Tent City, Brooklyn

It was bound to happen: three recent NYU grads have taken up residency in a Bushwick backyard. For $100 each per month the men get their own 5-by-8 plot of land where they've set up tents. They say it's not only financially practical, but it's a "badass thing to do." Keeping their expensive belongings (aside from the Tempurpedic mattresses) in a hallway in the 2-bedroom apartment which houses six others, they say "the most challenging aspect of their living situation is not sleeping outside as much as sharing a single shower among nine people." Overall they seem to be enjoying the adventure, even if the rain can be a downer at times. Note to outdoorsy ladies: they're single! Houseboat living, tent living...what will these crazy kids think of next? And will we all be knocking on their tent flaps when the economy finishes imploding?

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By Jen Carlson in Arts and Events on June 15, 2009 5:48 PM

Comments [rss]

JoeyGirl

i don't even know what to say about this.

unsunghiro

ugh this is so obnoxious. ask any uneducated immigrant who makes less than minimum wage what THEY would do with an nyu (or any college) degree.

is it really worth 100/mo to live with 6 other stanky-ass incestuous retards?

julia_says

must do a number on their romantic lives. could you imagine someone bringing you home to their tent? get out of town!

WorksInDUMBO

go back to Westchester.

Is this the new "go back to Iowa"? because it ain't Gothamist until someone trots that ol' chesnut out.

spiritross

Get a job or get out.

paul

Yea, 80,000 plus homeless people in LA also think it's a "badass thing to do."

Just another example of NYC appropriating culture from other cities and trying to make it a "thing." These kids should take their "expensive possessions" and go back to Westchester. Goddamned soulless city.

JenChungsBaby

I'm shocked, shocked to find out that these three dorks are single.

r1b2

My kids and I camped out in our backyard in Cobble Hill. While it was a treat, I did keep worrying about random acts. Which is unreasonable, since you're probably safer in a brooklyn backyard like that, surrounded by a street worth of brick walls. It would be hard for anyone to get back there as we were in the middle of the block, except for perhaps a neighbor with a grudge.

ManaTron

yup looks like well be seeing some reports of robbery in the future

NannyState

I wonder if these charming individuals aren't scamming their parents out of full rent money then paying only $100 here and spending the rest on you-know-what...

ganghiscon

All Points West three day passes?

TheKlaus

Talk about rationalizing one of the shittiest living situations since outright homelessness.

Tower18

Wait, someone is paying $2250 for a 2 bedroom in Bushwick? Why?

BlackieJones

Because his rental agency told him it was "East Williamsburg", that's why.

Global Wombat

So true.

Wza

hahahaha!

Clarice City

Preview

I think this "badass" lifestyle has also been called "tenement".

http://historymatters.gmu.edu/mse/photos/images/riis4.gif

"They put out an ad on Craigslist for outdoor space to rent, which was initially answered by a Brownsville man who said the idea sounded 'kind of gay, but kind of interesting.'"