In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, two developers have turned to modular housing to ease the stress of finding housing.
According to the Baton Rouge Business Report, Jak Kunstler and Susannah Bing believe that modular homes in Baton Rouge could be a solution to a housing shortage in the city’s older neighborhoods.
“We’re in a housing crisis,” says Bing, a former executive with the East Baton Rouge Redevelopment Authority.
Bing teamed up with Kunstler two years ago to launch Louisiana Purchase Real Estate and Development.
“There are people moving to Baton Rouge who want the nightlife, restaurants and activity that are closer to downtown, yet there are very few houses that are available or in good condition and they are priced out of that market. We see this as a tool to provide new housing in older neighborhoods, whether that is market rate or affordable.”
The recently completed home by Bing and Kunstler comes in at 1,256 square feet, and looks similar to the classic homes in the area that were built 70 to 80 years ago. Two similar houses are planned for adjacent lots.
“I think there is a stigma about modular housing to a certain extent,” said Bing.
“Nobody really understands what a modular house is. Everybody thinks it’s some house trailer [sic]. It couldn’t be more different. We tweak the houses to make them more south Louisiana.”
Bing and Kunstler say their business plan calls for infill development projects in neighborhoods where additional housing is needed, and they’re looking to acquire vacant lots or adjudicated properties from the city-parish and redevelop the sites with their modular homes.
As Daily Business News readers are already aware, manufactured housing has also been used more frequently in urban infill situations as a solution to affordable housing shortages. For an in-depth look into what’s happening around the country, click here. ##
(Image credits are as shown above.)
Submitted by RC Williams to the Daily Business News for MHProNews.
