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pipes and ductwork, and wood or concrete floors, says Tom Eubanks, editor-in-chief of Loft Life, a magazine devoted to the loft lifestyle. They also may be 
Studioplex in Atlanta. Photo courtesy of Adam Ellis.
| | what is known as ‘soft lofts,’ which have walls to define separate rooms in the unit.
“Lofts are becoming so popular as a housing choice,” says Kara Reinsel, editor of AOL Real Estate. “They fit in better with the urban way of life. I’ve heard of Baby Boomers who don’t want a big single family house anymore. They don’t want to take care of a yard and want to be able to walk to work.”
That was the case for McIlwain. He and his wife live in a 1,000-square-foot loft that is significantly smaller than their previous homes but feels much larger because of the 14-foot ceilings. At 65, he says they wanted to downsize. “I don’t want to rumble around in a big space,” he says. “It’s worked out well for us. We like the design, the sense of windows…Baby Boomers have matured enough to point where they appreciate the old as well as the new.”
They also like the diverse group of people in their neighborhood, which he describes as a “new, evolving part of Washington, D.C. You’ve got young people, young professionals, artists, empty-nesters.”
Continued Popularity
There’s no data on the popularity of loft apartments specifically—they’re not categorized separately from traditional apartments or condominiums—but anecdotally “there’s a whole lot of activity in lofts,” says Staff Vice-President for Research at the National Association of Home Builders Gopal Ahluwalia. “It’s a big trend. Young people like them. I really don’t understand it—it takes more to heat and cool the space—but this is what we are observing.”
Kermit Baker, chief economist for the American Institute of Architects, says the interest is part of a larger trend of people moving back to the urban areas, close to jobs, activities and a sense of community.
“There’s always a segment of the population that is looking for this,” he says. “There are some longer-term demographics behind this. We’ve got a lot of people entering the market who are 30 and younger; they’re not going to be looking for the big house in the suburbs right away. Their first choice will be rental or a condo, and if they don’t have children, an urban feel would be desirable. I don’t know if it’s a change in housing preferences; it’s just where we are in the business cycle.”
Real estate agent David Kean has lived in a loft in downtown Los Angeles for several years and can’t ever see himself moving. He’s close to all the downtown attractions and has great views and says his neighbors have essentially become his family. “I have so many good friends here,” he says. “It’s like living in Mayberry in a building.”
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Text by Pat Curry
© 2009 BobVila.com
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