Lean Urbanism: "Do-able" Mixed-Use

[MustachioedPistachio]

I stumbled across this cool concept: Lean Urbanism.

In a nutshell, the idea is to promote urban infill using small-scale, mixed-use development/adaptive reuse and creative regulation hacks. (U.S. specifically...)

• Use a FHA loan (3.5% down) to buy/build/rehab a 4-plex, potentially with up to 25% of the space for non-residential use
• Live in one of the units, rent out the remainder
• Either open a shop / community place yourself or lease out to an appropriate business (both optional)
• In a year or so, repeat!

This video sums it up well (some architect jargon, but fairly easy to follow):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPu8biSTUPc

And here's a good article covering the nuts 'n' bolts:

https://rjohnthebad.wordpress.com/2015/11/03/who-says-you-cant-get-financing-for-a-small-mixed-use-building/
http://leanurbanism.org/


Just thought I'd share with the Mustachians!

[SethB]

If you like that check out Granola Shotgun from Johnny Sanphilippo.

[zephyr911]

I love it.

I actually thought about investing in this kind of thing in Detroit or other places where true urban crashes are giving birth to interesting mixed-use renewals.