Finding the perfect place for living isn’t really the easiest thing. The rent is pretty high, especially if you want to get yourself a downtown apartment. As the cities become overcrowded, the demand for affordable, but yet cozy and useful home is constantly increasing. All this made Evan Granoff, the owner of the oldest shopping mall in America, to convert the closed shops into livable and affordable space. Needless to say, people are falling in love with the tiny apartments.
Built back in 1829, The Arcade closed after struggling to fill its cramped commercial spaces in 2008. The building that is now turned into a growing housing trend of micro apartments has been through numerous restorations throughout the years and was designated a national landmark in 1976.
As the concept of living in a shoebox started becoming trendy, Granoff decided it was about time for him to introduce it to the people of Providence. The overall number of living spaces inside the building is 48 and their size varies between 225 to 800 square feet. With the upper floors now being loft apartments, the building’s owner retained the retail spaces on the ground floor. There are numerous shops offering food, coffee, and even designer clothes inside the household.
Each of the homes comes with the most basic necessities such as a bed with drawers, cushioned bench/seating, refrigerator, and shelves. However, as The Arcade falls into a rooming house, cooking facilities are not allowed. The good thing is that microwaves are not considered cooking devices so tenants may use them if they choose to.
Some of the tenants share their stories of why they opted for a tiny home. It’s important to mention that most of them don’t really spend that much time at home. I guess these lofts are perfect for these people exactly.
One of the people who are willing to show us their home is Dr. Karim. Her tight schedule, the night shifts, and the fact that she is constantly traveling internationally makes her the perfect tenant of this perfect home. She also says how not having a stove doesn’t really bother her.
Another tenant is Sharon Kinnier who uses the loft only when she’s working in a Providence lab formulating organic cosmetics as she spends the rest of the time with her husband in Washington D.C.
Tenants can choose to pay for a personal Wi-Fi connection or watch TV in the common area. The great thing about the building is that there is natural light that pours into the space to help make tenants feel warm.
It’s amazing how many people are interested in getting one of these tiny homes. You may be surprised by there is even a list of people waiting to move to The Arcade. The tiniest units rent for $550 per month, almost half the city average.
Take a look at the video below and see what these tiny homes look like. We are sure you are going to love them, unless you prefer more spacious living spaces.
Would you live in one of these? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.