The market responds, good idea, nice plan, and one hopes city planners respond in kind.
Home Front: Downsizing comes home
Published 12:00 am PDT Friday, August 10, 2007
All over the capital region, home builders are trying smaller lots and shaving extras to bring down prices. But some El Dorado Hills architects are unveiling the ultimate, a return to something not seen here in years.
It's the $150,000 house.
This is not as far-fetched as you might think. Prices for new small-lot houses already are dipping to $230,000 in parts of the region.
"We're absolutely ball-parking. But based on what we know to be true on sales of homes now, $150,000 is very achievable," says Kerrin West. She's partner in charge of Iowa-based BSB Design's Sacramento division.
West bills the price as a way to boost fortunes of home builders, revive the housing economy and "offer a market solution to affordable housing by simplifying and using space effectively."
Credit the housing slowdown for giving an architect time to think. West drew up a configuration that puts 14 houses on about three-fourths of an acre to cut land costs. She made the houses square and simple -- without garages -- to shave construction costs. The two-story homes range from 1,000 square feet to 1,400 square feet and have an old-fashioned classic style.
Her groupings of 14 dwellings contain 10 regular houses and four "carriage units," where residents live above three or four garage spaces that will be used by the homeowners. Most of the houses will be allotted one garage parking space.
This is nothing more than an idea so far. But a concept dubbed "Casita Square" has received good reviews from builders, building industry officials and regional government planners. The firm will present the idea to urban planners statewide this fall.
