Gresham Smith Celebrates Completion of Affordable Housing in Nashville
Gresham Smith celebrates the completion of four micro homes in Nashville’s Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood. The firm provided civil engineering and landscape architecture services for the community, which was developed by Affordable Housing Resources, Inc., designed by Auburn University students as part of the Rural Design Studio’s Front Porch Initiative, and constructed by Honeybee Builders. With estimated mortgage payments of $900 a month, the new homes will help provide affordable housing options to Nashville residents.
“We are very grateful to Gresham Smith for their work in helping us lay out the four micro homes on the lot to create a unique community for the homeowners,” said Eddie Latimer, CEO of Affordable Housing Resources. “Their team also led us through the required rezoning process, and we couldn’t have brought this project to life without them.”
“We are proud to have played a role in bringing affordable housing to Nashville. As the city continues to grow, the need for cost-effective living solutions will only increase,” said Mickey Sullivan, P.E., Senior Vice President at Gresham Smith. “Everyone deserves to benefit from good design, regardless of their income level. The tight urban site proved a challenge, but creative site planning enabled our team to create a community that will turn houses into homes, and move us one step closer to addressing the systemic issues and financial impact of energy efficiency, building durability, health outcomes, and wealth creation.”
Gresham Smith worked with the City of Nashville to obtain a zoning variance that enabled the team to build two single-family homes on two adjacent lots, which resulted in lower land cost per home. Using three different floorplans, the 550-square-foot, one-bedroom, one-bathroom homes are arranged around a central courtyard and feature easy-to-maintain landscaping. All four of the are designed for maximum energy efficiency, with monthly utility bills expected to cost approximately $35.
