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In November 2014, city council members in Walsenburg, Colorado, a crossroads community located 90 miles south of Colorado Springs, eliminated a longstanding zoning code prohibiting buildings smaller than 600 square feet. They wanted to make room for so-called tiny homes, the trendy structures that have become popular with everyone from millennials to baby boomers seeking simpler, less cluttered lifestyles.
SEE ALSO: Upcoming Tiny House Community Near Boulder, Colorado
Tiny House-friendly Suburb in Colorado
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Read the full story here: http://www.outsideonline.com/2042806/worlds-first-tiny-home-suburb-coming-colorado-mountain-town-near-you
Discussion: What do you think about this tiny house-friendly suburb in Colorado? Wouldn’t it be great to see more city and zoning leaders make decisions like this? I believe that slowly but surely, we’ll continue to see this happen in more places. What are your thoughts?
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Alex
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I’m glad to see that communities are starting to remove the restrictions on minimum home size. I’m convinced tiny homes are the wave of the future.
I agree completely CathyAnn. My preference would be a small house community, permanent houses not ones on wheels. I really think towns/cities and builders are completely missing the boat by not moving quickly on relaxing the zoning and getting these communities built. These places would sell like hotcakes in my home state of FL.
Drive through Walsenburg frequently on our way to Pagosa Springs Co -where we are currently working on our tiny off grid shed/cabin. Walsenburg is a great little town – exciting news! However, in the State of Colorado, unless you own significant acreage, current law forbids rainwater catchment systems and one must haul water to the property. (I think I clicked report a comment initially by accident……I apologize!)
This sounds great. The lots look pretty large, not crowded like many communities, pretty expensive though. One of the reasons I want to go small is for the cost. Some communities seem to be pushing small space opulence, in homes I would be afraid to move around in, for fear of damaging the space. Maybe other communities will adopt their own version of this. I want to be legal and in a home I can move, since I want to be able to move it if I need to for my job. Living small is not new, zoning boards adopted minimum area rules to keep investments people make tied to the area, even if a place becomes a dump, local companies are likely to make money to rehab it or tear it down. It seems to me that a home that can be moved would be a much better option for the neighbors and the home owners. I think vacant lots should look better and be easier to maintain or sell than vacant homes.
A new tiny home community is really welcome news. Incumbent upon the developers should be some sort of landscape buffering deed restriction and a fairly generous minimum lot size among other restrictions that could come to mind. The reason being, if lots are sold in densities like a trailer park, the community will lose a lot of the charm and distinctiveness and appeal the TH community needs to communicate to make these communities more generally appealing across the country. Look at every TH photo spread. Usually a lot of green space around the building and some trees as a buffer from the adjacencies. That’s the lifestyle. Or are you buying only what they’re selling?
I hope someone is listening.
I live in Pueblo, CO. Our town is smaller than Colo Springs and Denver, CO. My dream is to own TH in the future and with hope that Walsenburg and other places in Colorado would grow a community whether it is off grid or not TH. Because the tiny homes is a big thing for someone like me who dreams of owning and hoping a community will grow TH living.
Here is the last article concerning the Tiny house community progress and plans and contact info for information.
http://huerfanojournal.com/walsenburg-p-z-chair-says-tiny-home-interest-growing-large-for-city-in-recent-report/
You make a good point Misty. I agree with you, vacant lots are easier and cheaper in upkeep than homes that fall to disrepair when people don’t want them. Perhaps as THOW enthusiasts check for permitting, each person can say the same thing and someone on the council may want to come up with a “new idea” hehehe and just happen to over hear you 🙂 thumbs up! God bless and happy trails everyone through out the new year 2016.
Was excited to hear of a TH community near Boulder. Used to live there and loved it but its too crowded no . However, the lots sound very small and expensive. They would be way too close together. To bad. 🙁