How are we going to look our grandchildren in the eye and say with pride “All this is yours!”?? The good news is we are innovative. So, my fellow Americans, let’s roll up our sleeves and seize the opportunity. What else are we gonna do?! Join us on Tuesday nights, and help design and build the 21st Century sustainable! MeetUp Design Lab for Sustainable Neighborhoods More good news! Ya ready? Mixed-use, mixed-income sustainable neighborhood infill developments of 2 or so acres, located in rural, urban, or suburban settings, meet the challenge to deliver sustainable lifestyles that are good for people and our planet! Here is a drawing of one possibility that is efficient, affordable, and creates a beautiful oasis.
With approx. 40 residential units of varying sizes on the upper floor, and mixed-use commercial and shared common facilities on the ground floor, we just need 80 or so people who want to move in. Want to have your business here? Come to the next Designing Sustainable Neighborhoods Workshop Go to Meet Up Santa Fe and RSVP! and check the box letting us know you’ll be attending. Together, we can make Sustainable Neighborhoods real! Don’t live in Santa Fe, but want one in your community??!! Let me know! Senior Cohousing!By Brian Skeele, on May 23rd, 2011 Enjoyable and affordable. “In a retirement community, things are done for you and to you. In a cohousing community things are done by you.” Sharing caregivers….having fun. How’s this compare to your envisioned retirement? Mountain View Cohousing Community from David Burwen on Vimeo. Sounds good to me! Charles Durrett’s Senior Cohousing is an amazing book. He reports on the wide creative options the Danes have created in their senior cohousing communities across Denmark. We can be having way more fun! And way better safety nets! Share your experiences in senior cohousing…We’re clueless as to what the options are compared to retirement homes!! Together, we can make sustainable real! READ MORE >> 4th of 29 Ways to Make Money on Your Well-Designed Home-Sell Part of Your HomeBy Brian Skeele, on May 5th, 2011 I’ve started a list of good ideas that come about if we rethink the functions and interplay of our home and its neighborhood. So far I’ve got 29 killer (If I do say so myself) ideas. The first 7 are home oriented, the last 22 are more neighborhood oriented. Add your ideas to the list via the comment area! Home Design4. Sell Part of Your Home
With all the household profiles that don’t fit into the Ward and June Clever, Wally and the Beaver, traditional suburban demographics (2.5 children, dog, and two parents under one roof), there is demand for something else. The latest numbers I’ve heard is only 24% of US households fit the stereotypical household profile. That means there are a bunch of people looking for a living arrangement that better suits their needs. I’m suggesting you can sell off part of your house! You could sell 1/3 or 1/4….what a concept! How could this be useful to you? Share your ideas below!! … READ MORE >> 3rd of 29 Ways to Make Money on Your Home-Open a Commercial ShopBy Brian Skeele, on April 15th, 2011 I’ve started a list of good ideas that come about if we rethink the functions and interplay of our home and its neighborhood. So far I’ve got 29 killer (If I do say so myself) ideas. The first 7 are home oriented, the last 22 are more neighborhood oriented. Add your ideas to the list via the comment area! Home DesignI like the idea, the signage could be improved! 3. Rent Out a Work SpaceLive/work homes have a separate workspace with commercial potential. What if you reconfigured part of your house to be a workshop or a commercial space? Of course the zoning may not allow it. Here in Santa Fe, home occupation is an accepted usage, with conditions on how many parking spaces and the number of allowable employees. A big difference between home occupation and commercial in the eyes of Santa Fe regulations is the home occupation is for appointment only customers/ If your clientele would “follow you home” , opening up your business out of your house could be a large saving. Maybe your house has a great location, and a neighbor is interested in opening up a yoga studio; maybe you just don’t need such a big house, and could use the income. … READ MORE >> |
