Affordable housing

[SamSpade]

What does this mean, to you? Part of it is - to me - like building a slum. Double wides and trailers. And no one wants that.

But it occurred to me that growing up, a lot of my friends and neighbors lived in quaint little homes of about 1000 square feet. Unfinished basement. One car garage.

The whole neighborhood. So - yeah, affordable housing. I sure as hell didn’t consider it ghetto.

It’s come to my attention that builder don’t want to build cheaper homes - not as much money in it. City planners don’t want it much either - less tax revenue per household.

What do you think? It seems like this nation used to build neighborhoods that were affordable.

 

[LightRoasted]

For your consideration ...

What does this mean, to you? Part of it is - to me - like building a slum. Double wides and trailers. And no one wants that.

But it occurred to me that growing up, a lot of my friends and neighbors lived in quaint little homes of about 1000 square feet. Unfinished basement. One car garage.

The whole neighborhood. So - yeah, affordable housing. I sure as hell didn’t consider it ghetto.

It’s come to my attention that builder don’t want to build cheaper homes - not as much money in it. City planners don’t want it much either - less tax revenue per household.

What do you think? It seems like this nation used to build neighborhoods that were affordable.

Affordable housing is a political word which equates to workforce, or slave wage worker, housing. Of which means high density apartment housing.

 

[glhs837]

What does this mean, to you? Part of it is - to me - like building a slum. Double wides and trailers. And no one wants that.

But it occurred to me that growing up, a lot of my friends and neighbors lived in quaint little homes of about 1000 square feet. Unfinished basement. One car garage.

The whole neighborhood. So - yeah, affordable housing. I sure as hell didn’t consider it ghetto.

It’s come to my attention that builder don’t want to build cheaper homes - not as much money in it. City planners don’t want it much either - less tax revenue per household.

What do you think? It seems like this nation used to build neighborhoods that were affordable.

My son in IN and I were talking about that a few days back. As for planners, remember, those offices have been overrun with SJ types who require you to add townhomes to every subdivision.

I was thinking the same thing. 1,000 to 12/1300 sqft houses on 1/4 or half acres lots were abundant. Chancellors had a bunch of them. Mine and the three around it were all like that. And all are still there. You can see them on almost any side road in the county. But builders and the folks who lend money wont go for that.

 

[SamSpade]

My son in IN and I were talking about that a few days back. As for planners, remember, those offices have been overrun with SJ types who require you to add townhomes to every subdivision.

I was thinking the same thing. 1,000 to 12/1300 sqft houses on 1/4 or half acres lots were abundant. Chancellors had a bunch of them. Mine and the three around it were all like that. And all are still there. You can see them on almost any side road in the county. But builders and the folks who lend money wont go for that.

I was thinking when I lived in PA and in upstate NY - whole neighborhood was like 1 to 1.5 sq ft homes with a basement. Looking back - each floor was small by today’s standards. But those neighborhoods were hardly ghetto. Engineers, dentists, lawyers teachers. Just - young.

 

[vraiblonde]

Most cities you go to that aren't in, say, Maryland have communities of 1000-1300sf standalone stick-built homes on small lots, 2BR 2BA, going for $200k or less. They're either starter homes or retirement/downsize homes.

Builders are shortsighted to snub them in favor of $500k+ homes that are becoming increasingly unsustainable. If they put in a housing community like that near Pax they'd get bought up in a second.

 

[Ken King]

A lot of it isn't the builders but those that control development. High prices, high taxes, outrageous permit fees all going into what they can spend in order to "improve" the lives of those they rule over, err, serve.

 

[vraiblonde]

A lot of it isn't the builders but those that control development.

And ultimately We the People control it by who we vote for, so if we want our communities to have affordable housing that isn't code for "slum where you stack the Section 8 people on top of each other" we have to demand it.

 

[glhs837]

Most cities you go to that aren't in, say, Maryland have communities of 1000-1300sf standalone stick-built homes on small lots, 2BR 2BA, going for $200k or less. They're either starter homes or retirement/downsize homes.

Builders are shortsighted to snub them in favor of $500k+ homes that are becoming increasingly unsustainable. If they put in a housing community like that near Pax they'd get bought up in a second.

Try Shelbyville. iN.

 

[limblips]

Those 1000-1200 sqft homes are also a great place for retired empty nesters who don't want a townhome, condo, or the The Villages experience. We live in a 1200 sqft brick ranch on a lake that has a 1/3 acre lot. The neighborhood is a mix of retired downsizers and younger first-time homeowners. It is all we need or want.

 

[stgislander]

Time to bring back the Sears and Monkey Ward kit homes.

 

[Kyle]

Time to bring back the Sears and Monkey Ward kit homes.

Forgot about those old Sears craftsman homes.

You’re gonna have to bring back Sears first.

 

[Ken King]

Forgot about those old Sears craftsman homes.

You’re gonna have to bring back Sears first.

84 Lumber makes a lot of kits that could meet the needs of many on an individual basis, but to really get to an affordable housing development the developer/builder will have to jump through all the hoops of the bureaucracy for the infrastructure (roads, water, sewer, power, etcetera) that local/state government demand.

 

[Hijinx]

Geez. Look at the Codes and regulations we have now.
Sprinklers in new homes. That's 10 grand. a Well, 20 grand, Mound system 30 grand, Impact fee $4800 bucks. Surveyor $5 grand plus the cost of a lot. .
When my sister built her first home in1956 me father gave her an acre off the farm, we dug the well ,the plumber put in a septic tank and drain fields., the home had a kitchen 2 bedrooms a toilet and a living room and was built with cinder blocks. It was added onto as required.

When is the last time anyone saw that.

3 story stick built town homes are now 300 to 500 thousand dollars no yard no fire stops.
$500 thousand dollars homes so close together you can hear and smell your neighbor taking a dump next door.

 

[Ken King]

When is the last time anyone saw that.

Depends where you are. Had the property with amenities (water, septic, power), there was a trailer on it when bought and then built a 1.056 sf, 2 bed, 2 bath home for $70K. But that was an individual "affordable home", big difference when building a development.

 

[Sneakers]

Here ya go....

 

[Hijinx]

Depends where you are. Had the property with amenities (water, septic, power), there was a trailer on it when bought and then built a 1.056 sf, 2 bed, 2 bath home for $70K. But that was an individual "affordable home", big difference when building a development.

Well you did a good job and you did it yourself. Try just buying a lot that has already been perked and see what it costs today to put a home on it even if you are a carpenter or brick mason you are out that $70 000 dollars before you lay the first cinder block in the foundation.

 

[Ken King]

Well you did a good job and you did it yourself. Try just buying a lot that has already been perked and see what it costs today to put a home on it even if you are a carpenter or brick mason you are out that $70 000 dollars before you lay the first cinder block in the foundation.

Actually I bought the 3 acre plot with the livable trailer. Got a contractor and crew to build the home for $70K (including all materials). But it certainly isn't in a development. Oh yeah, building permit was $5.00.

 

[PeoplesElbow]

I remember seeing Charles Co had a minimum sq footage for new construction, thinking it was 1800sq ft. My house isn't that large, the house I grew up in wasn't that large.

 

[Czar]

Actually I bought the 3 acre plot with the livable trailer. Got a contractor and crew to build the home for $70K (including all materials). But it certainly isn't in a development. Oh yeah, building permit was $5.00.

70k? What year was that, 1970? The pool and hardscaping would cost more than that.

 

[GURPS]

Time to bring back the Sears and Monkey Ward kit homes.

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