Community enCompass will be dropping first “urban smart home”
his Saturday, on September 7, downtown Muskegon will see the start of another new housing development, but this time with a twist. Community enCompass, along with several partners will be installing the first ever modular “urban smart home” in Muskegon. With the basement and foundation already set, on September 7th, the street will be blocked off, allowing for a crane to “drop” the home on the foundation, in a matter of hours.
Using an innovative modular construction process, Community enCompass is using a loan from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) to build a spec model for similar new modular housing development in the neighborhood.
The housing development will be done in partnership with the City of Muskegon, who will be building 3 additional modular homes for sale at market rate in the neighborhood. The spec home will be used as a “spec home” for interested buyers, helping to eliminate any stigma associated with modular construction. Potential buyers will be able to witness the quality of construction and finish work first hand by walking through the spec home. Once the three homes are sold, Community enCompass will then sell the spec model to a low income family to provide a sustainable living environment for them while also contributing to the revitalization of the neighborhood through infill development.
After the house is “dropped” on Sept. 7th, all installation and finish work will be completed within 3 weeks. The finished house will be showcased as a stop at Community enCompass’ 8th Annual “Taste and See” Event, a fundraiser, progressive dinner, and neighborhood tour, on Monday, September 23. Tickets on sale here:http://www.communityencompass.org/taste-see
InnovaLaB the former Kent County Land Bank, started installing similar homes on vacant properties in Grand Rapids in 2018, now serving as a consultant for guidance through Community enCompass’ modular construction process. Modular home building in its newest form is innovative and many are saying it is the wave of the future for how to address the housing inventory crisis across this state and the country. The spec home development, followed in quick succession by the other 3 modular home builds, will be something that attracts home buyers, builders, and city planners, because of the unique “first ever” innovation.