Tiny Homes Don't Need to Be Ugly Homes

There's been some debate lately around the tiny homes provision of the Affordable Homes Act, namely that towns that accept this designation need to promulgate a bylaw allowing them. Personally, I am a big fan of smaller homes; a 400 square foot home with a 200sf loft is a great starter home for a single or couple that mirrors the size of small apartments in burroughs/neighborhoods like Beacon Hill, Back Bay, and Manhattan. Below is some tiny home eye candy. I could live in one of these!

I just want to reiterate that the Tiny Homes provision does not include any limits as to ceiling height; in fact, they explicitly allow lofts.

Some of these homes are modular and most can be built for between $50k and $200k. With the crisis we face with housing, it's a smart strategy that allows for growth at a much smaller environmental cost.

Should the town vote to accept its seasonal communities designation, it will fall on us to write a tiny homes bylaw. My point is a thoughtful bylaw can protect the character of the town, while encouraging society to live smaller in line with the needs of the planet in a time burdened by climate change.