Co-ops

The ABC's of common playrooms

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By Teri Karush Rogers  |
October 5, 2009 - 7:04AM
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Much like good fences make good neighbors in the ‘burbs, playrooms make good neighbors in apartment buildings: They let kids be kids without driving anyone crazy.

This weekend’s NY Times real-estate section story on playrooms served up some helpful information for co-ops and condos interested in creating a VIP lounge for tots:

  • A barebones budget is $3,000 - $25,000, with padded floor material being one of the biggest-ticket items.  Fancy-pants playrooms—architecturally designed with custom-made structures—can run up to $300,000.
  • Some residents would rather use the space for storage or a gym, and those without kids may object to paying for a playroom. Try calling the space a “community room,” and charging a modest annual usage fee.
  • Guest limits, properly set and enforced, can keep the stay-at-home-parent-to-nanny ratio at a reasonable level.
  • To stop playrooms from becoming dumping grounds for outgrown toys, make a no-used-toys rule.

Related posts:

Approval, schmoovel! Renovation perks for board members

4 neat ways to use an investigative lawyer in a co-op or condo

How to concierge your doorman

 

Teri Rogers Headshot - Floral

Teri Karush Rogers

Founder & Publisher

Founder and publisher Teri Karush Rogers launched Brick Underground in 2009. As a freelance journalist, she had previously covered New York City real estate for The New York Times. Teri has been featured as an expert on New York City residential real estate by The New York Times, New York Daily News, amNew York, NBC Nightly News, The Real Deal, Business Insider, the Huffington Post, and NY1 News, among others. Teri earned a BA in journalism and a law degree from New York University.

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