This blog is a record of one development team in downtown Philly trying to see if they can build both a modern and “green” house for a measly $100,000.
The number
How did we come up with $100K as a target for our house. Basically $100K seems to be the “magic number” in circles of those of us seeking an affordable and modern home. Whether it’s for an affordable housing initiative or simply someone wishing they could afford to build their own home for a reasonable amount, $100K or $100 a square foot seems to be the target.
The house
The house we are planning to build is going to be a very basic 2 bedroom, 1.5 bath house with roughly 1,000 square feet of livable space. It will be two stories and easily built on any infill, urban lot (or suburban if you don’t mind being different). The 1,000 sq ft size is meant to hit both the $100K and $100 psf target construction cost at the same time while also providing a house capable of supporting a couple or small family. The house will also be designed for ease of additions in the future as the home owner’s requirements for more space change.
The location
An urban, infill lot in an up and coming neighborhood just north of center city Philadelphia know as New or East Kensington. The lot is roughly 18′ wide by 60′ deep which will share walls with a house on either side of it. How’s that for infill!
The team
The team consists of a developer (postgreen), an architect (interface studio architects) and a builder (Level 5 Construction).