Hats off to AMNY's features editor Elaine Paoloni, who alerted us today to the sad tale of Kellen Hassell and Brianna Hvam, whose whole miserable existence takes place in their 295-square-foot apartment on 15th street between 7th and 8th avenues. Yes, the petit bourgeois who dwell in Manhattan's mini apartments deserve our respect . Though many housing avenues are open to them, they sacrifice it all to "live in the center of it all." 15th between 7th and 8th! The center of it all! Or at least, the center of domestic agony.

The Hvam/Hassell story complete with passion, Park Slope, literal tears and, of course, sacrifice.

"I looked at places in every possible neighborhood expect for the Upper East Side," said Hassell, 24. "We saw one in Park Slope that we really liked. It was huge." "Kellen really liked it," said Hvam, 26. "We sat and got coffee and we were talking about it — and I literally started crying. I said, 'I don't want to move to Brooklyn. I want to stay in Manhattan. We've only been here for a year.'" So they decided to refocus their search, and eventually moved into a 295-square-foot apartment on 15th Street, between Seventh and Eighth avenues, for $1,675 per month.



According to our Domestic Dispute Equation, that's 1.27 fights/square foot. But, hey, they're in the center of it all! God that must feel so good.

A slideshow with lyrical harp accompaniment [AMNY]

Living Small in the Big Apple [AMNY]