2/21 Newsletter
2/21 Newsletter
We broke ground on our first project in Easthampton this week and could not have hoped for better weather. After a week of rain, the clouds parted, the temperature dropped enough to dry the ground out and created the perfect environment for executing site work. Mike and his son were pleased to be working in reasonably warm temperature despite it being February. We'll begin pouring the foundation next week and plan to have the house ready to move in by the 3rd/4th week of March.
We were also invited to participate in our local Habitat For Humanity's Small Home Forum at the end of March. THANK YOU Jess and Megan, we were honored by the invitation. Reserve your tickets soon because this forum is going to fill up quickly.
2/7 – 2/21 News
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City Updates:
Salem's mayor is continuing her fight for ADUs after a setback last fall. The new proposal includes a city-sponsored low interest loan program to help residents build the additional unit and tax breaks if units are rented affordably. Read the article.
Burlington, VT just passed a sweeping update to its bylaw to encourage more homeowners to build backyard cottages. The city also launch a pilot program to provide homeowners technical assistance to build backyard cottages for seniors and lower income residents. Read the article.
Do you have an update about your city/town? Email us and we'll include it in our next newsletter.
Events:
Amherst Downsizing Forum: Local Rules for Backyard Tiny Homes
Where: Amherst Senior Center
When: March 2nd @ 6:30pm
Northampton Downsizing Forum: Local Rules for Backyard Tiny Homes
Where: Forbes Library
When: March 11th @ 6:30pm
Habitat for Humanity's Small Home Forum
Where: Greenfield Community College Dining Commons
When: March 27th @ 8:30am – 12:30pm
Register: https://www.pvhabitat.org/events/small-home-forum-2020/
Featuring keynote speaker Sheri Koones!
Stayed tuned for events in Pelham, Greenfield and a "how to" on building and then selling micro-cottages on your land.
If you'd like to partner on an information session, please ask! We love to partnering with realtors, banks, schools, churches, breweries, etc!
MORE NEWS!
Easthampton Project
Holes are dug, utilities are being run and the foundation will be poured next week! The home components will be delivered on March 10th and set with a crane on March 12th.
We are also blogging about the progress and sharing details about what happens at our factory partners facility.
Update on Springfield Micro-Cottage Community
Christy (head of the non-profit Western MA Tiny Home Initiative) and I attended an information session about applying for grant funding from Springfield's CPA fund. The session was very informative and we think our micro-cottage concept has a good chance of receiving funding through their competitive grant process–if we find land in time.
We need to identify and have a purchase and sale agreement on a piece of land by April 1. If you know of a parcel of land in Springfield that is walkable to amenities and at least .5 acres please let us know!
New Team Member
Dorota Glosowitz has joined our team as part-owner to spear head communications and community outreach. She spent 4 years at Valley Venture Mentors and was instrumental in helping build their program into a nationally renown start up accelerator. She'll be leveraging her skills and expertise to help us bring more quality housing to families in the Valley and beyond.
New Customization Partner
We met Lou Conover recently, who does amazing art work with Cedar shingles. His art is the perfect addition to a gable end or front entrance way. His work is the newest customization option that someone can add to their new small home.
Check out his work here: http://www.shingledesigns.com/portfolio.html
Dinner at Pioneer Valley Cohousing Community
Due to the enormous amount of interest from landowners interested in creating micro-cottage communities and from people wanting to live in them, we decided to learn more about how to add a community group of small houses.
Nancy Bair was gracious enough to invite us to a community dinner the Pioneer Valley Cohousing Community so we could see what it was all about. The takeaways were countless, but here are a few that standout:
Communities don't just form themselves. It takes hard work, time and intentionality from the community members.
Residents must find time to participate. Life is not all about the daily grind.
Communities can't be formed when a phone is higher priority than asking a neighbor about their day.
Community projects bring residents together and strengthen relationships.
