Co-living units approved for four zones

As Miami residents are considered the most rent-burdened in the country, the city has approved co-living units to rise in four districts near the bustling urban core to help ease the stress.

A modern form of communal living, co-living offers a cost-effective option for those who have been priced out of large cities as the national housing crisis persists. In June, the City of Miami updated its planning and zoning code to permit co-living in the Civic-Health District, Urban Central Business District and Neighborhood Revitalization Districts 1 and 2 in Wynwood.

The new code defines a co-living unit as a shared living quarters consisting of private bedrooms and bathrooms with a communal space that includes a full kitchen with direct access to the outside or a common hall.

Each unit is allowed a maximum of six co-living rooms. A co-living room is defined as a single bedroom within the unit. Per the requirements, a co-living room must be at least 180 square feet and cannot exceed 400 square feet.

Background documents state the city “recognizes the growing demand for accessible housing options, including co-living concepts, incorporated in urban center and urban core areas where there is significantly less reliance on automobiles and enhanced utilization of bicycle and transit facilities that connect to places of employment and other services.”

It’s unclear whether developers have applied to build co-living units within the city yet. However, a project was recently approved to rise on Miami Beach. In May, the Miami Beach City Commission authorized an ordinance to allow for a co-living and micro-unit project on Washington Avenue.

The project, URBIN RETREAT, is being developed by Coral Gables-based Location Ventures and is to offer over 10,000 square feet of leasable workspace and a combined 125 living spaces across hotel rooms and co-living residences. According to a May report from The Real Deal, it is to include 48 co-living apartments and 72 micro-units ranging from 275 to 448 square feet. Richi Kapoor stepped down as CEO of Location Ventures in July after reports of his ties with Miami Mayor Francis Suarez brought criticisms.

With roots dating back to the 19th century, communal living is making a comeback as an amenity-laden, affordable concept to facilitate an environment where working professionals can thrive.

In January, the largest co-living operators in US, Europe and Asia, Common and Habyt, merged to form the Habyt Group. The move created the largest co-living brand in the world with locations in more than 40 cities and 14 countries and over 30,000 communal units.

Market reports forecast co-living developments to increase in the coming years as the communities could be a solution to the affordable housing crisis.