Dorchester Couple Creates $750 Micro-Apartments to Address Housing Affordability Crisis

A pioneering housing experiment in Dorchester is showcasing micro-apartments designed to be affordable and efficient.

Built over four years by Vivian and Elisa Girard, a couple with construction expertise in Fields Corner, the entire 14-unit micro-apartment building was constructed using recycled materials. The project, part of Boston's Compact Living Pilot Program, offers smaller-than-standard studio apartments — each approximately 280 square feet.

Vivian shared that she independently navigated complex permitting processes for the building's construction.

The couple previously renovated a triple-decker and opened Homestead Café in Fields Corner in 2016. There, they met Julie Baker, a regular customer and co-producer of a storytelling show hosted at the café.

Baker, a single mother who previously lived in a large duplex and a substandard apartment, now finds her micro-unit transformative. She described the importance of light and minimal possessions for her happiness.

“I love it so much,” she said in a statement shared with NBC10 Boston. “I was worried I'd feel cramped. I don't. The windows help, all the light helps — light is very important to me.”

The Girards' building includes shared amenities like laundry, bike storage, and a backyard mural painted by Elisa that borders a community garden. Each unit rents for $750 to $870 per month, including heat and hot water. Tenants pay for electricity and internet.

Baker explained that the micro-apartments embody a minimalist lifestyle that rejects consumerism. Tenants here value light, space, and simplicity, viewing micro-living as a way to reduce material possessions.

The project, which has received considerable community support, has all units currently occupied and a long waiting list.

“It helps to try a new initiative like this,” Vivian said in a statement shared with NBC10 Boston. “Not everything works, but if you don't try, you never find out.”