Aeron Hodges is a small woman, but if she stretches out both arms she can embrace the whole kitchen in the compact “innovation unit” Mayor Menino is promoting to attract young workers to Boston’s newest neighborhood. Designed by the architecture firm ADD Inc, the apartment is sleek and sculpted, with cool features like convertible storage and a wall mount for the inevitable Geekhouse bicycle. It’s likely to be popular with young, single employees of the biotech and financial companies coming to the Innovation District, and with retirees looking for an urban pied-à-terre. What it is less likely to be, regrettably, is affordable.
A full-scale model of the micro unit — all 300 square feet of it — was on display recently at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. Hodges and her colleagues built the model in conjunction with Menino’s “ONEin3’’ initiative (named for the 30 percent of city residents who are between the ages of 20 and 34). “The most exciting part of the process is the collaborative nature of the construction itself,” she said, perfectly summarizing the culture of this demographic.
Comments
Mini-units (post-college dorm rooms) are a great option when they are coupled with excellently planned shared spaces in the same building and ample infrastructure in the neighborhood (and especially public transportation). So they work well where they are planned: in new buildings in newly developing neighborhoods. They should not be considered, however, as an option for conversion of existing buildings in Boston's older neighborhoods, where residents will end up with overly small living units and no (or very little) shared common space in the building.
yes, sort of like the co-living apartments in Cambridge
Let's see this kind of thing in Lower Allston, Central Square, Porter Square, Union Square Somerville, Brookline Village, along Commonwealth Avenue etc. The cost would come down eventually.
One of the issues not addressed in the article is what about children? Are these spaces limited to singles and couples? Maybe add a closet when Junior comes along? Just kidding.
Another potential issue I can envision (if subsidized) is when one of these buildings becomes less than upscale in the sence of a flop-house for old drunks.
I would think it would be wiser to have an extended-stay hotel, complete with concierge, a limited number of larger units, and short-term (60 or 90 days and up) leasing.
As someone in the demographic of those looking to downsize, I can tell you that these micro units will not be very attractive. Most everyone i know looking to downsize does not want something teeny tiny. In every discussion I hear about looking at downsized alternatives, everyone is dismayed that you can't find a decent condo at least 1,700 sq. ft. Most folks i know want 2k sq.ft. We want two bedrooms and room enough to entertain at least family. Good luck getting retirees with money into these units...even now I know couples shopping for side-by-side units in order to combine!
Doesn't sound like you are really in the "demographic"...
A 2-bedroom one-bath with decent-sized kitchen, dining, and living rooms hardly requires 1500-2000 feet! Immediately after the war, the tract houses people moved into were 800 square feet, typically. I don't know what you think goes into those 2000 feet, but this ain't Texas, you know.
It would be interesting to see a breakdown of where the $1500/month goes. How much to bankers? How much to landlords? Where else does the money go? It seems like there are invisible members of the top 1% in the background padding bank accounts at the expense of the bulk of the population. Some people get to add meaningless numbers to columns on a page, at the expense of others who are making a choice between basics of everyday life, simply to pay rent.
Let's go whole hog on this. Section 8 subsidised federal housing as we all know is a great program and rent control has worked out well in New york City. This is brilliant. And as DJM71 points out let's make sure no one makes a profit. that will ensure the success of the project.
$1500 doesn't seem all that far off. A studio near Symphony Hall runs $1200-1300. And 300sqft is about the size of a studio apartment.
It us truly unfortunate that Innovation Housing is being defined by the apartments filled with these micro units. The demographic described (20-34) obviously does not include young people who decide to get married and have children and raise families in the "Innovation District." That (god forbid) would mean that perhaps a school or two might be created. This means after a year or two of "innovating," these young people the City is trying so hard to cultivate and have remain in Boston will have to go elsewhere to raise a family. No, it sounds the City does not want the Innovation District to be a real neighborhood...
A friend who works in property management says studios and one bedrooms are always at a premium in Boston. That said, there needs to be an upgrade path. And schools. Good ones.