Micro Apartments Pop Up in Historic Providence Mall

Micro Apartments Pop Up in Historic Providence Mall

Have you ever dreamed of living inside of a shopping mall? Well, now is your chance! Rhode Island's Arcade Providence, built in 1928 and considered to be the world's oldest indoor shopping center, has been converted into housing with a twist: 38 micro-apartments.

The building was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976, but due to a lack of maintenance, it continued to fall apart. That is, until developer Evan Granoff bought the building in 2008 with the idea of introducing tiny-space living to the city. He thought the historical revival would serve as both a preservation effort and a chance to create affordable housing in the financial district of Providence. With rents starting at $550 a month, the teeny-weeny pads range from 225 to 300 square feet and include a bedroom, a bathroom, a living room, built-in storage, and an ovenless kitchen. There are coffee shops and retail stores on the building's first level, but sound from the commercial spaces is buffered by large bay windows, an idea inspired by old-ship construction.

While tiny-space living is not for everyone (or all their stuff), developers are targeting fresh-out-of-college millennials, who they say value location over the size of their parents' property.