Small Building or Big Building: The Results

• April 29th 2009

by Mark Wellborn

A few weeks ago, we asked our readers what type of building they prefer to live in: a large development or a small boutique building. We tallied the comments and emails (it took us awhile), and it looks like most of you prefer the smaller options (rowhouses, townhouses, boutique buildings) that the DC area offers. That said, most of you pointed out that there are pros and cons to both.

Advantages of a small building.

• Smaller buildings usually have a more intimate feel and offer more character.

• They are built with more care and precision than larger buildings.

• Tenants have more control of improving the community space and “making it current” without having to deal with hundreds of varying opinions.

Disadvantages of a small building.

• The risk of building maintenance and management suffering if owners don’t or can’t pay their fees. In a building with six or seven units, if one single owner doesn’t pay, there goes more than 10 percent of the building’s budget. In a building with 200 units, that risk is spread much more thinly.

Advantages of a large building.

• Costs for general maintenance and repairs are usually cheaper because they are spread across more units.

• Larger buildings usually have more amenities (rooftop pools, exercise rooms, media rooms, etc.) than smaller buildings.

Disadvantages of a large building.

• Larger buildings can feel very sterile and hotel-like. Many of the units look exactly the same.

• Because developers are in a rush to get the project complete, the construction of the units can be shoddy.

Were you unable to voice your opinion the first time around? If so, let us know which you prefer in the comments section.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/small_building_or_big_building_the_results/853.