GEORGETOWN, DE -- Little Living LLC., a Delaware-based non-profit, is looking to bring an affordable tiny housing community along East Market Street in Georgetown. Construction crews have begun work on the first of two example homes along the road.
Paul Buchness, who donated the plot of land to Little Living LLC., said he was surprised at the size of the two-bedroom home being constructed.
"Honestly I was shocked with how big this house is," Buchness said. "I was like that's not a tiny house. It's not even a little house, it's a regular house."
Buchness said he felt inspired to donate the land due to a lack of affordable housing in the area.
"Affordability is difficult for anybody right now," Buchness said. "Working people need a break. You can work your whole life and still not be able to afford to buy a house."
Little Living LLC. President George Meringolo said they eventually hope to create a neighborhood of twenty one-bedroom and two-bedroom homes on the lot.
"Today is a very emotional day for me," Meringolo said. "To see this house going up, and to go through it and realize it's a beautiful house inside, and that it'll be a nice house for people to live in while being highly affordable."
Meringolo said the one-bedroom homes will go for $85,000, and the two-bedroom homes will go for $100,000. According to Meringolo, monthly payments for the homes will be around $1000 or less. He said the entire neighborhood process is estimated to cost $1.6 million.
The president emphasized a need for affordable housing in Georgetown and said the prices of the homes hope to target the average workforce.
"These are the checkout people in the supermarkets. These are the people working at Purdue," Meringolo said. "They need housing. We need at least 20 to 30 thousand more houses to support growth in the state of Delaware. You're not gonna get it if those houses cost 400 to 500 thousand."
The contractor for the project, Ken Lloyd, explained how the costs of the homes stay lower.
"By keeping square footage low, we can keep it down but still give people a good quality home," Lloyd said.
Lloyd said they could finish one of the homes in four to six weeks. Meringolo said they hope to have the two example homes finished by the end of May.
Meringolo said, that once the example homes are complete, they will invite Georgetown officials to the lot to see them. Afterward, he said they would continue discussions to get final approval for the entire proposed neighborhood.
Anyone interested in donating towards the project can visit Little Living LLC.'s website, according to the president.