A tiny home community rises in Detroit

[mfcorey1]

iny Homes Detroit is a way for low-income individuals to become homeowners. Other tiny home communities have developed in the country, notably in Austin, but Detroit’s differs in a few ways. This is the only rent-to-own model in the country. Austin’s is located on the outskirts of the city, while Detroit’s is well within the city. Austin also uses a variety of trailers, tents, and tiny homes, while Detroit is only building tiny homes here.

Reverend Fowler says that this model gives residents an asset, which will help them borrow money in the future.

The houses vary between 250-400 square feet and each is architecturally different. Some are studios, while others have a loft, and some have a separate bedroom. Herman Miller and Interior Lifestyles donated furnishings and time. When we visited, many Ford employees were volunteering their time, adding finishing touches to the homes.


https://detroit.curbed.com/2017/5/24/15686640/tiny-home-detroit-photos

[Deuce]

1. Nice...

[AgadorSparticus]

2. I saw this last week. I think it is a GREAT idea.

[Igel]

3. This is where Chicago style works nicely.

"A tiny-home community rises in Detroit" makes sense.

Unless it's a home community of unusually small size. But this, apparently, is a community of tiny homes. It's good to let the punctuation let the reader know that the adjective modifies not "home community" with "community" as the head of the phrase but "home."

[Warpy]

4. It's a yuppie fad now but there are great applications for them

The shows are hilarious, the centipede women vying with the tool crazed men and all of them social butterflies who want to entertain all their friends on poker nights or cocktail parties in 300 square feet. Oh, and enough outdoor gear to cram an average REI store full. And dogs, big dogs.

I imagine a lot of them will be on the market in fairly short order. However, for poor folks who have been stuck in extremely marginal housing situations like basements, converted garages and motels that rent by the week, they'll be wonderful, places of their own with doors that lock and nobody else has a key. This is a great solution to our current housing problem: big places getting bigger and less affordable while people who are underpaid keep hitting the street.

[superpatriotman]

5. Right near my Alma Mater!

WSU

[TreasonousBastard]

6. Saw this on PBS last week and 400 square feet is no less than some NYC "studio" apartments...

but here you get a lawn and maybe a garden.

And "rent to own" is an idea whose time has come.

[csziggy]

11. My niece bought a condo in Washington DC that is 350 sq. ft.

At the time she was working in DC and a condo in walking distance of DuPont Circle was a great investment. She has no intention of selling it even if she never works in DC again. It is easy to lease and provides a steady income stream.

[Hoyt]

7. Very cool. I don't know why these are so uncommon, probably wealthier people running zoning.

[sheshe2]

8. This is wonderful.

[KatyaR]

9. There's a tiny home community being developed in Oklahoma City.

Unfortunately, it's in one of the downtown river areas that are bring gentrified. Allowable homes start at $120,000 to $125,000--and they'll be right next to a ferris wheel!!

I know that sounds cheap in many parts of the country, but you can still buy a nice older home here for around that price.

[haveahart]

10. Cool. Are they powered by solar energy. I couldn't tell. That would also be super.