The letter a few days ago from Ann McCorvey asked if the tiny homes proposed for the chronically homeless in our city would be on lots donated by the City, who would own them? This is an interesting discussion, and I hope some reader can help us with insights.
The concept is four <g class="gr_ gr_220 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="220" data-gr-id="220">tinyhomes</g>, back to back and side by side, so each "frontage" is the province of one resident, with a small patio and the front door and window. Double sound deadening walls in a cruciform pattern separate each 250 sq ft unit. The total 1,000 sq ft building will not look much different than homes on nearby and adjacent lots.
We plan to follow the concept recommended by Rev. Faith Fowler, in her book "Tiny Homes in a big city" based on their actual program underway in Detroit, on vacant city lots. Ownership of the land would be by the Land Trust which has <g class="gr_ gr_1383 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Style multiReplace" id="1383" data-gr-id="1383">been established</g> by the City to accept donations of land and to specify public benefit users when <g class="gr_ gr_1382 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins doubleReplace replaceWithoutSep" id="1382" data-gr-id="1382">in-rem</g> vacant property is auctioned.
Residents would pay an amount they can manage, and after seven years of faithful payments (adjusting for relapses fo course), land <g class="gr_ gr_1426 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="1426" data-gr-id="1426">maintaing</g> the utility account, the individual or couple will be awarded <g class="gr_ gr_889 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar replaceWithoutSep" id="889" data-gr-id="889">with</g> an instrument giving them a <g class="gr_ gr_1013 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="1013" data-gr-id="1013">long term</g> "deed" to their unit. This will enable the Land Trust to be a public landlord, hopefully allowing for enforcement of necessary regulations relating to <g class="gr_ gr_1507 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Style multiReplace" id="1507" data-gr-id="1507">exterior upkeep</g>, behavior that does not impinge on neighbors privacy and rights, etc. Housing Court between a private landlord and the tenant is not an appropriate way to adjudicate complex issues; we hope this instrument will avoid that.
We welcome comments! Modular builders are presently pricing this concept, which we believe will be a more affordable way to provide <g class="gr_ gr_1874 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="1874" data-gr-id="1874">long term</g> permanent housing than the freestanding little box called a Tiny Home. It will also fit better in an established neighborhood, where neighborhood association support is essential.
Your comments, or prior experience, <g class="gr_ gr_2088 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="2088" data-gr-id="2088">wecome</g>!
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Richard Rosen AIA
Volunteer resource to the team of developers and social workers.
Find my semi-retired part-time employment at Mark IV Enterprises, Rochester NY
Off line, if you prefer: 585 415 3448, or
rrosen182@gmail.com------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 02-23-2018 12:04
From: Anna McCorvey
Subject: a challenge, designers!
I second the importance, the necessity of involving end users in any design process. This takes more time on our part, but we should view it as an essential part of our process. The homelessness issues is so multilayered and I always find it challenging to balance the desire to treat symptoms with the need to treat the causes of the symptoms - wages, education, mental health support, institutionalized discriminatory practices, and so on... Not to mention respecting someones desire NOT to be housed in the traditional sense. The aforementioned issues are even more of a reason to involve those that will occupy these dwellings, as these issue will (and should) undoubtedly inform the design.
Klaus - nice article on tactical pop-ups.
Richard - will the lots continue to be city owned one the project is complete?
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Anna McCorvey, RA, LEED AP BD+C
cox graae + spack architects
Washington DC
Original Message:
Sent: 02-20-2018 18:13
From: Richard Rosen
Subject: a challenge, designers!
While our stalwart regular writer Nick is engaging us in fantasies of flying cars, I am, with feet firmly planted in inner city Rochester NY working as the architectural guru with a collection of agency doers who want to build tiny homes for the chronically homeless here in town whose tents are regularly demolished by vigilantes and over-exuberant cops, not listening to their bosses who tell them to try to leave these poor folks alone. The City will give us vacant lots, lord knows they have plenty of them. I've been sketching ways to attach 200-250 sq ft homes so that they kinda look like a normal house; yet give each traumatized resident a sense of privacy, with minimum required interaction with others. This challenge has the potential for a competition with a prize and/or publication.
Just imagine, you are 50 years of age or so, you kinda manage your addictions and psychoses fairly well, provided you don't get provoked by others, and are left alone. You manage to pull in occasional low paid work, or you panhandle, and all you are asking is a self contained tiny home all your own. The cost of providing that will be a fraction of the emergency services the individual will draw upon if he/she isn't housed, and we have here in Rochester the potential for philanthropy that can make this happen if we can capture their imagination. Any takers? Just e mail this site or me at
arch.home@post.harvard.edu. Richard Rosen, AIA