Off-beat residential lofts became a niche phenomenon in the late 20th century when living quarters were carved from within big-city industrial and commercial spaces. But loft living is no longer confined huge eastern metropolitan areas. In locations as diverse as Long Beach, Denver, Sacramento, St. Louis and San Francisco, the demand for lofts has been satisfied by creative property developers as an alternative to suburban sprawl. Those who buy these unique dwellings have done so to eliminate daily commutes as well as to incorporate cultural and entertainment possibilities into active, city lifestyles.
Urban revitalization has spurred the attractiveness of loft living across the country, with developers reaping substantial investment capital and tax breaks from urban rehabilitation agencies whose sights are set on gentrifying neighborhoods and creating neighborhoods based on public transit and pedestrian corridors.
Lofts began sprouting up in New York about 60 years ago, when vacant warehouses were taken over by local artists as live/work environments. The loft’s popularity stemmed from its architectural appeal which included high ceilings (up to 25 feet), abundant open space, few walls, huge windows, seasoned wood floors, exposed raw surfaces and ventilation ducts, brick walls and skylights.
Early lofts made do with hot plates for cooking tasks and buckets set on counters for dishwashing; freight elevators or stairwells served as access, and bathrooms with bathing facilities were indeed considered a luxury. Heating systems were not designed for full-time residents, forcing makeshift living environments.
Newly-built lofts available today, however, are detailed with concrete or granite countertops, state-of-the-art lighting, structured wiring systems, deeded underground parking spaces and even smiling doormen. Filling spaces where teardowns have taken place within city blocks, many new lofts boast courtyards and rooftop gardens. Pools and recreation centers create colorful respites, softening gray masses of concrete, glass and steel beams, where views of city lights glow in urban sunsets.
Some time back, Jeanie Straub wrote about the new genre of “loft snobs” in her contribution to The Boulder County Business Report. She describes how lower downtown Denver (or LoDo as it is called by Denverites) contains both real lofts (those converted from authentic, turn-of-the-century industrial spaces) and high-end condos marketed as lofts for the appealing sound of the word and the popularity it has generated.
As for demographics, loft living is usually not a family affair.
“You don’t see school buses driving down Folsom Street,” admits real estate agent Mike Broermann, former sales consultant for a loft project in the heart of San Francisco’s former warehouse district. “Although we would gladly sell our lofts to anyone who is interested, most people who buy here have a different lifestyle in mind.”
Loft communities are frequently developed within walking distance to notable city landmarks, retail and commercial centers, in this case close to San Francisco’s financial district, Bloomingdale’s, The Museum of Modern Art, some of the city’s best restaurants, and the city’s ball park.
Touring newer lofts is an experience in itself. Underground parking garages permit residents to access the dwellings by elevator. Floor plans vary, but many feature bedroom spaces connected to ground floor living areas by space-saving spiral staircases. Down below, efficient, state-of-the-art kitchens, and huge, floor-to-ceiling windows let light flood their interiors. It’s not uncommon for loft builders to provide professional movers with forklifts to place furniture pieces in the lofts’ upper level. The thick concrete walls, paired with inches-thick multi-paned glass shut out city noise.
As residential real estate diversifies, new urban neighborhoods are causing the cosmopolitan atmosphere to expand, with many developers trying hard to keep prices within the range single young professionals or couples can afford. Loft living is, of course, not for everyone. The single-family home remains the most commonly held vision of the American Dream. But as Boomers and financially successful Gen X and Y’ers continue to reject long commutes and embrace city life, loft living can serve as an attractive alternative to suburban living, adding color to once-drab urban areas.
Dena Kouremetis is a veteran freelance real estate consumer journalist and California real estate broker. She may be reached by email at REritr@aol.com.
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