Tiny but terrific: What are micro-apartments? And do you want to live in one?

Alexandra Clough, Palm Beach Post
·2 min read
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Current, in downtown West Palm Beach, which was about to open as a micro-apartment building, has been sold to a group that plans to turn it into an extended stay hotel, Tuesday, February 8, 2022.
Current, in downtown West Palm Beach, which was about to open as a micro-apartment building, has been sold to a group that plans to turn it into an extended stay hotel, Tuesday, February 8, 2022.

Very small apartments known as micro-apartments could be an answer to downtown housing woes.

How small is a micro-apartment compared to a studio apartment?

These apartments are about half to two-thirds the size of standard apartments. In West Palm Beach, they could be as small as 340 square feet for a studio.

Their appeal for renters is their price. They typically cost a few hundred dollars less per month in rent than an apartment complex featuring studios at a more standard 500- to-600 square feet size. Micro-apartments also can come in one and two-bedroom units.

Even though micro-apartments are small, they usually are in apartment buildings with a lot of amenities.

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Micro-apartments in West Palm Beach

Banyan Place, a micro-apartment that might be built in West Palm Beach, is designed for numerous shared spaces. These include an amenity deck on the garage roof, pool and cafe.

Micro-apartments in urban areas are geared to young professionals who are expected to be busy working and going out downtown, with little time spent at the apartment except to sleep and eat.

Artist's rendering of Banyan Place, proposed micro-apartment building in downtown West Palm Beach.
Artist's rendering of Banyan Place, proposed micro-apartment building in downtown West Palm Beach.

Micro-apartments also are designed to be very efficient, with every square inch of space used.

One apartment building in West Palm Beach, called Current Apartments, was built with small studios that featured Murphy beds, built-in cabinets and special furniture that could be rented to fit the small space.

Furniture that would fit in the small space also was offered for rent to residents. The building was so desirable, however, the builder is being sold to a hotel operator for extended-stay hotel suites.

Real estate experts expect other developers will propose micro-apartments downtown.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Micro-apartments: Small but less costly housing for urban areas