2012 sep 27
SAN FRANCISCO - Lawmakers here have postponed voting on a proposal that would make the city home to some of the smallest apartments in the country.
The city's Board of Supervisors had yesterday been expected to consider a building code change to allow apartments as small as 220 sq ft, or 20.4 sq m. Current regulations require apartment living rooms alone to be that size.
The tiny, efficient units would include a bathroom, kitchen and closet.
Supervisor Scott Wiener, who drafted the new legislation, asked to delay a preliminary vote on the issue until Nov 13 so that he could continue discussions with critics who fear the apartments would increase population density, strain city services and further crowd out families.
They are calling for a pilot project to test the new units before fully opening the door to construction.
According to the Associated Press, the construction of shoebox apartments was aimed at residents who are being priced out of the housing market as the region experiences a resurgent technology industry.
Proponents say the homes would provide a cheaper option for single residents. Average studio apartments rent for US$2,075 (S$2,550), according to research firm REALFACTS.
The micro-units, in contrast, are expected to rent for US$1,200 to US$1,700 a month, said Mr Wiener.
Critics counter that the units would not help families and could boost population density, straining public transit and other city services. "This has to be a pilot project and allow for further study before we end up like Singapore," said Ms Sara Shortt, Executive Director of the Human Rights Committee of San Francisco, a tenants' rights group.
In Singapore, new guidelines were announced on Sept 4- to take effect from Nov 4 - to curb the supply of shoebox apartments in suburban areas.
SAN FRANCISCO - Lawmakers here have postponed voting on a proposal that would make the city home to some of the smallest apartments in the country.
The city's Board of Supervisors had yesterday been expected to consider a building code change to allow apartments as small as 220 sq ft, or 20.4 sq m. Current regulations require apartment living rooms alone to be that size.
The tiny, efficient units would include a bathroom, kitchen and closet.
Supervisor Scott Wiener, who drafted the new legislation, asked to delay a preliminary vote on the issue until Nov 13 so that he could continue discussions with critics who fear the apartments would increase population density, strain city services and further crowd out families.
They are calling for a pilot project to test the new units before fully opening the door to construction.
According to the Associated Press, the construction of shoebox apartments was aimed at residents who are being priced out of the housing market as the region experiences a resurgent technology industry.
Proponents say the homes would provide a cheaper option for single residents. Average studio apartments rent for US$2,075 (S$2,550), according to research firm REALFACTS.
The micro-units, in contrast, are expected to rent for US$1,200 to US$1,700 a month, said Mr Wiener.
Critics counter that the units would not help families and could boost population density, straining public transit and other city services. "This has to be a pilot project and allow for further study before we end up like Singapore," said Ms Sara Shortt, Executive Director of the Human Rights Committee of San Francisco, a tenants' rights group.
In Singapore, new guidelines were announced on Sept 4- to take effect from Nov 4 - to curb the supply of shoebox apartments in suburban areas.
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