Don't call these modern apartments SROs - they go by 'micro-apartments', and they just received a significant approval, 375 of them, that is. One more step awaits: Mayor Ed Lee must give his blessing, and he appears rather non-committal.
You would think that with San Francisco's apartment shortage, housing advocates would jump on the possibility of building modern, if very small apartments that rent for $1,300 to $1,500 when the average studio goes for $2,075. Not so - lots of concerns have been aired in a city where all want more affordable housing. These include fears of gentrification, making larger apartments more expensive, giving "gifts to developers" and preferring "family-size housing". Key to the approval was placing a cap on the number of 220-square ft. units that can be built.
"Under the legislation, the City Planning Department will analyze the effects of the new units once 325 of them are built", writes Neal J. Riley.
The measure authorizing the units passed Nov. 20 on a 6-1 vote. "Supervisor John Avalos was the lone vote against the proposal, arguing that the city should be more focused on keeping families from moving."
"The cap seemed to satisfy skeptics who say that micro-units are not the solution to the city's housing problem. Supervisor David Campos, who supported the measure, said he visited one of the proposed units and was struck by how expensive rent would be for such a small space."
"Allowing the construction of these units is one tool to alleviate the pressure that is making vacancies scarce and driving rental prices out of the reach of many who wish to live here", claimed the measure's author, Supervisor Scott Weiner.
As for the SRO (single-room-occupancy) moniker (note that two tenants are permitted), it hasn't been lost on this housing advocate - it just went upscale.
"If they become urban crash pads for high-tech employees, then we fear they could have a gentrifying effect on the neighborhoods as they get built," said Ted Gullickson, director of the San Francisco Tenants Union.
Another housing advocate was more direct in the City Insider blog.
“This is not the answer San Francisco needs to solve its housing program,” said Andrew Mendez of the Coalition on Homelessness (that claims to support "Affordable Housing For All"). “This type of housing is just a gift to developers," he charged.
Not so, state the editors of the San Francisco Chronicle, who opined, "We applaud Wiener for figuring out a compromise that will still allow these 375 units to be built, and we urge Mayor Ed Lee to sign this legislation. But we can't go through this as a city each time the affordable-housing faction starts whining about a promising new policy." And for those pushing for 'family-sized housing', the paper points to census data. "Forty percent-plus of San Franciscans live alone, and demographic trends suggest that the number of one-person households is only going to grow."
As for the need for lower-priced studios, Design&Trend made that clear. "San Francisco has overcome New York (to) become the city with the most expensive apartment rents. Though there are increasing criticisms concerning the pint-sized apartments, the demand for affordable living in a growing city is apparently inevitable."
As Planetizen readers know, New York is also experimenting with micro-apartments.
FULL STORY: S.F. supervisors back micro-apartments
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Coming Soon to Ohio: The Largest Agrivoltaic Farm in the US
The ambitious 6,000-acre project will combine an 800-watt solar farm with crop and livestock production.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
California Grid Runs on 100% Renewable Energy for Over 9 Hours
The state’s energy grid was entirely powered by clean energy for some portion of the day on 37 out of the last 45 days.
New Forecasting Tool Aims to Reduce Heat-Related Deaths
Two federal agencies launched a new, easy-to-use, color-coded heat warning system that combines meteorological and medical risk factors.
AI Traffic Management Comes to Dallas-Fort Worth
Several Texas cities are using an AI-powered platform called NoTraffic to help manage traffic signals to increase safety and improve traffic flow.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.