New York Seeks Design for ‘Micro-Unit’ Apartment Building

New York City is seeking proposals for the design of a “micro-unit” apartment building in Manhattan as part of a program to address a shortage of studio and one-bedroom rentals.

The project calls for a building composed primarily of apartments measuring 275 to 300 square feet (26 to 28 square meters), smaller than what is allowed under current regulations, according to a statement today from Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s office. The mayor will waive zoning regulations to test the housing model at a city-owned site in the Kips Bay neighborhood.