EVANSVILLE — The first two container homes in Evansville are officially complete on Cody Street and awaiting potential buyers.
The 640-square-foot homes − one at 1108 Cody St. and another at 1107 Cody St. − are fully furnished, with two bedrooms, one bathroom, a porch and small yard. The project, a joint effort with the Community Action Program of Evansville and the city's Department of Metropolitan Development, is part of a long-range feasibility study to see if this design works for the city. shipping container homes
While new to Evansville, container homes are not a new concept. According to Container One, the first shipping container home built in the United States was finished in 2007, but the idea has been around for far longer.
CAPE CEO Gary Roan presented the homes during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday.
"It's always been my philosophy affordable housing doesn't mean sacrificing quality or having fewer amenities," he said. "To me it means providing the type of housing I would want to live in."
Roan said builders invested in energy-efficient appliances, solar energy and landscaping.
"Because of the uniqueness of the container homes we have staged them to increase the value and increase generational wealth opportunities," he said. "Generational wealth benefits the entire community because it is truly the sum of us."
Roan told the Courier & Press they hope to start the selling process as soon as possible. At this time, they are working with an appraiser to help set a price.
CAPE will also be working with a real estate agent to list the homes, to keep the transaction at "arm's length." There will also be up to $5,000 in down payment assistance available for each home.
"We want to make sure it's priced for affordability," Roan said. "That's going to be the main consideration."
Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry said the container homes represent a sustainable method for building more affordable housing.
container restaurant "They're smaller, on smaller lots, using sustainable materials in a cost-efficient way, and they look pretty darn good," she said. "As we work to meet the housing need and the affordable housing needs in our community we know that this is a model we can look to expand."