An unused-since-the-pandemic office building sold in midtown for $8M. If this fucking incompetent govt had any sense whatsoever, they would buy one of those unused office spaces and convert it into a mid/high rise shelter. They would save a lot of money but even more people. But they don’t want to think this is permanent. But this is is only getting started, when the global south really starts ramping up its uninhabitability, we will need to get way more creative.
I feel it would be ideal for temporary shelters though. Larger public restrooms. Offices and cubicle partitions likely left over. Climate controls and often small kitchens.
I mean, stadiums don’t stay permanent shelters. We use temporary housing pretty often for emergencies, but I could see it turning into “sanctuary city” like structure as well.
As long as it’s a temporary stop for the people in it, I think it’s ok. It should be safe and comfortable, but also not their best housing option. I would like to see the bottom floor permanently converted into satellite offices for social services as well to better serve these groups, with the goal of getting them the assistance to leave the structure ASAP.
An unused-since-the-pandemic office building sold in midtown for $8M. If this fucking incompetent govt had any sense whatsoever, they would buy one of those unused office spaces and convert it into a mid/high rise shelter. They would save a lot of money but even more people. But they don’t want to think this is permanent. But this is is only getting started, when the global south really starts ramping up its uninhabitability, we will need to get way more creative.
Office buildings are not built for housing, it’s often very expensive to convert them.
(More plumbing requirements, legal requirements for natural light etc)
I feel it would be ideal for temporary shelters though. Larger public restrooms. Offices and cubicle partitions likely left over. Climate controls and often small kitchens.
Saying that minimum housing requirements don’t apply to them is a slippery slope though!
And you know this wouldn’t stay temporary, once it’s allowed it would be normalised.
I mean, stadiums don’t stay permanent shelters. We use temporary housing pretty often for emergencies, but I could see it turning into “sanctuary city” like structure as well.
As long as it’s a temporary stop for the people in it, I think it’s ok. It should be safe and comfortable, but also not their best housing option. I would like to see the bottom floor permanently converted into satellite offices for social services as well to better serve these groups, with the goal of getting them the assistance to leave the structure ASAP.