[mdanger]

"That demographic cohort wants to continue their collegiate experience for an indefinite amount of time," Kennedy said. "I envision this as a launching space as they get established."

The "collegiate experience" Kennedy seems to be going for with this is dormitory-style living (the article even touts the common areas that will be available to tenants, just like some of the pitches when I was shopping around for colleges!), but the first goal for many students at my university and others I've visited has always been "get out of the dorms and into a real apartment".

[marvin]

Interesting that someone should say this out loud. I've been thinking this for a long time - I've just been having so much fun as a student, I can't really imagine any other way of living. Cool roommates and always something interesting to do.

When not starting a family or living with a partner, this seems like the best way to live. The alternative would be to live on my own in a nice apartment - this would entail a higher - "standard of living", but be much more expensive and lonely.

[yummyfajitas]

Students want to get out of dorms and into an apartment typically because dorms cost about the same thing as an apartment, but with far less space/amenities.

If dorms weren't overpriced, more students would probably want to stay in them.

[theorique]

Good point about the dorm resemblance.

Depending on a person's college experience though, more flexibility in moving to "the big city" might provide sufficient transition for many college grads and other on tight budgets. Especially when the alternative in a very expensive city is a cramped tiny space with multiple roommates.

[jessriedel]

I don't think you and Kennedy necessarily conflict. It's very possible for 60% of college students to want to get out of dorms and into a real (large) apartment, while the other 40% still making the post-college demographics unusually high in its preference for micro apartments.

[bthomas]

I think that's often a desire to get away from the people and culture in the dorms, not necessarily the lifestyle. A college dorm with people in their mid 20s working 9-5 jobs would be a fun experiment

[mdanger]

(Well, I suppose that unlike a dorm, there's no communal kitchen/restroom, but to me, this still seems like it would be a step backwards for someone fresh out of college.)