Tiny house passes through town

Sharp-eyed drivers passing North Park last Thursday morning might have spotted a very unusual sight: A “tiny house”, parked at the curb.Having been intrigued by these ultra-compact dwellings almost from the beginning of the industry, this writer stopped by to snap a few photos and chat with the gentleman responsible for it, Eric Korn of Mustang Logistics Services.

As it turned out, he was in the process of transporting this one, and had experienced a mechanical issue with the truck towing it. The diminutive dwelling was on its way from a trade show to the lucky person who won it in a raffle, and was parked at North Park for a few hours while repairs were made at McAuley Ford.

During the ten minutes or so I was there, about a half-dozen curious people stopped by to investigate the diminutive abode.

Although it topped out at just under 300 square feet, this tiny home offered some impressive amenities, such as a washer/dryer combination and a surprisingly roomy shower. In fact, the entire bathroom, which featured a composting toilet, was remarkably spacious.

Other amenities this well-designed house-on-wheels offered included a galley-style kitchen complete with a refrigerator, a slide-out deck, a heater and water heater, shelving, a space for hanging clothes, and a loft with a queen-sized bed. There was also a bookshelf spanning the width of the house, located above the door.

The purchase price for the tiny house, Korn said, would have been around $62,000. Korn said prices can range from about $25,000 for a very basic, “DIY-style” unit to one “with all the bells and whistles” that can run up to about $100,000. Some models are available with solar panels.

The houses take six to eight weeks to construct.

These tiny, portable homes have come quite a long way since the first one was built.

Initially the purview of younger people in search of affordable housing, and often constructed with recycled or other environmentally-friendly materials, the tiny house concept has grown into an industry of its own, and there are now interior decorators who specialize in tiny house design.

The one that came through town was headed to a retiree, who intended to move into it.

It was the gentleman’s first opportunity to own his own home.

One area that has been a stumbling block to setting up tiny homes as permanent residences is regulations: building and local jurisdiction codes. The diminutive dwellings don’t necessarily fall into any category that would be covered by building codes, yet they aren’t really ‘trailers’.

Korn said he is actively working with cities and other jurisdictions, and mentioned that most have “a love-hate relationship” with the homes, particularly because placing one on a piece of property doesn’t impact the property value, and therefore the property tax, as building a traditional home on the site would.

Another concern jurisdictions have, Korn said, is housing density. Several tiny homes could fit on the average city lot, which zoning regulations typically limit to a single dwelling.

There are also advantages to the miniature dwellings. For example, if someone who has acreage rented out a small portion of it to the owner of a tiny house, both sides would benefit.

There are now, Korn said, special parks & villages devoted to tiny houses. The dwellings have also been suggested as possible housing for the homeless population.

Some tiny houses are being used as rentals in bed and breakfast-style arrangements, which allows potential tiny house dwellers a chance to experience the small space without making a major investment (and, possibly, lifestyle change).

While tiny houses have a certain appeal, living in such confined spaces isn’t necessarily for everyone.