The West leads the nation in micro-housing share.
The 18th-century children’s nursery rhyme—“There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe”—may not be far from today’s reality as micro-housing —aka “the shoebox apartment”—is experiencing double-digit percentage increases across America, and in particular, in the West.
Micro-housing is described as rental units measuring under 441 square feet, or the size of a typical studio apartment. A recent report by StorageCafe shows that San Francisco, California, leads the nation with 15 percent of its rental units under 415 square feet, and almost 30 percent of micro-units are now under construction. Seattle, Washington; Honolulu, Hawaii; and Portland, Oregon, have all seen more than 10 percent increases in this type of housing in the past few years.
Doug Ressler, an analyst at StorageCafe, told The Epoch Times that mounting home and rental costs—especially in America’s priciest cities—are driving the creation of these alternate living spaces.
“These units rent for about half the price of traditional apartments and are attracting a lot of younger people,” he said.
“Many developments are located near college campuses and are being marketed not only to students, but to young professionals starting out and seeking to save money to eventually buy a home.”
Ressler noted that while finances may be a major reason for some renters to choose micro-housing, other factors include the fact that these mini-apartments are usually within walking distance of stores, restaurants, entertainment, parks, and other amenities.
“These projects are a mixture of new construction or adaptive reuse, such as a conversion of an office building or former school,” Ressler said. He added that this type of housing is also attractive to seniors or others living on fixed incomes, offering lower rents and low-maintenance lifestyles with convenient access to amenities and services.
One new project of note is the CITYSPACE Studio, a 39-unit micro-housing development now near completion in Berkeley, California. The housing is being constructed on a 5,000-square-foot lot, which had originally been zoned for a single-family home. Each of the units is just 160 square feet.
The building features furnished studios, stainless steel appliances, a community kitchen, laundry and social space, a private courtyard and community space, LED lighting, on-site management, and 24-hour security.
Developed by Panoramic Interests, this latest project has yet to publicize its rents. However, a similar development in Berkeley offering 330-square-foot studio apartments is renting for $2,095 a month.
By Mary Prenon
