March 4, 2007
Housing Too Expensive? Live in a Truck Instead
Real estate prices getting you down? When you realize that the $1300 you're forking over for rent results in an apartment the size of a shoebox, where are you to turn? In the case of a Brooklyn man, you buy a bread truck. That's what Angel Hess did last year and where he's been living with his girlfriend Theresa Magario since October. Hess bought the truck for $2,500 on eBay and drove the car back from California. Once back, they were unable to settle in Manhattan because it was too difficult to find parking. When Hess first moved his truck to Brooklyn, he had some issues with alternate side of the street parking (who doesn't), graffiti, and people urinating on the tires. The Daily News reports that Hess has spent about $4,000 in renovation costs so far and plans do spend another $4,000 in future renovations.
Some of the lovely acquirements of Hess's bread truck include: an oak ceiling, three layers of insulation, bamboo floor tiles, a wood-burning stove and solar panels. What? No exposed brick? Needless to say, future buyers of the apartments across from the parking lot he parks in on N. 12th and Bedford Ave. will certainly be jealous. Especially when they find out Hess only pays $200 a month for his parking spot.
Oh, and if you're worried about what the couple does for a toilet and a shower, don't fret. Hess will be building a bathroom soon (it wasn't clear if the truck already has one) and they go shower at a gym in Manhattan. What, pissing on the tires isn't good enough?
Photo of Angel Hess and his purple 1953 bread truck from Purple53.com, where Hess is accepting donations
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I am sympathetic to a lot of things... but this is crap. It's not like he was here and lost his job and had the truck and had no choice but to live in it - he physically chose to do this. Why on earth should I offer him a donation?
It cost him $2500 to buy the truck. Hundreds of dollars in gas to drive back here. $1200 a year to park it...
...and he's asking for donations BUT he had $4k to sink into renovations??! that $4k could have gotten him a four-room railroad apartment out in bushwick, or somewhere in queens, where rent is $1000-1200 a month. combine the $4k with the cost of the truck, what they pay for parking...
Seriously, what am I missing here? Why should anyone give these people anything? Donate money for what reason? Because living in New York is expensive and hard?
Seriously, what am I missing here? Why should anyone give these people anything? Donate money for what reason? Because living in New York is expensive and hard?
Seconded.
"Housing Too Expensive? Live in a Truck Instead"
ummm.... no.
He's already have something many Native NY'ers don't, A CAR!
the fact that it's his home is moot. He has a car.
Oh, and spending $4k to renovate it? where the hell did he get that chunk of change?
Go back to where you came from and stop begging.
He wants us to donate because his trust fund ran out and he can't be hipster and ironic enough just living in a truck. I think he also needs money to buy torn jeans, tight black t-shirts and overspend at shitty billyburg restaurants.
ummm...you guys are missing a LOT -- he has all that money because he SAVED it from his salary due to his extremely low rent of $200. I realize the word "SAVE" is not in a lot of people's vocabulary, but we should be congratulating this guy for his ingenuity and creativity.
if he converted it to biodiesel, then that would be something to champion. this has been done before...
@ Adam...
So then let him keep saving. Why is he asking for handouts? On what basis?
Am I supposed to be impressed that he's able to do what I - and others - have been doing since pre-teen age?
I'd be embarrassed to be panhandling (online, no less) to fund upgrades to my living space when there are people living on sidewalks. The sense of entitlement of some of you just floors me.
Living out of a truck? Seems like he'd be in violation of some sort of city code, no? Especially with a wood-burning stove? The city's going to be all over him after this article.
Living in a truck? Seems like he'd be in violation of some sort of city code, no? And with a wood-burning oven? It's only a matter of time before the city comes a knockin' to run him back out of town.
I have been living in a truck for almost 10 years. I drive it for a living and make the most of it that I can. Earning almost 60K helps. But living in a bread truck in NYC no way. Buy a used RV with verything you would need including shower and toilet.
I'd rather live in a crappy RV than a really nice bread truck.
Smart guy ! I prefer living in a dwelling if you get the point !
Yeah, I don't get why he is asking for donations.
people have been doing this for decades. self-funded.
Never heard of raising funds for an art project?
Isn't that what all these shmucks do at parties around the city? Look pretty and smile and hope they like you enough to give you money?
I really hate to pop your guys bubble But he live's on 600 a month. it was either buy the truck and eat. and take donations to fix it up. or starve. I totaly get it. I myself am on social security. it sux. I know him personaly. He never partys. he's a good guy. he also has disablities. do you all make it a habit to judge something by its cover? I totaly understand where he's coming from. lucky for me I have my best friend whom I live with. and helps me out quite abit. other wise I would be living on the streets.