The series was a program developed by the city’s Affordable Housing Committee to replace pre-HUD Code homes with modular units, as MHProNews reported July 2, 2014, but no developers or residents have utilized the city’s plan, according to blufftontoday. (In 2011 the city underwrote the building of three modular homes, but it took so long to sell the homes the town decided to open the door for private builders, as MHProNews noted Dec. 19,2011.)
Barth says the neighborhood will be called Tidal Cottages. He says, “I like the home series because (the modular designs), I think, are indicative of the Lowcountry, and it was always my idea to (build modular units) to save the root systems of all the beautiful trees,“ Barth said. “When Bluffton came up with the home series and said they were going to ‘fast track’ houses, I always thought it was a good idea.“
Barth visualizes a low-impact development project, utilizing bio-filtration water design with a zero discharge site for stormwater. In addition, the twenty-nine parking spaces will be on previous surfaces to prevent disruption of the root system of the major trees on the property.
Barth presented his plan to the Historic Preservation Commission, but still needs approval from the Blffton Planning Commission. “I am thinking about six months of planning, and we should be set to build,“ he said. ##
(Photo credit: wsavtv–modular home built by Bluffton city in 2011)
