San Francisco considers allowing micro-apartments agenda 21

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San Francisco considers allowing micro-apartments

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

A sign advertising an apartment for rent hangs from a fire escape in front of an apartment building in San Francisco, Calif.

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by Nancy Marshall-Genzer

Marketplace Morning Report for Tuesday, September 25, 2012

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A roundup of the 'micro' news

Today, San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors will consider whether to change the city’s building code to allow for tiny, micro-apartments.
Right now, new apartments in San Francisco need to be at least 290 square feet. But legislation before the Board of Supervisors would change that -- to just 150 square feet.
Supporters of the  proposal say the new micro-apartments would be affordable, renting for as little as $1,200 per month. In recent years, San Francisco has been flooded with young tech workers, who are increasingly having trouble finding apartments in the city.
Rolf Pendall with the Urban Institute says such micro-apartments could work for some -- but the bigger question is whether the city can handle more residents. "I think people may have some concerns about additional numbers of people," he says, "numbers of cars; amount of foot traffic; potentially crime in the neighborhoods."
Micro-units have already caught on in other cities. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is holding a competition for architects to see who come up with the best micro-apartment design. 

About the author

Nancy Marshall-Genzer is a senior reporter for Marketplace based in Washington, D.C. covering daily news.