Digested From "Less Is More in New Housing"
USA Today (12/05/08) P. 3A; by Haya El Nasser

As the economy declines, the popularity of small apartments and condominiums increases. For example, three apartments as tiny as 264 square feet are currently the biggest draw in Legacy Village in Plano, Texas, and are never vacant. They rent for $418 per month, around half the cost of the smallest one-bedroom units. Many micro-units provide a variety of perks, including free wireless service and access to fitness facilities. Golub & Co. President and CEO Michael Newman stresses the micro-unit trend is permanent. Besides the struggling economy, micro-units are the result of more environmentally aware tenants, as smaller units consume less space, water and energy. At the same time, many apartment residents are just beginning their professional working lives and want to live in a more social urban atmosphere. People who grew up in modern suburban houses with stainless steel appliances, granite counters and whirlpool baths expect some luxury, notes RTKL Associates Vice President Thomas Brink. In addition, designers are devising ways to provide a miniscule space with an airy environment and still comply with codes and rules. Design touches include big windows and limited dividing walls.