At 22, buys & customizes lofted home in Pocket Neighborhood on a budget
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Published 2024-03-24
Priced at $170,000 to $210,000 apiece, the single-family homes share a central courtyard, but are owned by their residents who lease the land (with renewable 99 year leases) through a community land trust (CLT), the Newtown Community Development Corporation. Owners can build equity, but when they choose to sell they have to sell back to Newtown to ensure that the prices remain affordable.
Curry appreciates how his small space makes experimentation more affordable; he has installed recycled quartz countertops and smart light switches and blinds. With his private side yard he laid down a turf lawn and vines to cover the back wall.
The homes are “very, very efficient”, explains Curry, who says his winter electric bills are about $25 and in the summer, despite consistent 110 degree weather, it is about $65. Architect Matthew Salenger, of coLAB studio, used passive solar and natural daylighting to help achieve such efficiency.
Each home has just four modest windows, including a glass front door, which are placed to capture maximum light, but shaded by overhangs to avoid summer heat gain. The homes’ roofs capture rainwater which is used for watering the communal fruit trees, and future community gardens, and the graywater from the communal laundry is also used for irrigation.
Curry expects to own here for at least 5 years before reselling to the CLT and taking his homeowner experience on to other projects. “Because it's small it gave me the opportunity to do a lot of the stuff that I dreamt about like making it a smart home. To test some stuff out here so when I do purchase a big boy home I can kind of use some of what I learned here.”
coLAB studio www.colabstudio.com/
180 Degrees Design + Build www.180degreesinc.com/
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All Comments (21)
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"Tiny/Micro" houses in America are just normal houses in the UK
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My ex-wife owns a two-story townhouse that is one unit in a block of three units that she bought 16 years ago. She developed a leak in her roof and inspection showed that the roof needed to be replaced. However, the HOA is responsible for exterior maintenance and because the other two units in her block did not have roof leaks, the HOA said it would be too costly for them to have just one roof done so she would have to wait and, no, she could not have it done herself. She finally got her roof replaced two years later and she had to insist that the drywall and ceilings in her upstairs rooms be repaired and painted, too, due to long-term water damage. HOAs? No, thank you!
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Yes, please! Please build more of these types of communities! I would be first in line! Other states and cities could definitely benefit from this! Love the design and efficiency.
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These are fantastic - we have a massive housing issue in the UK for first-time buyers - not only would these solve many problems where space is an issue but they also look good.
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Kirsten..the clear leader when it comes to this type of Video, obsessed in exploring Housing Alternatives...it helps to have that type of Clarity...and constant desire to explore playfully without Judgment, without Expectation..also, she lets people talk..a Good Interviewer..Good Job Kirsten..I look forward to your Videos..Tacos and kisses from Montreal, best wishes to the Clan and your little lovable Brats...lol
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Great concept. I’m over 60 and I would happily downsize for a similar build. I would lose half the vault area though and create an office area built similar to an exterior deck with boards 1/2” apart, to allow light and air to pass through. Would also create a large door for access to the storage under stairs, that would still carry the flatscreen tv etc. Overall building design and energy efficiency is good, cheap in summer, wow. 👍👍
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I feel as though 600 sq ft to have one bedroom and no in-unit laundry is poor space planning. I love the idea of micro communities and hope this continues outside of arizona
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The concept is great but it should not only be for first time buyers. it should be for everyone. the return of 25% of profit back to the HOA kind of smacks of the Mitchel Lama low income coops to me. The thing I find crazy is that having fruit trees is considered such a novel idea -- it is only in America where people dont grow vegetables and fruits on their land. Everybody else in the world who visits the USA is puzzled as to why all American houses are surrounded by lawns. Really, every place else in the world, people have fruit trees and herb gardens and vegetables growing in their yard.
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Freight trains in 5 meters from your bed 😮
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Anyone else wonder about the train tracks 5 ft from the houses ? the dirt and vibration from the train passing will be detrimental to the houses. Not to mention the noise.
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If you don’t own the land then this is not owning real estate. It like the manufactured homes where you lease the land.
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I would love to see more projects like this all over the country!
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Feel like they could have had a complete second story. So no wasted space.
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That high ceiling is a waste of space albeit I admit it looks good. A full length second floor would add another room to the house.
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I absolutely HATE HOA's. I've lived in them before and will NEVER live in one again. I can't stand people telling me what to do on MY LAND.
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Well done to the development. Especially when moving on having to sell back to group to avoid price hiking.
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This community is such a great idea. It's proof that we can find solutions and provide basic needs for everyone. Now, if we can figure out how to convince everyone to stop wanting to be rich so they can use that wealth for conspicuous consumption and wasting resources.
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Your genuine and authentic videos have been incredibly therapeutic for me over the past year. I just wanted to express my heartfelt gratitude for sharing your natural self while interviwing. Thank you. 😊
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I like the solar array plan being someone else's maintenance responsibility. That also makes it more attractive for elder housing without the maintenance. I also appreciate the ability to "customize" your outdoor space and having the community center access and shared fruit crop.
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Excellent. I love this idea/setup. Especially the fact that each home has its own small yard space.... that you're allowed to fix up to your own taste. Excellent idea.
