The article really misrepresents Chez JJ. We have a professional cleaner come in every week and we cover food, including an organic vegetable subscription box from Farm Fresh. We're not like frat boys -- this is our home and we choose to let people in.
I didn't necessarily think that it's dirty (although the article implies that it's untidy). I had no idea food was thrown in apart from the occasional cooked meal. If food is included, am I going to be meeting > 2,000 calories a day (or whatever the recommended is)? From the Airbnb listing it looks like only breakfast is included, not every meal like your comment suggests.
My original point really wasn't about cleanliness or food, but about the true, measurable value that SF/SV brings. I don't know why people are compelled to travel from (for example) Toronto to live in a single dorm room with nine strangers, some or all of whom may snore. I imagine the people who stay will likely have their freedoms greatly restricted, even down to their choice of sleep schedule. I can only imagine the alternative would result in people disturbing each others' sleep.
The whole "gotta be in SV/SF" mentality seems to be a product of massive amounts of hype that's driving these people to live in such relatively poor conditions for a relatively high amount. I just don't understand why people are acting like this.
hahahah, I wish I could afford to feed every guest for every meal, but we haven't reached that level of success yet. For now, only breakfast and the Farm Fresh veges are available.
Quiet hours start after 10 PM or as soon as people start heading to bed. We do occasionally have snorers, and provide ear plugs. Everyone seems to do well on multiple sleep schedules so long as late movement towards bed is sufficiently quiet.
We choose our locations based on easy access to public transportation and easy access to hacker circles. The prices are higher because the demand is higher. There are community houses everywhere, and I occasionally see rooms for rent in East Palo Alto community houses. There are many around, and it isn't just for hype. It's very expensive to live here and it gets easier when living in groups.
Regardless, this is an interesting phenomenon and I wonder whether the luster of SF and SV will continue or correct. The fact there's a market for bunk beds in a 10-person room is intriguing.
I'm not entirely convinced of the merits of this 10-person dorm for twice the cost of a room on Craigslist in the same neighborhood, but my skepticism (a deep, penetrating British skepticism!) is for something I've not tried.
It's not twice the cost of rooms on craigslist in the same neighborhood. Those require a lease, a deposit, setting up and paying for utilities etc. etc. etc.
If you want to compare it to something, compare it to airbnb listings - and this is perfectly in line with market rates. Typical rooms cost $80-120+ if you want your own room. A shared room at $40 makes a lot of sense - if you are ok with those living conditions.
The article gave the impression that some people live there for months ("others settle in for months"). Even so, there are rooms available for <$600 in that neighborhood on CL. The deposit isn't an expense and utilities etc aren't going to be another $600/month unless something sketchy is going on.
I did a quick search on Airbnb for private rooms in the Castro neighborhood (which is where their SF location is) that don't exceed $40/night and there are 34 results. [1] This "hacker hostel" isn't in line with market rates if they're putting 10 people in each room.
For reasons I cannot fathom, if I bump the max price for the above search up to $45, only eight listings are returned.
