Last week, I was reading a Pagosa Daily Post article about Colorado’s Proposition 123.
The Proposition 123 program got me thinking about the Sears “Modern Homes” program that sold 75,000 homes, in 447 different styles.
Lennar Homes is finding “massive success” selling tiny homes in San Antonio, Texas. “Elm Trails” now features 95 tiny homes built on 20 foot lots (about half the size of a typical lot in San Antonio.)
Pagosa Springs needs to scale-up the availability of local skilled construction trades to build affordable housing.
One approach, would be a “Heathkit” of precut and fitted building materials for the construction of tiny homes.
“Heathkit” sold their popular electronic kits (like the MODEL UA-1 tube amplifier) between 1947 – 1992.
The Sears “Modern Homes” program facilitated this type of approach between 1908 – 1940.
20 foot wide foundations could be made available for 12 month rent for parking a small RV. Additional 20 foot wide foundations would (in-parallel) be used to “crowd-source” the construction of purchased kits.
Local high schools student interested in developing career skills could be hired to assist future homeowners. Local home builders would help assist, mentor, and then hire a growing availability of graduating skilled trades.
Future homeowners would only be allowed to rent an RV parking spot for for a maximum of one-year… long enough time to build. In addition, homeowners who have recently moved into their new tiny home could be obligated to assist new RV tenants.
Pagosa Springs community support should be able to further reduce the comparable price of mass-produced tiny homes by production builders like Lennar Homes. The Pagosa Springs community-first goal would be further savings on a $129,999 “Cooley”-like floor plan… or further savings on a $159,999 “Henley”-like floor plan.
Precut and fitted building kits of material can be successfully used to deploy affordable tiny homes… in 2024.
Hank Lydick took ‘early’ retirement to build a home in Austin, Texas, and a cabin in Pagosa Springs, Colorado.