There's a reason mobile homes are cheap and become even cheaper the minute they get plopped on a foundation.hebeters2 wrote:Why Aren’t We Building More Mobile Homes?
Manufactured housing could ease the affordability crisis.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... bile-homes
I don't think you'll get past the stigma of trailer parks. But prefabricated buildings are a solid idea that can be used to speed the cost and timeframe of construction.hebeters2 wrote:Why Aren’t We Building More Mobile Homes?
Manufactured housing could ease the affordability crisis.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... bile-homes
Most of the 'trendy' prefab the last few years has been found in high-end modernist structures. I'm actually kinda surprised it hasn't trickled down to mid-to-low- cost housing more than it has, though I suppose you could include repurposing shipping containers in that category.
8515 Mathilda is a traditional- (and unremarkable-)looking home, but was built using four separate pre-fabricated living sections a few years ago; two for each floor. I watched them truck the 2nd-floor sections in and crane them into place. The roof was attached later; I don't recall whether it was also prefab'd or built in place after the 2nd-floor sections were secured. But it was impressive to see the house rise in about a week's time.
I'd love to see more of that type of construction happen.
-RBB
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I rather dislike snout houses (homes where the garage is closest to the street line), but other than that they seem fairly appropriate to the neighborhood. (And it is one of the better looking snout houses I've seen.) Looks to me like 8511 is a house of the same design, so maybe they're getting around a bit.
Also, this reminds me somewhat of fifties and sixties concepts like the Lustron house. (At least one example of which is still locally extant in Crestwood.) Modular and prefab houses have been around for quite a while, and they've generally aged much better than mobile homes.
Oh, there are several Lustrons still standing, potentially dozens. Most are in the Webster/Kirkwood region; some left unmolested but several whose metal cladding has been hidden behind a skin of vinyl siding.symphonicpoet wrote:Also, this reminds me somewhat of fifties and sixties concepts like the Lustron house. (At least one example of which is still locally extant in Crestwood.) Modular and prefab houses have been around for quite a while, and they've generally aged much better than mobile homes.
I know of one powder-blue steel beauty in the city at 4848 Germania, on the west (RDP) side just south of the Steak 'n Shake. The cladding needed a bit of a power washing last time I looked but is still pretty much unchanged from its original form.
-RBB
Yep; lots of Lustrons in St. Louis.
This Old House did a project recently using factory prefab components. This was a high-quality home with many upper-end features, but the factory-style modular construction kept the price down. I really think we'll see much more of this in the near future.
This Old House did a project recently using factory prefab components. This was a high-quality home with many upper-end features, but the factory-style modular construction kept the price down. I really think we'll see much more of this in the near future.
America is running out of apartments
http://www.businessinsider.com/america- ... nts-2016-9
http://www.businessinsider.com/america- ... nts-2016-9
Interesting chart in a recent Atlantic Cities article examining Detroit's housing market recovery, which shows where St. Louis stands among a handful of other midwestern cities:
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(to be taken with a grain of salt as the Cleveland data is rather suspect)
(to be taken with a grain of salt as the Cleveland data is rather suspect)
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The graph that is shown above, is this referring to just city or metro area numbers for comparison? Since it is not clear on it.
Interesting is how the local numbers seem to reflect how the local economy played out here. Mainly there was a 2nd recession period around 2010-2011 locally and the much more vigorous growth the last two years which the local economy has been doing better than it has in at least a generator.
Interesting is how the local numbers seem to reflect how the local economy played out here. Mainly there was a 2nd recession period around 2010-2011 locally and the much more vigorous growth the last two years which the local economy has been doing better than it has in at least a generator.
I believe that's city. I don't have the link for it but last year STL today posted the average home price in the region was around $197k, the nationwide average was $210k, if you get rid of the large amount of extreme low end housing in undesirable locations we are right on par with national housing prices.
Is there a way to market St. Louis (and its housing market) as a landing spot for folks forced out of areas with much higher cost housing?
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/03/real ... geles.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/03/real ... geles.html
Paywallwalker wrote: ↑Mar 05, 2025Is there a way to market St. Louis (and its housing market) as a landing spot for folks forced out of areas with much higher cost housing?
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/03/real ... geles.html
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Bus stop adverts showing zillow listings for cool apartments you can get for 2k
... in LA bus stopsGoHarvOrGoHome wrote: ↑Mar 05, 2025Bus stop adverts showing zillow listings for cool apartments you can get for 2k
