Developers haven't been able to construct new SRO units since 1985, but existing ones are essentially grandfathered in.
49 W. 11th St. — where this studio is located, tucked between Union Square and New York University's Washington Square Park-area campus — dates back to at least 1937, a spokesperson for New York City's buildings department told Gothamist. One current tenant in the building, who declined to be named, showed Gothamist their own apartment in the building — complete with lofted bed and a desk that retracts to take up less space when not in use.Via Hendrix's SRO apartment,, which has a futon for a couch and bed and an exposed clothing rack., wrote for Insider in 2021 that her low rent is worth the sacrifices of a small space with no amenities.
Hendrix sleeps on a futon that is her bed by night and her couch by day, she cooks using a hot plate and a toaster-oven-air fryer combo appliance, and she can host up to three friends for gatherings. "At the end of the day, this is by no means the perfect apartment. Someday, I would love to have a living room for parties, a full fridge, a closet, more counter space, and so much more," Hendrix wrote."This apartment has allowed me to live in the center of NYC, which was a priority for me. The city is always experienced outside anyway, so I don't mind having my small and cozy place to return to.