Tiny House Movement Arrives in Omaha

"A village of 50 stand-alone dwellings, each about the size of a small hotel room, is poised to rise on two acres of mostly industrial property in north downtown," reports Cindy Gonzalez from Omaha.

Arch Icon Development and Siena Francis House are working together on the project, offering the village as a "next step toward independence for folks who have been thriving in other homeless shelter programs," according to Gonzalez.

"Each tiny house would be rented, and will include a kitchen, bedroom, living area and covered porch. They will be part of a gated neighborhood featuring a community center with common laundry and bike storage rooms, a business hub and offices for on-site managers."

The village will be located within walking distance of the Siena Francis House headquarters, and numerous other opportunities for services, for an additional boost for residents.

The article references Eric Englund of the Omaha Planning Department as a subject matter expert on the potential benefit of the project to an area that has tended to see a lack of development interest. "It’s at a sort of forgotten crossroads: to the west is neglected parkland; to the east is an industrial corridor and the emerging Millwork Commons district; to the south are services for the homeless and veterans; and to the north is a residential neighborhood," writes Gonzalez to summarize Englund's insight.

Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture designed the project, according to the article.