KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) – There’s a new house on a Kansas City lot that used to sit empty. It was built in a factory, trucked in and set on a permanent foundation. It could sell for under $250,000, in a market where the typical home now costs $370,000.
A new approach
City leaders cut the ribbon on the project on Wednesday, Oct. 14, calling it the nation’s first urban infill development built with a single section CrossMod home design.
HUD Deputy Assistant Secretary Chris Patterson, U.S. Rep. Derek Schmidt and Kansas City Mayor Christal E. Watson joined the celebration.
What makes these homes different
CrossMod homes are built to look like any other house on the block, with a covered porch, a garage and a permanent foundation. Builders say that means they finance, appraise, and hold value just like a traditional home.
“Too many people in Kansas City are finding that homeownership is out of reach for them. This project proves there is another path forward,” said Guy Brown of Fairlane Contractors. “By turning vacant lots into beautiful new homes, we’re creating opportunities for people to build a future in the community they know and love while bringing new life to neighborhoods across the area.”
A design built for tight city lots
The floor plan behind this project is only a year old. Clayton first showed it off at HUD’s Innovative Housing Showcase, designing it specifically for narrow city lots where space is tight but demand for housing is not. This Kansas City project is the first time it’s been used in an urban infill setting anywhere in the country.
Faster builds, lower costs
Builders say the factory setup is what makes the math work. While a home is being built indoors, away from rain and weather delays, crews can prep the lot outside at the same time. That overlap shaves time off the schedule, something developers say could make it easier to replicate this approach in other neighborhoods that need housing.
“What excites me most about this development is what these homes will mean for the families who will live in them,” said Colt Davis, Chief Operating Officer of Clayton Home Building Group and President of Clayton Manufacturing. “This Kansas City initiative shows that with the right partnerships and innovative homes, we can create new opportunities for families to put down roots, build a future and take that important step toward owning a home. It’s also a chance to help make better use of available land and bring new life to neighborhoods that have so much potential.”…