While the dreamers of a port/rail development scheme scramble for stimulus money to build baby build, Hong Kong is struggling to stash their unused shipping containers.
From the Wall Street Journal:
Unused shipping containers were piled up at a storage depot in Hong Kong Wednesday. The government is looking for places to store hundreds of thousands of unused containers expected to flood Hong Kong in the coming months due to China’s slow exports.
(h/t)
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February 18, 2009 at 8:42 pm
houses for the homeless camp
February 18, 2009 at 8:48 pm
I saw in a magazine where people used these to build homes. They would weld 2 or more together in any configuration and
had patios on top with sliding glass doors were installed.
I saw one that was three stories high, built into the side of a super steep mountain, it looked like something I might live in.
We would have to do something about building codes to do the same thing here.
It’s something to do with the things.
Recycle.
February 18, 2009 at 9:00 pm
Great photo! Looks like Smart Growth. No yards, no trees, no parking, slam one unit against the next, jeeze why can’t we have that here too?
February 18, 2009 at 9:43 pm
The real story is dealing with a shrinking world economy. It is very hard to get it started again once it has come to a halt, and off the track in a very, very big way. We are just trying to get our own national financial house in order, but we are only one part of this picture. We are all interdependent on each other. When the stack of cards starts tumbling in one country, we all feel it. It is uncharted territory and we only have good guesses as to what to do. Thousands of empty containers is only a microcosm. If you don’t have your personal house in order, you are already behind the curve. Our state is only a microcosm, a forty billion dollar microcosm, and way behind the eight ball. We had better hope that those with the power to change our direction, have the wisdom to get it right. Because change it will, my friends, as we speak.
February 18, 2009 at 11:15 pm
On the plus side, if we had a surplus of shipping containers dotting Humboldt Bay, they would be an excellent and very inexpensive green housing option… not to mention earthquake proof. Google for “container houses” to see what I mean.
Smart growth has more yard space and more trees than the average cookie cutter subdivision, and ample parking (actual thought goes into how people use a neighborhood). You seem very, very ill informed.
February 18, 2009 at 11:24 pm
Even with added insulation, it would be nearly impossible to make those things comfortable enough to live in here. They’d work in a warmer, drier climate, but with the humidity and relatively low average temps in this area, you’d spend more on heating fuel than the cost to rent an actual living space.
February 18, 2009 at 11:34 pm
Container housing is common in Alaska. They use spray foam insulation and slap up plywood walls to hold it in. Alaska is colder and wetter than Humboldt. Forget snow. In many regions it rains all summer.
February 19, 2009 at 12:25 am
Pod Trailers.
There’s not much difference between these things and aluminum traileres with insulation. It’s a blank slate. Just add windows and a proper door, some vents electric and plumbing, and you don”t even have to invite people over to help take the wheels off of it.
February 19, 2009 at 12:32 am
They could be made into large, long-lasting raised beds for local gardens. Gophers wouldn’t stand a chance against their sturdy steel bottoms!
February 19, 2009 at 12:40 am
12:32, That’s a great idea for the valley of the Jolly Green Giant!
Just about the right size. Darn gophers, always get my potatos.
Would also make one big food smoker. Now all we need are Salmon!
More seriously, many building types can be made from these.
Look at this link.
http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/featured/5-incredible-container-houses/3132
February 19, 2009 at 12:42 am
Looks like Hong Kong will have plenty of opportunity to figure it out. Humboldt County, however, will need to look at other recyclable materials.
February 19, 2009 at 12:42 am
Throw one in a pit and you have an instant vault for your most holy religious texts.
February 19, 2009 at 12:49 am
More on containers as houses: container bay
February 19, 2009 at 1:55 am
We could cut down old growth, hollow ‘em out and live inside.
February 19, 2009 at 6:59 am
When I was stationed in Saudi Arabia some of the troops were housed in those containers- Conexes, we called them. Conex= Container Express. I didn’t hear any complaints.
February 19, 2009 at 7:22 am
Smart growth has more yard space and more trees than the average cookie cutter subdivision, and ample parking (actual thought goes into how people use a neighborhood). You seem very, very ill informed.
you obviously haven’t been to a smart growth community. there aren’t any yards to speak of. usually, there isn’t even more open space, it is just re-arranged so the open space is not your yard, but across the street at the community park. some people like that, some don’t. also, planners are learning the truth about smart growth: it does not reduce vehicle use. Of course it does in their plans, but not in real life.
http://www.newgeography.com/content/00370-new-urbanism’s-economic-achilles-heel
February 19, 2009 at 7:59 am
Sorry 421, point to a smart growth development in this county that doesn’t have yards, and lots of them. Stop the lying.
February 19, 2009 at 9:10 am
I like these ideas! Certainly, they would be gopher proof if used for raised beds. Housing is certainly a possibility like Fred and anonymous suggested. Tom’s suggestion of a smoker would be great if we had salmon available. Recycle and reuse – now can we tackle the garbage islands floating in our oceans and getting bigger all the time?
February 19, 2009 at 11:27 am
You know that picture is photoshopped, right?
February 19, 2009 at 11:29 am
In what way? The WSJ, from whence the photo came, doesn’t say it was photoshopped.
February 19, 2009 at 11:54 am
Vancouver port may be left waiting for its ships to come in
“Even if global trade returns to its formerly robust pace, Drewry said, ‘any new trade will probably pass the West Coast by. Volumes are unlikely to decline, but the days of strong growth on the Pacific Coast are behind us.’”
February 19, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Especially since the Panama Canal expansion will accommodate the big container ships.
February 19, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Shipping containers? Welcome to the affordable housing for the new cutten project.
February 19, 2009 at 4:02 pm
1:40 is threatened by allowing average everyday working people to own homes. Your little paradise of a retiree island is over, isn’t it? Boo hoo.
February 19, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Sorry, 7:59, so called “community areas” are not yards. As far as pointing, you need look no further than parts of Portland, Phoenix, Las Vegas and many others to see where smart growth is hugely unsuccessful. I for one don’t think Humboldt needs to import these big city, urban ideas. You want to live crammed next to your neighbor, great, move to Portland.
February 19, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Sorry 5:34, you need to cite specifics because it sounds like you’re just making stuff up. The smart growth subdivisions in this county have yards and communal areas. Have you visited one? I’d say no.
February 19, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Sorry 5:51, a three foot wide “set back” is not a yard any more than a “communal” area is. Yes, I have visited smart growth subdivisions and they are great for the two percent of the population that wants to live in them or as a starter home. Of course not even two percent of Humboldt residents would live in them, it is exactly why many of us moved from the city. As an option I would support the idea, but only as one of many many more options. Tell you what, I won’t force my beliefs on you if you don’t try to force me into your ghetto.
February 19, 2009 at 6:38 pm
759 why don’t you show us a smart growth project that has the yard space of a so called cookie cutter subdivision? The whole point is they don’t use as much land as sprawl, yard space is one area they cut out, along with road widths and parking.
you think we’re going to get some cute project reminiscent of the 1900’s where people are selling tomatoes from their downstairs shops while living upstairs? go to a smart growth town and see for yourself that the people living there drive to work and the people working there drive in. so much for reducing traffic.
you will also see most of the stores are very expensive boutique stores and since we can’t support that, we are likely to end up with national chains, except they don’t have their regular architecture and signage. maybe you’ll get a good restaurant like Avalon or something but TGIF’s is more likely.
February 19, 2009 at 6:43 pm
551, where are the smart growth subdivisions in this county?
February 19, 2009 at 7:32 pm
The only local project I know of that I consider “smart growth” is the Marsh Commons development on South G St. in Arcata.
But even that project wasn’t residential “infill”, its built on a former industrial site at the periphery of the city designated for “renewal”.
The very same cultural factors that elevate perceived property values above long term planning make it difficult for government to transform existing residential areas to more efficient use. Quality of life is equated by greedy people with bigger is better.
And then there are the self described “psychologically challenged” whose sensitive natures demand they must be at a distance from others. You see, its a health thing, not just an excuse for greed. Funny though, they always seem to be able to tolerate well whatever space their budget allows. I say, if its a health condition and not their personal greed that needs space, move to Antarctica.
February 19, 2009 at 7:32 pm
Huh, my definition of a yard is an enclosed space, probably with a lawn, that is my own to do with as I please. That’s what these smart growth subdivisions have. You’ve never set foot in one. Do better at lying dude.
February 19, 2009 at 8:19 pm
Dude, it is you who are challenged by truth and literacy. Fortunately the proof of the social engineering nature and urbanization (and the lack of yards) that is so-called smart growth is available for all to see. NAN is generally correct, the Marsh Commons is an example of what smart growth offers. Some of it good and some not so good, but certainly a legitamate choice. Of course the only people they could get to live there effectivly had no other option and needed to be enticed with free money, for them it is a great choice. Lets leave it for the people to decide for themselves, let them go by So. G Street to see their future dream home. Dude.
February 19, 2009 at 9:34 pm
My definition of a yard is the same as yours, except it is more than a 5X5 patch of grass between the curb and your bedroom window. Please explain how a development is “smart” if the lots are the same size as every other development? If you don’t believe me get some names of smart growth developments and check them out on google maps.