Housing crunch shrinks as city’s first micro-unit building opens

New Yorkers having been living in small spaces long before the popularity of HGTV shows like “Tiny House Hunters.”

But a new batch of residents can teach even the most seasoned of small-apartment dwellers a thing or two as the city’s first micro-unit apartment opened in Kips Bay on Thursday, the New York Daily News reported.

Located at 335 E. 27th St., Carmel Place features 55 units that range from 260 to 360 square feet. The apartments have 8-foot windows, a Murphy bed, small storage areas and an open floor plan. Residents, who pay rents starting at $600, will have access to a club room, gym, terrace and lounge.

“Interest in the building has been off the chart,” Kirk Goodrich said during Thursday’s ribbon cutting. Goodrich is vice president and director of real estate for Monadnock Development, which constructed the property designed by architecture firm nArchitects.

The micro-unit project was launched in 2013 to address the city’s growing need for housing for one- and two-person residences, which makes up roughly 63 percent of city renters.

“We see this as a template for the future,” Alicia Glen, deputy mayor for housing and economic development, said.