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San Francisco's downsizing may mean tiniest apartments
Source: Agencies |
September 26, 2012, Wednesday
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SAN Francisco may soon give new meaning to the word "downsizing."
Supervisors were set to vote yesterday on a proposed change to the city's building code that would allow construction of among the tiniest apartments in the United States.
Under the plan, new apartments could be as small as 20.44 square meters (a little more than double the size of some prison cells), including a kitchen, bathroom and closet, the Los Angeles Times reported. Current regulations require the living room alone to be that size.
Schematics for 27.8-square-meter units planned for San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood include window seats that turn into spare beds and beds that turn into tables.
Proponents say the smaller apartments would provide a cheaper option for the city's many single residents, who have been priced out of the rental market as the region experiences a resurgent technology industry.
San Francisco apartments rented for an average of US$2,734 in June, up 13 percent from a year ago, according to the research firm, RealFacts.
The micro-units, in contrast, are expected to rent for US$1,200 to US$1,500 a month, San Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener told the Los Angeles Times. Wiener drafted the legislation for the smaller apartments.
It allows them to accommodate up to two people and requires an additional 9.3 square meters of space for each occupant above that number.
"Although in our fantasy world everyone would live in a single-family home or a huge spacious flat, the reality of life is that not everyone can afford that," Wiener said.
But critics counter that the units wouldn't help families and could boost population density, straining public transit and other city services.
"This has to be a pilot project and allow for further study before we end up like Singapore," said Sara Shortt, executive director of the tenants' rights group, Human Rights Committee of San Francisco. Singapore authorities recently raised minimum dwelling sizes because of concerns about congestion.
Supervisors were set to vote yesterday on a proposed change to the city's building code that would allow construction of among the tiniest apartments in the United States.
Under the plan, new apartments could be as small as 20.44 square meters (a little more than double the size of some prison cells), including a kitchen, bathroom and closet, the Los Angeles Times reported. Current regulations require the living room alone to be that size.
Schematics for 27.8-square-meter units planned for San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood include window seats that turn into spare beds and beds that turn into tables.
Proponents say the smaller apartments would provide a cheaper option for the city's many single residents, who have been priced out of the rental market as the region experiences a resurgent technology industry.
San Francisco apartments rented for an average of US$2,734 in June, up 13 percent from a year ago, according to the research firm, RealFacts.
The micro-units, in contrast, are expected to rent for US$1,200 to US$1,500 a month, San Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener told the Los Angeles Times. Wiener drafted the legislation for the smaller apartments.
It allows them to accommodate up to two people and requires an additional 9.3 square meters of space for each occupant above that number.
"Although in our fantasy world everyone would live in a single-family home or a huge spacious flat, the reality of life is that not everyone can afford that," Wiener said.
But critics counter that the units wouldn't help families and could boost population density, straining public transit and other city services.
"This has to be a pilot project and allow for further study before we end up like Singapore," said Sara Shortt, executive director of the tenants' rights group, Human Rights Committee of San Francisco. Singapore authorities recently raised minimum dwelling sizes because of concerns about congestion.
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