'Micro-Apartments' Break Ground in East Austin

"A six-story 'micro-housing' apartment project by local commercial real estate firm Watershed Development Group has officially broken ground in East Austin, bringing 60 residences to an approximately quarter-acre site at 1812 East Sixth Street," writes James Rambin for Towers. 

The tiny units average 355 square feet in size and are located "in what’s most likely East Austin’s single most walkable district and only minutes away from the Plaza Saltillo MetroRail station." To that end, the development only has 19 parking spaces. "To enhance the living experience of its micro-units, the building includes multiple co-working spaces, individual workout rooms on each level, communal kitchens, and outdoor amenities including a rooftop patio. It’s one of many multifamily projects in Austin embracing a philosophy of shared amenities alongside smaller apartments, with increasing demand for these communities in prime locations where walkable lifestyle factors like nearby bars and restaurants take priority over large living spaces."

Rambin calls the development "an inspiring example of dense infill housing — with 60 residences on a quarter-acre site, we’re talking about an approximate density of 240 units per acre, closer to what you’d expect from a significantly taller residential building."

The article quotes Nathan Vargo, founder of Watershed Development Group, the project's builder: "We believe that building housing in submarkets with a rich offering of walkable lifestyle amenities helps to activate the public spaces, support our local merchants, and increases the utilization of public transportation, all of which add to the vibrancy of our great city."