Bobby Fijan
@bobbyfijan.bsky.social
Building Housing for Families
It’s a great time to be looking for an apartment in Nashville. Lease specials:
3 months free rent!
A free cruise!
3 months free rent!
A free cruise!
November 12, 2025 at 1:44 PM
It’s a great time to be looking for an apartment in Nashville. Lease specials:
3 months free rent!
A free cruise!
3 months free rent!
A free cruise!
Reposted by Bobby Fijan
Next Wednesday, November 19, I am participating in a panel discussion at AIA Brooklyn with @holz-bau.bsky.social and SO-IL's Jonathan Molloy about building code reform. It will be in-person in Downtown Brooklyn from 6 to 8:30 p.m., register free to attend here: www.eventbrite.com/e/rethinking...
Rethinking the Shape of the City: SingleStair Reform in Multifamily Housing
Hear from Michael Eliason, Jonathan Molloy and Stephen Smith.
www.eventbrite.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Next Wednesday, November 19, I am participating in a panel discussion at AIA Brooklyn with @holz-bau.bsky.social and SO-IL's Jonathan Molloy about building code reform. It will be in-person in Downtown Brooklyn from 6 to 8:30 p.m., register free to attend here: www.eventbrite.com/e/rethinking...
A great new paper on effects of smaller apartments on fertility:
“A supply shift for large units generates 2.3 times more births than an equal-cost shift for small units. This analysis concludes the supply of housing suitable for families can meaningfully contribute to demographic sustainability”
“A supply shift for large units generates 2.3 times more births than an equal-cost shift for small units. This analysis concludes the supply of housing suitable for families can meaningfully contribute to demographic sustainability”
November 10, 2025 at 11:55 PM
A great new paper on effects of smaller apartments on fertility:
“A supply shift for large units generates 2.3 times more births than an equal-cost shift for small units. This analysis concludes the supply of housing suitable for families can meaningfully contribute to demographic sustainability”
“A supply shift for large units generates 2.3 times more births than an equal-cost shift for small units. This analysis concludes the supply of housing suitable for families can meaningfully contribute to demographic sustainability”
Toddler playrooms are an amenity that could easily be added to any new apartment building. They don't up take much space ... just like kids.
Here's a cute (but small) one in a brand new building in DC
Here's a cute (but small) one in a brand new building in DC
November 10, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Toddler playrooms are an amenity that could easily be added to any new apartment building. They don't up take much space ... just like kids.
Here's a cute (but small) one in a brand new building in DC
Here's a cute (but small) one in a brand new building in DC
A long, meandering, but fun, conversation I did on family apartments and making cities better for families
open.spotify.com/episode/1qEX...
open.spotify.com/episode/1qEX...
24 : Bobby Fijan - Family Matters
open.spotify.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:57 PM
A long, meandering, but fun, conversation I did on family apartments and making cities better for families
open.spotify.com/episode/1qEX...
open.spotify.com/episode/1qEX...
A beautiful, simple, rowhome project I toured in Portland, Maine this year.
1100sf, 3BR+Den/2BA
Small, efficient floorplans = affordable
1100sf, 3BR+Den/2BA
Small, efficient floorplans = affordable
November 3, 2025 at 3:05 PM
A beautiful, simple, rowhome project I toured in Portland, Maine this year.
1100sf, 3BR+Den/2BA
Small, efficient floorplans = affordable
1100sf, 3BR+Den/2BA
Small, efficient floorplans = affordable
Reposted by Bobby Fijan
I agree w Emily there needs to be more housing for incremental life stages. I have 0 disagreements w her policy recommendations
My emphasis for "family" housing (as a developer) is on building Baby Maybe units rather than Studios, bc I think they are under supplied relative to demand
I'll explain🔽
My emphasis for "family" housing (as a developer) is on building Baby Maybe units rather than Studios, bc I think they are under supplied relative to demand
I'll explain🔽
Pro-housing voices from the right of center are increasingly focused on a "we need housing For Families" framing.
In a new column I explain why broad-based liberalization, especially for inexpensive types of housing, is important for helping people start families: www.governing.com/urban/to-sup...
In a new column I explain why broad-based liberalization, especially for inexpensive types of housing, is important for helping people start families: www.governing.com/urban/to-sup...
To Support Families, Repair the Housing Ladder
The cost of housing is one big barrier to family formation. But simply building more single family homes isn't the answer.
www.governing.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:49 PM
I agree w Emily there needs to be more housing for incremental life stages. I have 0 disagreements w her policy recommendations
My emphasis for "family" housing (as a developer) is on building Baby Maybe units rather than Studios, bc I think they are under supplied relative to demand
I'll explain🔽
My emphasis for "family" housing (as a developer) is on building Baby Maybe units rather than Studios, bc I think they are under supplied relative to demand
I'll explain🔽
I agree w Emily there needs to be more housing for incremental life stages. I have 0 disagreements w her policy recommendations
My emphasis for "family" housing (as a developer) is on building Baby Maybe units rather than Studios, bc I think they are under supplied relative to demand
I'll explain🔽
My emphasis for "family" housing (as a developer) is on building Baby Maybe units rather than Studios, bc I think they are under supplied relative to demand
I'll explain🔽
Pro-housing voices from the right of center are increasingly focused on a "we need housing For Families" framing.
In a new column I explain why broad-based liberalization, especially for inexpensive types of housing, is important for helping people start families: www.governing.com/urban/to-sup...
In a new column I explain why broad-based liberalization, especially for inexpensive types of housing, is important for helping people start families: www.governing.com/urban/to-sup...
To Support Families, Repair the Housing Ladder
The cost of housing is one big barrier to family formation. But simply building more single family homes isn't the answer.
www.governing.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:49 PM
I agree w Emily there needs to be more housing for incremental life stages. I have 0 disagreements w her policy recommendations
My emphasis for "family" housing (as a developer) is on building Baby Maybe units rather than Studios, bc I think they are under supplied relative to demand
I'll explain🔽
My emphasis for "family" housing (as a developer) is on building Baby Maybe units rather than Studios, bc I think they are under supplied relative to demand
I'll explain🔽
I normally don’t like painting brick … but these rowhomes in DC are charming
October 30, 2025 at 9:29 PM
I normally don’t like painting brick … but these rowhomes in DC are charming
Young people are increasingly living in larger apartment buildings
For those who care about families and people having babies … since young people ARE living in those units, the key is to make it as easy as possible for younger couples to have their first child
“Baby Maybe Housing”
For those who care about families and people having babies … since young people ARE living in those units, the key is to make it as easy as possible for younger couples to have their first child
“Baby Maybe Housing”
October 29, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Young people are increasingly living in larger apartment buildings
For those who care about families and people having babies … since young people ARE living in those units, the key is to make it as easy as possible for younger couples to have their first child
“Baby Maybe Housing”
For those who care about families and people having babies … since young people ARE living in those units, the key is to make it as easy as possible for younger couples to have their first child
“Baby Maybe Housing”
The 3-story rowhome is a Bedrock of America
October 28, 2025 at 8:09 PM
The 3-story rowhome is a Bedrock of America
This is anti-natalist … and will only make apartments more complicated to lay out cod families
People who want to have kids prefer apartments that have extra rooms
People who want to have kids prefer apartments that have extra rooms
October 25, 2025 at 1:35 PM
This is anti-natalist … and will only make apartments more complicated to lay out cod families
People who want to have kids prefer apartments that have extra rooms
People who want to have kids prefer apartments that have extra rooms
There's nothing inherently "better" about a smaller house ... and since a Mcmansion is almost certainly going to be larger (for what you can afford) the attributes of the Mcmansion *will* be better than a rowhome
October 20, 2025 at 11:39 AM
There's nothing inherently "better" about a smaller house ... and since a Mcmansion is almost certainly going to be larger (for what you can afford) the attributes of the Mcmansion *will* be better than a rowhome
We need to build brownstones again.
Masonry. Soundproof. Alley loaded.
1600sf, 3BR+Office/2.5BA
Masonry. Soundproof. Alley loaded.
1600sf, 3BR+Office/2.5BA
October 18, 2025 at 6:39 PM
We need to build brownstones again.
Masonry. Soundproof. Alley loaded.
1600sf, 3BR+Office/2.5BA
Masonry. Soundproof. Alley loaded.
1600sf, 3BR+Office/2.5BA
A great end to the work week … riding my bike to my piano lesson
October 18, 2025 at 12:25 AM
A great end to the work week … riding my bike to my piano lesson
More research that supports that American families are willing to rent apartments … if they have extra bedrooms. Even in smaller unit sizes
www.globest.com/2025/10/17/r...
www.globest.com/2025/10/17/r...
Renters Say Their Priorities Have Changed But Landlords Aren’t Keeping Up
A national survey finds a mismatch between renter demand and apartment supply.
www.globest.com
October 17, 2025 at 6:46 PM
More research that supports that American families are willing to rent apartments … if they have extra bedrooms. Even in smaller unit sizes
www.globest.com/2025/10/17/r...
www.globest.com/2025/10/17/r...
Affordable housing in SF … for $670K/unit
Insane
Insane
October 16, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Affordable housing in SF … for $670K/unit
Insane
Insane
My son had to do a house floorplan project for school … and he picked doing a “Roman style” house with an atrium complete with an arcade room and a bowling alley
October 15, 2025 at 10:36 PM
My son had to do a house floorplan project for school … and he picked doing a “Roman style” house with an atrium complete with an arcade room and a bowling alley
Bring back family friendly *photography* for housing
October 14, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Bring back family friendly *photography* for housing
It’s not that hard for young, ambitious, 22-28 year olds to live in *any* American City
The problem, with affordability, comes when those same people are 30-36 and want to get married and have kids.
The problem, with affordability, comes when those same people are 30-36 and want to get married and have kids.
October 14, 2025 at 2:56 AM
It’s not that hard for young, ambitious, 22-28 year olds to live in *any* American City
The problem, with affordability, comes when those same people are 30-36 and want to get married and have kids.
The problem, with affordability, comes when those same people are 30-36 and want to get married and have kids.
How does a “Baby Maybe” apartment work in real life? Like this …
October 12, 2025 at 1:27 PM
How does a “Baby Maybe” apartment work in real life? Like this …
“Let’s get you home”
THIS is the moment The City loses families … when parents think they cannot *raise* their kids downtown (if moving is inevitable) then they think it’s better to bite the bullet and move NOW to the place they will be long term
THIS is the moment The City loses families … when parents think they cannot *raise* their kids downtown (if moving is inevitable) then they think it’s better to bite the bullet and move NOW to the place they will be long term
October 11, 2025 at 9:12 PM
“Let’s get you home”
THIS is the moment The City loses families … when parents think they cannot *raise* their kids downtown (if moving is inevitable) then they think it’s better to bite the bullet and move NOW to the place they will be long term
THIS is the moment The City loses families … when parents think they cannot *raise* their kids downtown (if moving is inevitable) then they think it’s better to bite the bullet and move NOW to the place they will be long term
This is why we need to build “Baby Maybe” apartments … to make it easier for couples to have their first child earlier
October 11, 2025 at 5:50 PM
This is why we need to build “Baby Maybe” apartments … to make it easier for couples to have their first child earlier
The most effective way for parents to be “convinced” to send their children to the local public school … is that when they ask around at the playground “So where do YOU send your kids” is to hear parents of older kids say “We send ours to the local elementary school”
Moral shaming does not work
Moral shaming does not work
October 11, 2025 at 3:56 PM
The most effective way for parents to be “convinced” to send their children to the local public school … is that when they ask around at the playground “So where do YOU send your kids” is to hear parents of older kids say “We send ours to the local elementary school”
Moral shaming does not work
Moral shaming does not work