New York City has invited developers to propose ways to build “micro-units” – dwellings complete with a bathroom, built-in kitchenette and an area with a fold-out bed that doubles as both sleeping space and living room. If the pilot program is successful, officials could ultimately overturn a requirement established in 1987 that new apartments be at least 400 square feet. Almost 50% of households in Manhattan consist of one person, and they would be a prime market for scaled-down housing.
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