Hot Property: Developers win battle with neighbors to place 'micro' apartments in S. Mpls.

The four-story building, like many other recent multifamily proposals for the urban core, featured very small market-rate apartments, answering a continuing demand in areas with nearby transit and "walkable" amenities. The unit mix included efficiencies as small as 405 square feet and one-bedroom units starting at only 534 square feet. Also in the proposal was a 20-vehicle underground garage.

The building plans were opposed by a group of residents living close to the site. They contended that some of its balconies would impinge on their privacy. They also argued that a 15-foot height variance supported by city planners was out of character for the neighborhood. The Planning Commission, however, voted unanimously to approve the project in April, as did a City Council committee on May 17 when the neighbors appealed the commission vote.