Julie Jacobson/AP
Stage 3 Properties co-founder Christopher Bledsoe closes a sliding glass door as he stands inside one of the apartment units at the Carmel Place building in New York City.
In a city where the average apartment rents for $3,600 a month, many New York residents don't mind living in a tiny space to save extra cash. There's just one problem: Micro-apartments are technically illegal, according to the city's 1987 zoning laws, which require dwellings to have an area of at least 400 square feet.
That leaves two options for homeowners who want a small space. They can find an apartment built prior to 1987, or turn to one of the newer developments that have secured a special waiver from the city.
Even as the city's regulations make micro-living somewhat difficult, the trend has taken off in neighborhoods across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.
Despite their minimal square footage, these newer apartments offer innovative design features like hidden drawers and closets, along with luxury amenities like butler services and rentable ice-cream makers.
But for the thousands of residents who live in older micro apartments, the lifestyle can be somewhat dismal. Take a look.