Cohousing-L Mailing List: Newspaper supports building smaller homes

[Marganne (marganne]

Here's a little follow-up to the recent discussion about building 
cohousing projects with lower costs.

http://www.idahostatesman.com/126/story/415966.html

The Idaho Statesman published an editorial Sunday supporting a 
developer's request to include smaller-sized homes in a new Kuna, ID 
subdivision. The developer's request to build homes less than the 
1,400-square-feet required minimum size was turned down last week.

Maybe this is a developer who could be approached to brainstorm about 
building Low Cost Community Housing?

Several customers recently told the developer they wanted homes in 
his subdivision, but didn't need 1,400 square feet. The developer 
focused on 1,250 square feet which 'wouldn't detract from the values 
of nearby, larger homes'. "One hundred and fifty square feet less 
than somebody else isn't going to ruin a subdivision."

The planning commissioner said, "The city should protect a 
neighborhood's integrity. Very few investments in our lifetime are 
more important than our house."

When I signed the development agreement (minimum 1,400 sq ft), we 
were at $2-a-gallon gas, the developer said. Green, energy-efficient 
homes that are what you can truly afford - that's the marketplace 
right now.

The newspaper urged the planning department to work with developers 
and builders to educate residents that with good design, construction 
and maintenance, even a small house can look great and uphold 
neighborhood property values.
--
Cheers!
Marganne
http://cohousingsmallhomes.blogspot.com/

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