Radio interview with tiny house pioneer Jay Shafer

[Oddball]

The founder of the Tumbleweed Tiny House Co. is this week's guest on New Dimensions (http://newdimensions.org/the-tiny-house-movement-living-small-with-jay-shafer). I didn't realize he has another company now and is planning a village in California. New company: Four Lights Houses (http://www.fourlightshouses.com). Tiny house village (http://www.fourlightshouses.com/pages/the-napoleon-complex) (in planning stages).

[Packy]

O-kaaaay. I can see it: A huge subdivision, a new millenium Levitown, of Teeny-Tiny Littlebitty Homes. They 'only" cost $300,000, taxes are $20,000/yr., and there is a Homeowners Association that makes living in Prison seem like Fun, by comparison. Am I close? Betcha. ETA: yup. Judging by all the flowers, I can tell you that the standards for upkeep are ruthless. Not trying to sound pessimistic. Just being in touch with the times. Hope that helps you some.

[rodeosweetheart]

The pictures of the village are really pretty. I was talking to a woman in Northern California who is looking for something like this--are the prices listed anywhere?

[awakenedsoul]

Oddball,
Thanks for posting this. I enjoyed the interview. The village is gorgeous!

[pony mom]

I like the idea but it all seems too cookie-cutterish, and the homes are too close for me.

On a recent episode of Tiny House Nation, they visited a tiny house development for Halloween. Each house was different and sort of scattered in the woods--much more natural looking.

These homes aren't as tiny, but I find it more appealing http://www.rosschapin.com/Projects/PocketNeighborhoods/ThirdStreetCottages/ThirdStreet.html

[Packy]

The guy(Shafer) doesn't want to specify zackly what size in square footage the tiny houses in his tiny development will be. But, just betcha what will happen is that as time goes on, and people live there awhile, size dimensions will creep upward. Newer homes will be built, that are bigger; and remodel jobs with room additions will enlarge existing tiny houses. Houses that become run-down or destroyed will not be rebuilt. The vacant space will need to stay that way. Without going into specific instances and anecdotal evidence, I'll just say that's the way it usually works. Another thing is, if the land is plotted as a mobile home park, this means to me that tiny home owners won't have a deed to the land their tiny house sits on. So, even after the house is paid for, they still don't really "own" it. Well, do they? When you buy a home, you usually buy the land and "improvements thereupon". See? Some complexity, there. May be affordable and cute entry-level housing in the short-term, but not really economical and practical in the long run. Another thing is about Callyfornyans thinking they are reinventing the wheel. The concept of the single-family dwelling evolved, and for a reason. You have a Castle Doctrine, or whatever. But, the notion, the single principle, of out with the old way---in with the new way--just because, is philosophically unsound. What you have there is a communal-type environment, and as long as everyone "gets along" it is one big happy family, okay? But, like this discussion forum, where there are interpersonal conflicts, drama, grudges, running to the moderators over skinned knees, etc., human nature will come into play. Only, people spend much more time in their home, than on a forum, right? Result: that tiny house commune will either greatly evolve, or devolve, altogether. That lifestyle, and it is a lifestyle, is not sustainable. People need more than just adequate space; one way we punish miscreants is to deprive them of it. So, something's got to give. By the way, Just think of all the "trailer park" jokes you've heard over the last few years. They generally center around the unsavory behaviors and interactions of the residents. Just my littlebitty opinion. Hope that helps you some. Later.