City's First 'Micro-Apartments' Open Up in Kips Bay

KIPS BAY, NY — Residents wanted, please pack light. The city opened its first "micro-apartment" building on Thursday with the christening of Carmel Place in Kips Bay. The apartments, of which there are 55 in the building, are between 260 square feet and 360 square feet.

Mayor Bill de Blasio showed up to the unveiling of the micro-apartments, which were designed by Monadnock Development on land owned by the city. The city held a competition in 2013 to pick a developer for the micro-apartments. A little over $2 million of the $16.7 million project was provided by the government through the city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and the federal HOME Funds program.

The apartments feature 9-foot-8 ceilings — plenty of room for the 6-foot-5 de Blasio — and, according to the city have "ample storage" and open kitchens. The building has a gym, lounge and outdoor terrace — all normally sized.

"Sometimes big ideas come in small packages. As New York continues to grow and change, we hear the call for innovative, more efficient homes that match the way New Yorkers live," de Blasio said. "Micro may not fit everyone, but it’s one of the affordable housing choices we need for a diverse and growing city."

The apartments will be set aside for homeless veterans, low-income and middle-income residents. Forty percent of the units will be set aside for low- and middle-income New Yorkers, while eight apartments will go to the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program.

Photo Credit: Mayor's Office