would you live here?

 Imagine you are looking at apartments, and your broker takes you here.

I know what my response would be. "Are you friggin' crazy? Show me something else!"

Well, this is where I live. An absolute sh-t show!

For starters, this is the third time in 8 years that I've had a sidewalk shed level with my apartment. That's what they call these monstrosities that are erected when work is being done on the front of a building. It's to protect the passing pedestrians.

The first time I was introduced to this structure was in February 2015. 

The work was finished in early January, 2016. The shed finally came down in mid-May. Yes, for five long months it just stayed up for no reason.

I had little light, zero privacy, and no street view in both my bedrooms and living room. My entire apartment is on the second floor facing north. It was an awful 15 months.

Then, in early August of 2020, it happened again. This time it was from a neighboring building, but the law requires that the shed be extended an extra 20 feet. Knowing what was coming made me almost want to cry. 

Again, my living room was blocked off from the street. This lasted 17 months. It was taken down in late December 2021.

So what is that? 32 months, or almost 3 years, of having no street view, no privacy, an ugly eye-sore to look at 24/7, compromised light, drilling and other loud noises beginning early morning, dirty windows all the time, and dust in my apartment that even shut windows can't keep out. Three years out of six. And zero give on rent (in fact, the opposite), or any other concessions from my landlord.

 

And now, it's happening again. In August another shed went up. Here's my current view.

This time I did cry. 

Thankfully the laws have changed and at least now mesh is used instead of opaque wood so at least I don't feel quite as caged in and claustrophobic.

But still. It's horrible.

And even worse, asbestos was found.

If only I could afford to move.

One of my biggest regrets is never having bought.

At this stage in my life, my only hope of that ever happening is winning the lottery. And well, the odds are just not in my favor.