What are Live/Work Townhouses?
The Live/Work Townhouses built by Meeting Street Homes are townhouses built to meet commercial standards on the lower level, and residential standards on the top levels. Some people refer to these townhouses as "mixed use."
Can the Live/Work Townhouses have two different tenants within the same townhouse?
Some Live/Work Townhouses have been city approved for double tenant occupancy meaning separate tenants for residential floors versus commericial floors. However, in some cities such as Cornelius, NC, the commercial floors and the residential floors must be the same tenant. This information was accurate as of 2005. Inland Homes started the Cornelius project as well as part of the Vermillion Huntersville project. Check with the city before buying one of these to make sure of the occupancy rules.
Can two separate tenants within the same townhouse co-exist peacefully?
Because these Live/Work Townhouses by Meeting Street Homes were a "first of a kind," and they could not build them fast enough to meet the demand from 2003 to 2009, many design flaws were duplicated over and over and over again. Most of these townhouses are quite challenging to get two separate tenants to co-exist peacefully because there are no sound barriers between the commercial and residential floors. A commercial leaseholder may hear the residential leaseholder walking or vacuuming or listening to music. This can be a huge business distraction. Most Live/Work townhouse owners will require the residential tenant to have a day shift job while the commercial tenants operate their business during the day shift. That way, the two tenants will not disturb each other. If the residential tenant has second shift job and commercial tenant has "after work" clientele, then that would be an ideal operating schedule as well.
Are there any Live/Work Townhouses where the sound barriers were fixed?
Meeting Street Homes finally fixed this "sound barrier" issue on the last set of Live/Work Townhouses built in Morrison Plantation, Mooresville, NC. Actually, I believe almost every major issue to date from all the past Live/Work townhouse sales were fixed such as a flat roof versus a excessively high pitched roof. The irony is that this best set of Live/Work townhouses that Meeting Street Homes built have been sitting empty/vacant for a couple of years or more because the demand has almost completely gone away especially at a $300,000.00 price tag.
What other problems have the Live/Work Townhouses experienced?
1) Flooding due to bad grading. A foot of water could be sitting on the commercial floor of units at the bottom of a hill. (example: Eastfield)
2)Flooding due to bad Architectural design. Rainwater would pour into the commercial area down the extended wall/balcony area. (example: Rosedale and Morrison Plantation and maybe other subdivisions)
3) Tankless water heaters were an effort to "go green" but some homeowners could not adjust to the newer technology. (example: Eastfield)
4) Regular water heaters were placed in the fourth floor attic. (example: Rosedale) Who puts a water heater on a top floor?
5) A Direct business competitor can open up right next to you without regard for your business.
Check with seller before buying one of these properties to make sure all major design flaws were finally fixed. Meeting Street Homes did their best to rectify all reasonable complaints.
What are the most common use of the commercial floor of the Live/Work Townhouses?
Hair Salons, Pet Grooming Salons, Barber Shops, Nail Salons, Spa Services.
How about the privacy?
If you want to keep where you live secret, then living and working out of the same live/work townhouse is not going to allow you to have that luxury. If you have a car, then clients may circle around your building just to see you if your car is present. It is an invasion of privacy that you will not be able to control. In essence, you are working from "home" and some clients may not respect your boundaries.
Do you need a car if you are able to live and work from the live/work townhouse?
Check for public transportation options. If the live/work townhouse is not on a bus route nor a train route, then yes, you will need a car.
Should you already have a business going with steady clientele before moving into a Live/Work townhouse?
Yes, most of these live/work townhouses are not necessarily known for a lot of foot traffic. In addition, there is no control over how many of the same business can be in one area. The Live/Work Townhouse owner only has a few Association restrictions as far as business use of their commercial space; therefore, one can expect a direct competitor to open next door to you without saying a word.
I was told recently that the original LLC that Meeting Street was operating under went bankrupt, and they now operate under a different name. Also, some properties built in Mt Pleasant, SC also had a lot of water intrusions.
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