Company sparks debate after renting out $700 bunk bed-style ‘sleeping pods’ with privacy curtains
Britt Jones
Featured Image Credit: Christina Lennox/Brownstone Shared Housing
A company has come under fire after renting ‘sleeping pods’ in San Francisco with 300 people already applying for its last 17 beds.
Redditors are divided over the company choosing to charge a whopping $700 per month for the bunkbed-style pods.
According to the company, Brownstone Shared Housing, its mission is to be ‘providing low-cost housing in the most expensive cities’, with its 3.5-by-4-by-6.5ft pods.
These pods are just big enough to fit a twin mattress, and they come with privacy curtains, inside charging ports and lighting.
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However, the San Francisco Chronicle reported the sleeping pod company, which is in downtown San Francisco, was flagged by the department of building inspection for violating city codes.
According to The Guardian, the CEO, James Stallworth said that thirteen people lived in the building during the code-enforcement process.
Even though the facility had its planning department application approved, it was rescinded because of a misrepresentation Stallworth made.
Dan Sider, the planning department’s chief of staff, said as per the outlet: “The building remains in violation of the planning and building codes, and while we continue to work with the proprietor to move his applications forward, we expect him to honor his agreement not to have new tenants move in until the issue is resolved, which should happen very soon.
“We’re trying to bring him across the finish line.”
People online had mixed feelings about the company’s mission, with some calling it ‘tech bros’ reinventing things that already exist.
One person wrote: “Imagine the smell. $700 a month is ridiculous.”
Another commented: “Jfc, I thought my barracks was bad with 50 people. At least we had more than 1 shower and 4 toilets. This thing is truly a nightmare fuel.”
Someone else penned: “Tech bros reinventing tenement housing and calling it innovation.”
Another agreed: “This is a Hostel. They reinvented hostels.”
One other user scathed that they’ve seen ‘jails with better accommodation’.
Others went on to say that a hostel pod in Japan would cost more than what the San Francisco brand was offering, making it a bargain deal.
Someone else shared that it’s perfect for commuters or those who need short-term digs.
They wrote: “I recently stayed at a similar one in Vancouver, paid like 90.
“All I needed was a few hours of sleep and I was out early morning, worked well enough for me...but it's def not something I'd want for anything more than a few short days when I'm not even there most of the day.”
But it’s affordable for those who really need it.
“Since it is affordable housing, we have to use the city of San Francisco’s process to fill some of the spots, but the rest are going to be filled through our online application process,” Stallworth said.
He shared that they’ll be opening a second, larger San Francisco pod location, with around 100 sleeping pods, ‘early next year’.
They also offer pods in Palo Alto, near Stanford University, and they cost $800 a month.
This price includes things like utilities, rent, internet, and access to shared bathrooms, storage and a communal kitchen.
It’s not for everyone, but it could be for someone who needs a place like that.