Margaret R. Seaton 
The tech industry has changed the face of American cities like Seattle, and it’s doing it again with a new concept of housing that fundamentally breaks every rule we associate with renting an apartment.
Aimed primarily at tech workers, nomadic independent contractors, and others whose work is no longer tied to a specific location, the Sentral model rents its units through two programs. First, the LIVE program, which rents units – which may or may not be furnished – for a month or more in “convenience buildings”.
This equipment can include workspaces offering private and collaborative office spaces. Inside the units themselves, residents may find perks for working from home like height-adjustable desks and ergonomic chairs. And let’s not forget that work-life balance: Sentral buildings offer rooftop pools, outdoor kitchens and fire pits, gymnasiums, photo booths, theaters and more, while also offering a plethora of events. organized to its residents.
The Sentral rooftop dock in South Lake Union.
SentralWithin the LIVE program, another program puts an end to one of the most controversial tenets of leasing: Eligible LIVE residents can also participate in a “managed roommate program” – called HOME + – which allows them to sub- rent their house while traveling. This concept capitalizes on the occasional desire to sublet long-term tenants, a desire which in the past could result in eviction. From now on, subletting is encouraged. However, due to the Seattle Short Term Rental Ordinance, this aspect of Sentral living is not currently available in Seattle.
Short-term tenants can take advantage of the second program, Sentral’s STAY program. Here, overnight to 29-day bookings provide people with temporary refuge in fully furnished apartments and access to the suite of amenities the building offers to anyone staying within its walls.
People behind the idea are savvy: CEO Jon Slavet is formerly of WeWork and Rodan + Fields. Michael Curtis, former vice president of engineering at Airbnb, is now a strategy advisor at Sentral.
“Living a flexible lifestyle is more and more common and the increase in working from home over the past year has accelerated this trend. It’s becoming the preferred way of life for people from all walks of life who aren’t tied to one place to work, ”Curtis said.
Recreation Room at Sentral in South Lake Union.
SentralSentral’s Seattle sites are both operational, Sentral SLU and Sentral First Hill.
The rental price at Sentral, considering the amenities, is not much higher than the regular rental prices in the major cities it serves. The LIVE program offers designer furnished homes for stays of more than 30 days starting at $ 2,500 per month. For comparison, a downtown Seattle studio listed on Craigslist (without any of the bling features offered at Sentral) is asking $ 1,890 per month.
Sentral now operates in seven cities: LA, Austin, Chicago, Seattle, Denver, Chicago, Miami. A location in Atlanta is next, with more growth expected.
Anna Marie Erwert writes from both the perspective of the tenant and the new buyer, having (finally) achieved both statuses. She focuses on national real estate trends, specializing in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Pacific Northwest. Follow Anna on Twitter: @AnnaMarieErwert.
