The growing proportion of single and two-person households in Manhattan has sparked New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s radical solution to the city’s population growth and resultant housing shortage.
In an attempt to introduce more affordable housing options, Bloomberg has launched the state-wide adAPT NYC competition that will drive developers to submit proposals for an apartment building composed of around 80 ‘micro-units’.
Such ‘micro-units’ are required to be 30 square metres in size, four times the size of the average jail cell, and must be equipped with one bathroom, a built-in kitchenette and a combined bedroom and living space with a fold out bed.
Due to be constructed on a city-owned lot in Manhattan’s Kips Bay neighbourhood, the building will overturn the city’s current zoning requirement for housing and apartments to be at least 37 square metres in size.
It is estimated that New York City is home to 1.8 million one and two-person households, however, there are only 1 million one-bedroom and studio apartments to go around.
With approximately 46.3 percent of Manhattan households consisting of one occupant, Bloomberg believes that these micro-units could be the answer to the housing demand.
“People from all over the world want to live in New York City, and we must develop a new, scalable housing model that is safe, affordable and innovative to meet their needs,” Mr. Bloomberg said.
Director of housing advocacy group Urban Homesteading Assistance Board, Kerri White, predicts that the small-scale micro-units will not faze busy New Yorkers.
“The general attitude toward space and how we use space is very different in New York City,” Ms. White said.
“People are used to living in smaller quarters.”
With the average New York City rent price for a one-bedroom apartment is $2700 a month and $2000 a month for a studio, it anticipated that micro-units would cost significantly less to rent, with pricing yet to be agreed upon.
The project forms part of Bloomberg’s plan to create 165,000 affordable homes in New York City by the year 2014.
