Critics of micro-apartments calling for a moratorium

Seattle Time ^ | 23.Apr.2013 | Lynn Thompson

[Cronos]

Judy Green was well-suited to move into a 10-by-10-foot University District apartment.

..The units are tiny, typically 150 to 250 square feet, about the size of a hotel room. Six or eight residents share a kitchen. And the rent is lower than the average studio or one-bedroom apartment, about $600 to $900 a month compared with $1,200 and up.

Although it’s popular with young urban singles and students, microhousing, also known by the brand name aPodments, is stirring controversy as well.

Some contain as many as 64 units, but because they’re in dense neighborhoods served by transit, they aren’t required to provide any parking.

...“People want to live in walkable neighborhoods with easy access to shops and transit,” said Jim Potter, chairman of Kauri Investments, which has partnered with other developers to build six microhousing projects in Seattle, with several more planned. He’s been asked to develop projects in Portland, California and New Jersey.

Judy Green, 67, said her brand-new aPodment in the University District offered more light and more stylish finishes than the one-bedroom apartments she looked at in her price range.

She pays $850 a month for a sixth-floor room that features a sleeping loft, a private toilet and shower, a kitchenette with a sink, fridge and granite countertop, a skylight, two windows and a sliding-glass door to a small private deck. The loft brings the total square footage to 200.

The kitchen she shares with seven other tenants is on the second floor. She said she keeps fit walking up and down stairs — there’s no elevator in the building.

But she’s right across the hall from the shared rooftop deck with a view of Lake Union and the Space Needle.

“I’m a minimalist,” she said. “I think this is a wonderful thing.”

[wbill]

I've lived in dorm rooms smaller than this, and apartments not a whole lot bigger.

I did fine, but I'm glad that I can afford better, now. :-)

[a fool in paradise]

Micro-apartment, furnished, all bills paid. First 1200 months rent free! No pets. Must be willing to share space with roommate(s).

[JoeProBono]

[palmer]

"I'm a minimalist," she said. "I think this is a wonderful thing."

I must be a maximalist.

[Moonman62]

She said she keeps fit walking up and down stairs — there’s no elevator in the building.

She'll probably fall off the ladder while making the bed and break half the bones in her body. Then let's see her talk about six flights of stairs.

[SIDENET]

I was just thinking that Judy looked like some old Seattle lib.

Lo and behold, I was right.

[SIDENET]

If someone wants a small living space, that's great, as long as it's not mandated by our communist overlords.

Personally, if I'm living in a space that small, it had better be on a boat.

[DUMBGRUNT]

I am not against them. I am against high density apartments without parking. Many places in Chicago they fight over who gets to park in the cab stand or hydrant spot!

A company that I worked with for many years was required to add an elevator to the second floor. The first floor was A D A compliant, any work could be could be done on the lower level. Nothing special on the second floor.

Forced to install a never used elevator.

‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’

[bgill]

Wouldn’t it be cheaper to buy a small camper and rent a parking space?

[agondonter]

This type of living is promoted by Agenda 21. It’s their goal to have everyone living is small, dense spaces, no parking provided, so you can walk everywhere.....thus saving the planet.

[ArrogantBustard]

Agenda 21. It’s their goal to have everyone living is small, dense spaces, no parking provided, so you can walk everywhere.

I disagree with the last part ... It's not so you can walk everywhere ... it's so you can't drive anywhere. Travel, after all, is only for the Party Members.

[tet68]

Chicago...

OMG! Today is Tuesday...go move the car.
Move the car?
Yes, hurry, today is street sweeper day!

[Teacher317]

I have such a building, only a bit bigger. I call it, "my shed". Good for storing garden tools and such.

How much do you charge the tools to stay there? ;^)

[RobinOfKingston]

Around here, we call those “gopher holes.”

[GSD Lover]

This really isn’t a bad way to live if you’re single, married to your “career,” dine out most meals, and prefer to spend your money for things like eating out, entertainment, and travel.

Personally, I’d need at least 400 square feet or I’d feel a bit claustrophobic, but I could live like this...if I were single and had no kids! :)

[GOPJ]

I frankly don't give a rat's a$$ if these people want to live in a closet... right up to the point where they insist I do, too, to "save the planet" or somesuch BS.

Bingo

[bravo whiskey]

my model stash wouldn’t fit in that place.

[DUMBGRUNT]

Yes, hurry, today is street sweeper day!

Or parade day or snow day or street repair day or...

[Western Phil]

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.use.com/images/s_2/German_tour_bus_those_are_sleepers_on_the_back_37f9d46de64b850986cb_1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.use.com/37f9d46de64b850986cb&h=449&w=676&sz=267&tbnid=RSXaCpIfYe5t3M:&tbnh=90&tbnw=136&zoom=1&usg=___b4X6uej_se10tARA3EVevsgaYQ=&docid=vzVIGObIldWFMM&itg=1&sa=X&ei=4WB5Uf-uKeSc2QWqoIDwCg&ved=0CEEQ9QEwAg&dur=500

[bgill]

That’s definitely not Greyhound.