NYC Mayor Bloomberg commissioned building of residential crates of 275-300 sq. ft. to house young starting out or elderly

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NYC Mayor Bloomberg commissioned building 'micro' living units of 275-300 sq.ft.. to warehouse young people starting out and old people.

July 9, 2012, "MAYOR BLOOMBERG ANNOUNCES NEW COMPETITION TO DEVELOP INNOVATIVE APARTMENT MODEL FOR SMALL HOUSEHOLDS," NYC.gov 

"New York City’s housing codes have not kept up with its changing population, and currently do not allow an entire building of micro-units. Under this pilot program, Mayor Bloomberg will waive certain zoning regulations at a City-owned site at 335 East 27^th Street in the Kips Bay neighborhood of Manhattan to test the market for this new housing model..
 
“Research has shown that stable, affordable housing can have a positive impact on health and well-being,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Linda I. Gibbs. “From young graduates just starting out to older adults seeking to downsize, adAPT NYC will allow us to better meet the changing housing needs of New Yorkers by piloting apartments that are affordable, efficient, and in tune with New York lifestyles.”

The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) will issue an RFP for the design, construction, and operation of a micro-unit rental building on a transit-oriented, City-owned site located at 335 East 27^th Street in the Kips Bay neighborhood of Manhattan. At least 75 percent of the units in the building will be micro-units, which are expected to measure approximately 275 to 300 square feet. These efficient, self-contained units will include kitchens and bathrooms. The RFP design guidelines encourage the development of a mixed-use building with apartments that have substantial access to light and air to create a sense of openness.... Other high-cost, high-density cities also are testing the concept of micro-units to provide smaller and less expensive housing options."...

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