Today’s real estate landscape is buzzing with dynamic changes and innovative developments. From the transformation of a Victorian-style mansion into a co-living community in Rhode Island, to the challenges facing a tiny house village in Bellingham, and the announcement of a new residential community just steps from historic downtown Celina, Texas. Additionally, Massachusetts introduces groundbreaking legislation aimed at curbing housing costs, and an over-55 community in Dighton promises modern amenities and a vibrant lifestyle. Dive into these stories to discover how these developments are reshaping communities and offering new opportunities for residents and investors alike.
Pršić & Pršić create a new kind of coliving community in a Rhode Island house
Housing continues to confound the American dream: Costs are rising, new homes are getting smaller, and families are shrinking. Yet little by little, many communities are realizing the benefits of coliving as a way to share costs and resources. In Providence, Rhode Island, Pršić & Pršić, a multidisciplinary design office led by partners Almin Pršić and Cara Liberatore, recently completed the renovation of an older Victorian-style mansion into a space for two families.
The house had seen many haphazard interventions, including partitions that transformed the single-family structure into three unique apartments, becoming a “nonconforming” three-family building in a single-family district. The client wished to preserve the multifamily arrangement while organizing the ruckus.
Each family participated creatively in their own way. “There was an interesting informality because there were multiple voices in the conversation,” Liberatore said. “It wasn’t a process where we drew something and then they looked at it and said yes or no. It was very organic.” Pršić and Liberatore worked frequently on-site, where they peeled back layers and took notice of the quirks and misalignments of a settled house, like 2-inch level changes between rooms and flooring that zigzagged around the ghosts of partitions past.
Read more about the coliving project on aninteriormag.com
Bellingham tiny house village needs new home | king5.com
The Unity Village tiny house community has operated in Bellingham’s Fairhaven neighborhood for the past five years. Now, the city needs to expand its sewage treatment facility onto the Unity Village property, and finding a new home for the homeless community housed there is proving difficult. John Coughlin never thought he’d end up homeless. He lost his job of 26 years to COVID-19 cutbacks, then lost his home. Now, home is Unity Village where Coughlin lives with 22 other people getting by on the bare basics in life.
The nonprofit HomesNow! runs Unity Village. It is one of two tiny home communities that Bellingham wants to combine into one on a piece of city-owned property along Northwest Avenue. The property abuts North Coast Credit Union which has an agreement with the city stating no more than eight housing units can be built there. The combined villages would bring up to 52 tiny homes, along with twice the number of vehicles as parking spaces.
All parties have until spring to find a solution. Folks from HomesNow! plan to plead their case for the new location to a county hearing examiner on Aug. 9.
Rockhill Capital & Investments Announces North Square at Uptown Celina, a New-Home Community Two Blocks From Downtown | Business Wire
North Texas real estate developer, Rockhill Capital & Investments, announced North Square at Uptown Celina, a 13-acre residential community just two blocks from Celina’s historic downtown square. The community will include 78 paired homes by award-winning homebuilder Olivia Clarke Homes. Infrastructure construction is complete and new-home construction is now underway with model homes expected to open in the fall.
Now selling from the mid $500,000s, North Square offers large paired homes with three bedrooms and 2.5 baths. The exteriors are influenced by historic homes in the area, while the interiors showcase modern details, ample space, and smart storage solutions. Residents can enjoy a convenient 12’ wide golf-cart-friendly hike and bike trail that connects directly to downtown Celina, providing easy access to shops, restaurants, and events.
North Square at Uptown Celina is part of the Uptown Celina district, which will offer approximately 2,500 homes upon completion. The district aims to provide a variety of lot sizes and home styles, appealing to a mix of buyers with different lifestyles.
Learn more about North Square at Uptown Celina on Business Wire
Governor Maura Healey Signs Most Ambitious Legislation to Address Housing Costs in State History | Mass.gov
Governor Maura Healey signed into law the Affordable Homes Act, the most ambitious legislation in Massachusetts history to tackle housing costs. The legislation authorizes $5.16 billion in spending over the next five years and includes 49 policy initiatives to counter rising housing costs caused by high demand and limited supply.
The Affordable Homes Act supports the production, preservation, and rehabilitation of over 65,000 homes statewide. It allows accessory dwelling units, invests in modernizing the state’s public housing system, boosts programs for first-time homebuyers, incentivizes the construction of housing for low to moderate-income residents, supports the conversion of vacant commercial space to housing, and promotes sustainable and green housing initiatives.
The legislation also creates a Seasonal Communities designation and establishes a framework for unique tools to address housing needs in areas with substantial seasonal employment. Additionally, the Affordable Homes Act authorizes $2 billion for the repair, rehabilitation, and modernization of the state’s public housing portfolio.
Developer plans over-55 community in Dighton; small homes, amenities
Long Built Homes is planning to create The Preserve at Hunters Hill, an over-55 community in Dighton. The community will feature 106 new single-level homes designed by award-winning architects and a clubhouse with multiple amenities. The houses are designed to be the right size for those looking for smaller single-level homes, with options for finished second stories or additional open space. The community will offer features like a fitness center, heated outdoor swimming pool, pickleball courts, and more. The Longs, founders of Long Built Homes, have extensively researched what makes a successful 55-plus community and are committed to providing a vibrant lifestyle for residents.