SF's $700-a-month sleeping pods make their comeback
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Photo courtesy of James Stallworth
The $700-a-month sleeping pods that went viral last year are officially on the books after San Francisco officials found last year they violated building codes.
Why it matters: Brownstone Shared Housing's founders say the pods, each the size of a twin bed and 4 feet tall, are an affordable option in a city that averages nearly $3,500 in monthly rent.
- Brownstone's next step: replicating the pods for a project five times as big.
Driving the news: San Francisco recently approved Brownstone's permit for 30 sleeping pods at its current downtown location in a former bank, ABC7 News first reported this week.
How it works: Much like in a hostel, the pods are stacked across two levels and feature two fans, a mirror and a curtain for privacy for each resident.
- Residents also get access to storage space, shared common areas, communal bathrooms and a kitchen. Utilities and internet are included.
Friction point: City officials said last year that Brownstone hadn't gotten approval to convert the building to residential use and that it posed a safety hazard in part because the front door could be opened only from the inside with a key, potentially causing problems for attempts to exit during an emergency.
- There were also concerns about plumbing since Brownstone had replaced a toilet in the basement with a shower stall, according to the notice issued by the Department of Building Inspections.
Yes, but: Brownstone CEO James Stallworth told Axios via email that the code enforcement process was "really slow" and ended up taking nine months, which he attributed in part to understaffing. He noted that the Planning Department application process went smoothly, though.
- 13 residents have been living in the building as Brownstone has addressed the violations.
- To meet the city's standards, Brownstone installed a stove in the communal kitchen, obtained permit approval for the shower and adjusted front door access.
- "We ... just need to file some paperwork with the Buildings Department to square everything away," Stallworth said Tuesday.
The intrigue: Even without advertising the pods — which Stallworth said the city asked Brownstone to put on pause while awaiting approval — nearly 300 people added their names to a waiting list, he told Axios.
The big picture: Many young people see these types of pods — which are common in countries such as Japan — as smart alternatives in a city that has high costs of living and one of the most expensive housing markets in the U.S.
- Nearly a quarter of Bay Area renters spent more than half their household income on housing last year, federal data shows.
- The San Francisco metro area is also projected to slow the pace of apartment construction by 2028, further limiting housing options.
What to watch: Brownstone now has its sights set on a bigger location in another downtown commercial building and plans to file an application by the end of the year for roughly five times the number of sleeping pods it currently operates.
- It's also considering potential projects in other Bay Area cities.