AbstractsEconomics

This study was conducted to collect and analyze data concerning the family composition and the needs and preferences of occupants in a high rise apartment complex in Los Angeles County. The complex selected for the study was chosen because: (1) it was considered to be typical of high rise apartment complexes constructed for middle and upper-middle income occupants in Los Angeles County, and (2) it was the first phase of a four phase urban renewal project to construct 2000 dwelling units. The high rise apartment complex consisted of two, 17 story towers, each containing 266 apartments of four apartment plans; commercial shops: and recreational facilities. The research instrument used to collect the data was a questionaire. Two-hundred and sixity-six questionaires were mailed to occupants of the complex, and of these, one-hundred and forty-one (53 percent) were returned for analysis. Concerning the family composition of the respondents, seventy-eight of the total number were unmarried, and sixty-one were married. Of the total number of resondents, the median age range of the heads of households was 45 to 54 years, and the median income range was $12,000. to $14,999. Fifteen percent of the total number of respondents had lived at one time in another high rise apartment, and 70 percent of the total lived in Los Angeles County immediately before moving into their present apartment. Over half of the respondents selected their apartments for reasons of location. Over half of the respondents expressed positive attitudes toward high rise living in terms of: ( l ) high rise living meeting their expectations, (2) having feelings of pride in residing in their present apartment; (3) intending to remain in their present apartment for one year or longer, (4) the amount paid for rent, and (5) the design of the total apartments complex. Over half of the total number of respondents were not satisfied with all aspects of the design of their individual apartment. Based on the data it was found that high rise living was a new form of housing to 85 percent, and the majority of the respondents selected their apartment primarily for location rather than the desire to live in a high rise apartment. Over half were satisfied with the concept of high rise living and the facilities, services, and conveniences provided by residing in a high rise apartment complex. They were not satisfied, however, with all aspects of the design of their individual apartments.