Would DC Residents Live in a Micro-Studio?

• July 16, 2012
• 8 Comments

by Shilpi Paul

Layout of a micro-apartment. From the office of Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Last week, UrbanTurf conducted a poll to find out whether or not our readers would be willing to live in a studio with a 275 square-foot floorplan, similar to those that Mayor Bloomberg is trying to bring to New York City.

The results? A clear majority, 61 percent, indicated that they would be willing to live in living quarters that small. After publishing the poll, one of our readers clued us in to a plan that would have brought units of that size to our city. The plans were scratched, but with these results, perhaps we’ll see something similar to what New York has in the works sooner rather than later.

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/so_how_many_readers_would_live_in_a_micro-studio/5770

8 Comments

1. marilyn said at 8:13 pm on Monday July 16, 2012:
   If the price is right, why not! I live in Miami, and would love a second home in DC. This fits the bill and hopefully my budget too.

1. Wendy said at 8:28 pm on Monday July 16, 2012:
   Some would go further--put a common bathroom at the end of the hall (as laundry rooms are), and you'd have even more space to live, or less (if you subtract the bathroom space). I think of these as Skid Row apartments--if you have any other choice, you wouldn't live there. But many people have no other choice, and don't need more space. These micro-units might bring rents down for us all--or at least for one bedrooms. ("Don't like to pay $2,000 a month for a one-bedroom? Try a micro-studio!")

1. K. David Meit said at 8:43 pm on Monday July 16, 2012:
   Why not? In my experience similar apartment homes without full kitchens already exist and rent well along Connecticut Avenue, NW.

1. Jennifer said at 9:43 pm on Monday July 16, 2012:
   In general, American apartments are not designed efficiently and have layouts that are awkward and waste space. These micro apts are probably the equivalent of 600 sq. ft. standard apartment. In Europe and Asia, apartments have numerous builts-ins and space considerations that allow you to make the most of every square foot (or meter). Most apartments here are replete with unusable/misapportioned space (the wall or window in the wrong place, enormous suburban size kitchen appliances and W/D, etc.). Plus it is really difficult to find small scaled furniture. Built-ins eliminate the need to custom outfit your space with special furniture, too.

1. Susan Isaacs, Realtor said at 12:40 am on Tuesday July 17, 2012:
   Agree with Jennifer, but many of our condos are conversions of buildings that already existed, so developers do what they can with the space. Building codes also sometimes dictate how space is defined. I think the "micro" flat is an interesting concept.

1. Lauren said at 7:45 pm on Tuesday July 17, 2012:
   Totally agree with Jennifer. Layout can make an amazing difference. Even 700 sq ft can feel really small with a stupid layout.

1. ELLEN DAVIS said at 8:34 pm on Thursday July 19, 2012:
   I have a washer/dryer combo at home that would work well in this little space. It's the size of a dishwasher and fits under a counter.

1. Carver said at 9:32 pm on Sunday July 22, 2012:
   As a landlord in DC, I know I could fill micro-apartments all day. A few of my apartments are very small and I get an overwhelming response by applicants each time one opens up. Many people are happy to live in a smaller space to be in the city at a more affordable price.