Living in a NYC Microstudio

Felice Cohen lives in a microstudio in Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Her microstudio apartment has about 90 square feet of total space and measures just 12 feet by 7 feet. In this video, Felice shows us her tiny kitchen (toaster oven, hot pot and mini fridge), the toilet where she bumps her knee and her now-cozy lofted bed.

Churchill has short-term corporate housing that is more spacious than Felice’s apartment available in New York City. Please contact us at 866-255-0593 or NewYork@FurnishedHousing.com for more information.

The Limelight in NYC Transforms into a Market

NYTimes.com details the transformation of The Limelight, a Church Turned Nightclub, into a Market.  The Limelight in New York opened in November 1983 and was one of NYC’s most famous nightclubs in the 80s through 90s.  This spring, it will reopen as the Limelight Marketplace housing 35 upscale boutiques and restaurants.  The $15 million renovation has made the interior much brighter but it still retains the maze-like feel that was a hallmark of the Limelight. Brands include Le Sportsac, Baci Gelato and the bootmaker Hunter will be opening stores in the Limelight Marketplace.

Churchill has short-term apartments in New York City. Please contact us at 866-255-0593 or NewYork@FurnishedHousing.com for more information.

Courtesy of NYTimes.com

Applications to Colleges Are Breaking Records

NYTimes.com ‘s article, “Applications to Colleges Are Breaking Records“, reports that many colleges are seeing double digit increases in applications from last year. Officials from schools have credited aggressive recruiting and the ease of online applications for the increase in applicants. But another big reason is the economy. According to David G. Payne, the Educational Testing Service’s vice president and chief operating officer for college and graduate programs, “When job creation slows, there’s an increase in the number of people who pursue a graduate degree.”

Are you looking for alternatives to college dormitories? Churchill has temporary housing solutions in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and nationwide. Please contact us at 866-255-0593 or email us for more details.

Christmas Trees around NYC

At a minimum of 65 feet tall and covered in over five miles of lights, it’s easy to see why Rockefeller Center‘s Christmas tree is one of New York’s most visited holiday decorations. But it isn’t the only tree worth admiring.

Bigger isn’t necessarily better: Metropolitan Museum of Art‘s blue spruce is only twenty feet tall. This indoor tree is adorned with fifty angels and surrounded by over 200 crèche figures, all of which are over 200 years old. The crèche figures depict the traditional Nativity scene, the procession of three Magi, and a large gathering of peasants, townspeople, and all kinds of animals – even an elephant!

Like a little mood music with your tree? Stop by South Street Seaport’s fifty-foot Douglas Fir. The Big Apple Chorus, an 85-member men’s a cappella group, delights visitors with two evening performances on Fridays and two afternoon performances on Saturdays and Sundays until Christmas Eve.

Dubbed The Peace Tree, one thousand paper cranes trim the tree at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Bring the kids for a crane-making workshop, or learn about the pre-Christian origins of the holiday on a walking tour of the Cathedral.

Christmas trees are going up all over the city, but our prices aren’t. Contact Churchill for affordable furnished housing in New York for your holiday visit to New York.

Photo courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The Who set to perform Super Bowl XLIV halftime show

The NFL announced The Who as the halftime act for Super Bowl XLIV. The announcement was made during halftime of the Oakland Raiders-Dallas Cowboys game this Thanksgiving.  The impressive list of previous halftime acts include bands such as Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Prince, the Rolling Stones, and Paul McCartney.

Super Bowl XLIV will be played at Dolphin Stadium in South Florida on Sunday, February 7, 2010. Last year’s event drew more than 151 million viewers and was broadcasted to 230 countries.

Churchill has locations in the Miami-Dade County area and has short-term rental options available. Please contact us for more information.

Photo courtesy of The Who

The Best Playgrounds in Central Florida

The Orlando Sentinel highlights some of the best playgrounds in the Orlando and Central Florida areas. These playgrounds standout from the rest with equipment that is not found in your average playground/park. For example, Gilbert Park in Mount Dora features a maze-like castle and a mini rock-climbing wall while Central Winds Park in Winter Springs has a 20 feet tall structure with 3 different tiers of activities for kids.

Renovating or relocating? Churchill offers fully furnished, temporary housing with flexible terms. Click here to see availability in the Orlando area.

Gilbert Park. Photo courtesy of orlandosentinel.com.

The Rental Market and Corporate Housing

For months, U.S. vacancy rates have been increasingly high across the board. In July 2009, apartment vacancy rates hit a 22-year high during what is usually the peak season for leasing. Although it was expected that those unable to afford homes would turn to renting, the overwhelming amount of job losses led to high vacancy rates. The positive aspect for  those in the market to rent is that rents are falling faster than they have in over a decade. The most drastic fall in rental rates has affected the markets of New York, San Jose, Las Vegas, and Orange County California. While some markets, where unemployment rates are not as high, have seen a small growth in renting rates, such as in suburban Maryland and in Washington, D.C.

So what does this rental environment mean for corporate housing? While the corporate housing industry cannot completely escape the weak economy, corporate housing occupancy has generally remained high because providers can remove and add units according to demand. Also, temporary housing is more appealing to consumers during times of economic distress. Unlike most average apartment rentals that require a year lease, most corporate housing providers only require a 30-night minimum, which is easier for customers to grasp financially. Also, many relocating employees are coming into the market with a far different idea of renting and leasing than your average renter. These renters/employees have corporate jobs and salaries that can pay the rent. Also, no matter what the economic environment, corporate housing remains a strong alternative to simple and unfriendly hotel rooms.

Read one of The Wall Street Journal’s full article’s on the rental market.

Corporate Housing and the Economy: The Facts and Figures

It is safe to say that the corporate housing industry has prevailed through the weak housing market and economic recession. The Corporate Housing Industry Report reported that in 2008 the average daily rate of corporate housing was up 1.2 percent. Although occupancy rates in 2008 dropped slightly to 88.5 percent from 89.7 percent in 2007, the drop did not affect the overall industry. The report also revealed that markets with the greatest growth in corporate housing, include Washington, D.C. , Los Angeles, St. Louis, Houston, and Boston. To delve deeper into how corporate housing has been affected by the economy, check out “Corporate Relocation Responds to the Economy.” The article reveals some interesting aspects of the corporate housing market through an interview between writer Marylyn Schwartz and Jan Hatfield-Goldman, Vice President of Research and Education for Worldwide Employee Relocation Council.

Corporate Apartments: The Best Choice for Business Travelers

“Is 2009 the year of the apartment?” asks a recent UpgradeTravelBetter.com blog post. The answer is simple: yes. With more and more corporate travelers cutting back on costs, corporate housing apartments are less expensive and more comfortable than hotels. Corporate apartments are “20-40% cheaper compared to hotels” and they offer “fully equipped kitchen with self-catering facilities, various bedroom choices, lounge and relaxation areas,” writes blogger Mark Ashley.

Compared to Extended-Stay Hotels Corporate Housing Offers:
 Cheaper temporary housing                                                    
 Apartments and townhomes with more square footage                            
 A like-home feel in a residential environment                                      
 Many more amenities, such as housekeeping and full-kitchens                             
 Safety with 24-hour security

Forbes also praises corporate housing over extended-stay hotels for business travelers. “Corporate housing…furnished homes or apartments with kitchens, living areas and often at least twice the square footage of a regular hotel room. Corporate housing is a $2.8 billion business in the U.S, spanning nearly 80,000 units, mainly clustered around larger cities,” writes the Smart Shelter author Miriam Marcus. Are you a corporate/business traveler looking for temporary, fully-furnished housing in one of the nation’s major cities? Check out Churchill’s listings in major cities Nationwide, including Washington, D.C., Boston, and Philadelphia.