There is a shortage of workforce rental options. One way to keep the rents low is to develop smaller units. Matt Bucy renovated the old American Legion Hall at 129 South Main Street in White River Junction to create affordable rentals in the Upper Valley. The project cost $2.5 million to create 22 units which, when it opened in 2015, had small studio apartments going for $775 a month and one-bedroom apartments for $1,500. The studio apartments are intentionally minimal – sleeping loft, no closets, kitchenette – to keep the costs down, but the location, tall ceilings and large windows make up for it.
Windham and Windsor Housing Trust has a couple of very successful micro-apartment projects in Brattleboro, Vermont. The Snow Block is a 5-story building that offers 23 apartments total, including two bedroom, one bedroom, efficiency, and micro apartments. The micro-apartments consist of 6 units that are 450 square feet and 8 units of approximately 375 square feet. Average rents vary based on size and income levels, starting at $440 for a 365 square foot studio. There are no vacancies at time of reporting.