I agree that most people would prefer having a patch of grass just steps from their home. However, this isn’t always practical. For instance, residents of The Grey condos on the third floor must go down two flights of stairs to reach the grass, unlike a single-family home or townhome with direct outdoor access. In a typical three-story condo, a resident on the top floor walks out their door, takes a few steps to a shared staircase, and then reaches the outdoors. Is it the private nature of the stairs that’s appealing?
I like the term “urban setting” because it highlights the downsides of both suburban and urban living. You have the density of an urban area (with another unit just 30 feet away) but limited walkability and green space. At the same time, like a suburban setting, a car is necessary to get around.
The need for a car turns properties into interchangeable options: someone with a 20-minute commute could live anywhere with a similar drive time. This is how sprawl takes hold, leading to congested roadways.
Comparing The Grey to the Person Street condos, they are essentially the same product but differ in location and age. The Person Street neighborhood is priced higher, with a ground floor unit at 531 Person listed at $417 per square foot, versus $304 per square foot for an upper unit.
Regarding unit size, a well-designed 1,600-square-foot three-bedroom can feel more spacious than a poorly designed 2,200-square-foot one. While more space is often desirable for families or roommates, developers often use extra square footage to cover costs. For example, adding 600 square feet to a 1,600-square-foot unit might cost a developer $30,000, but they could charge an extra $140,000—yielding a substantial profit. The question is, where do you stop? Do you create a 2,800-square-foot three-bedroom? As a society, we seem to value quantity over quality, leading to overconsumption and waste.
