College - Author 1

College of Architecture and Environmental Design

Department - Author 1

Construction Management Department

Degree Name - Author 1

BS in Construction Management

Date

6-2023

Primary Advisor/Subject Matter Expert (SME)

Eric Brinkman, College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Construction Management Department

Abstract/Summary

Given the current saturated housing market, prices of single-family dwellings have exponentially increased. Due to this housing crisis, alternative housing approaches need to be considered. One potential solution to increasing the supply of affordable housing units is a tiny house village community. Tiny house communities can carry with them a stigma of rundown looks and an RV park aesthetic, but they don't need to. Tiny house communities, at their best, can be thriving communities that are anchored in communal living, shared resources, and affordability.The Commons is a proposed tiny house village development that would be located on 1.6 acres. The land would hold 38 units, with each unit being 600 sq ft. This housing development would likely attract recent graduates, young couples, and retired individuals. Given the current zoning and density regulations of the City of San Luis Obispo, a project such as The Commons has little to no profitability. Looking into the future, city zoning regulations could be revised to encourage developments like The Commons.Each piece of zoned land has a cap for how many density units are allowed on the land, so if each 600 sq ft unit accounted for less density, profitability could increase. Under current city regulations, each 600 sq ft unit gets a density coefficient of .5. However, if this size housing unit were to have a density coefficient of .25, projects such as The Commons would become profitable. In addition to revising density regulations, increased financial matching per unit by the city and the decrease of city impact fees could also encourage affordable housing growth.

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