NEW CONCORDIA — A luxury apartment development downtown is advertising studios smaller than many suburban garages for rents starting at $1,695 per month.
The Nest, a newly renovated 14-story building, calls its 280-square-foot units “efficient urban residences.” Each includes a kitchenette, bathroom, fold-down table and enough remaining floor space to develop a close personal relationship with the refrigerator.
“You can cook dinner from bed,” prospective renter Kyle Watson said after touring a unit. “Depending on your standards, that’s either convenient or devastating.”
Developer UrbanCore Properties says rents reflect the building’s downtown location, rooftop terrace, fitness center and shared workspaces.
Housing advocates point out that New Concordia renters have seen wages struggle to keep pace with housing costs across several neighborhoods.
The smallest units are already drawing applications.
UrbanCore plans a second phase next year, leaving residents to wonder how much smaller an apartment can become before the leasing agent simply hands over a locker key.