Those who lived in dorms during college likely aren’t itching to go back to that lifestyle. But if you really think about it, dorm life offers some benefits that might translate well into adult life.
For instance, shared living space can lower rent costs. And fitting more people into a smaller space can offer more opportunity for people to live in desirable city neighborhoods.
That’s why a new report from the Boston Foundation, a philanthropic organization that funds local non-profits, suggests creating dorms for adults. The report calls the proposed new form of housing “millennial villages.” And it suggests building 10,000 such units to satisfy demand in the Boston area.
The report states:
“With shared common living space, ground floor amenities, and proximity to public transit, these developments aimed at young Millennials would alleviate much of the market pressure currently exerted on two-to-four unit structures and multi-unit buildings, freeing them up for working families at more affordable rents.”
For those Millennials who just got out of their college dorms within the last 10 years, returning to that life as adults might not sound appealing. But for some, a more desirable location might be worth sacrificing a bit of private living space.
For the city of Boston, this type of housing option could impact the rest of the housing market as well. If Millennials and other single residents start gravitating toward these dorm-like living arrangements, the could lower housing costs overall.
It’s just a proposal right now. So it’s not currently a successful business venture. But it shows some innovative thinking that could potentially be a game-changer in Boston and beyond.
Whether those who have outgrown their college days are open to dorm living or not remains to be seen. But it certainly opens up a new opportunity for people to live in areas they wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford. So dorms for adults has the potential to completely change the industry.
Dormitory Photo via Shutterstock
I’m not sure how far I can see this going if there isn’t more privacy. Sharing rooms with total strangers? I wouldn’t have gone for it.
Annie Pilon
I don’t think it’s for me either. But I could see some people (especially those who aren’t home much) going for it.