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I’d laugh if this wasn’t so depressing

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* From the Illinois Administrative Code on county jail standards…

d) Dormitory Space […]

A) At least 50 square feet of floor space shall be provided per occupant.

A Chicago company is pushing a solution for sheltering both migrants and the unhoused: micro homes.

Why it matters: Housing and shelter is scarce for the thousands of migrants and unhoused as winter looms.

What’s happening: Inherent Homes has developed a prototype to provide an alternative to tents on sidewalks and under viaducts that can be built fast in their Lawndale facility.

As you’ll see, this story is a lot like stories we saw during the pandemic when inventors, well-meaning or not, convinced reporters that they had a fabulous plan to solve a problem. In this case, reporters didn’t do basic math.

* WBBM Radio…

Inherent Homes sells its 80-square-feet micro homes for less than $20,000 each. The space includes: a steel security door; a lofted, full bed; an area for a second bed, crib or desk; solar power and battery storage; a fresh air system; a toilet; and, crucially, a heating system.

Eighty square feet. Two beds. If it’s set up for two people, it wouldn’t be allowed at a jail. But it’s not two people. It’s six. Yes, six.

* Crain’s…

Swanson said the factory could turn out 10 micro-homes a week. Each unit can house up to six people, which would mean the factory-built micro-homes would deliver new shelter for up to 60 people a week. In the past year, about 21,200 migrants have arrived in Chicago.

Six people in 80 square feet with two beds. And there’s some sort of “loft” area…

I suppose they could put a ceiling in there and store live bodies on top, but, man, that’s gonna be just a wee bit tight. And there’ll be a composting toilet inside each house. Lovely.

* Back to Crain’s…

There’s also “a delightful little 1-foot front porch,” as Swanson described it.

The delightful front porch…

Even if the company can make ten a week, and even if they can cram six human beings into an 80 square foot room, the production just doesn’t scale.

Nice free publicity, though. They have one heckuva PR firm. It also helps that the local alderperson is on board…

Ald. Walter Burnett (27th), in whose ward Swanson lives, was on hand to see the demonstration model delivered to the parking lot of the Chicago Children’s Theater at 100 S. Racine Ave. He said he supports the project and is working to get Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration to come check it out.

I’m thinking no.

Look, the tent city is not ideal at all. In fact, it’s a lousy idea. But, now that the city has finally made a decision, they can stand it up fairly quick. This housing company has been around several months and is building full-size houses, but not quickly…

Earlier in 2023, the company said it acquired enough parcels around the city to place 30 modular homes and two-flats. So far, it has delivered three houses.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 1:09 pm

Comments

Code’s gonna require a railing for those “porch” steps.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 1:13 pm
=But it’s not two people. It’s six. Yes, six.=

I saw this news report last week and thought the same thing after they said 2 beds but then reporter closed with “houses six”. huh? Maybe they’ll “hot rack” like they do in navy submarines.

Comment by Chito Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 1:19 pm
Lovely tent weather in Chicago today. Maybe Ald. Burnett just knows which way the wind is blowing. If you can’t help friends and all…

Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 1:29 pm
The interior of a coffin is 16 square feet.

I agree with Rich that citizens and noncitizens alike are entitled to atleast as much space as convicted murderers and rapists.

But I hope we can all agree that they are atleast entitled to more space than the inside of a coffin.

Used 26 foot camping trailers with 250 sq ft of space that sleep 4 and include a stove, sink, fridge, heat, and AC start at around $6K.

Has anyone in Chicago heard of RVTrader.com?

Because I just looked, and there’s 130 trailers (hard side, not pop-up) listed for under $20K within 50 miles of Chicago.

On top of that, NW Indiana is the RV Capitol of the US, I bet they manufacture half the campers sold in the US, I’m sure you can get a great deal on a bulk order. When in doubt, call Mark.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 1:37 pm
The Senate GOP already called dibs on one of these micro homes for caucus meetings. Plenty o room.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 1:37 pm
@Michelle - I think as long as you are under 30 inches off the ground you are okay. But treating it like an actual porch does highlight the absurdity.

Look, in the summer you could put flower pots there, and I imagine if it’s not raining or snowing it’s a ledge you can leave shoes on, but “porch” ain’t the right word for sure.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 1:40 pm
===The interior of a coffin is 16 square feet.===

It’s more like 13, but still. That is 78 square feet side by side.

https://tindallfuneralhome.com/blogs/blog-entries/1/Our-Blogs/147/Are-All-Caskets-The-Same-Size.html

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 1:44 pm
Progressive governing at its best. Good luck Chicago

Comment by NotRich Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 1:45 pm
The Lightfoot administration talked up this as a possible solution to homelessness. Not sure what happened to this proposal:

https://therealdeal.com/chicago/2022/12/06/chicago-approves-3m-tiny-home-village-for-homeless/

Comment by Telly Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 2:04 pm
For comparison, the standard room at the Statehouse Inn is 205 square feet.

Comment by ORD-ELP Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 2:10 pm
at the pace set by Walter’s company building enough to handle the current crew would take about 6 years and 8 months.

Comment by Annon'in Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 2:25 pm
Um, don’t call us, we’ll call you.

Comment by Flapdoodle Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 2:32 pm
“a delightful little 1-foot front porch,”
In my world, that’s called a step.

Comment by Bruce( no not him) Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 2:40 pm
8 x 10? I guess springing for that 3rd sheet of 4×8 OSB blew the budget. /S

I’d have to check building code, but a powder room is 20 sq. ft. and a cot is about 24.

Comment by Jocko Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 2:48 pm
Rent the porch to a skinny kid who sleeps on his side?…Why not.

Comment by Dotnonymous x Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 3:38 pm
No matter what kind or manner of housing…Mayor Johnson and his Staff should first test them for a week…24/7…Holding my breath ’till I turn blue…too.

Comment by Dotnonymous x Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 3:42 pm
My single dorm room my junior year was about 200 sq ft and it was cozy.

Comment by levivotedforjudy Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 3:54 pm
A “composting toilet” is a metal schoolroom trash can filled with sawdust, by the way.

Source: I stayed in a tiny home air bnb with a “composting toilet” once. Once.

Comment by sulla Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 4:05 pm
I like the RV idea. Then when they are done with them they could auction them off. But it is supposed to be temporary so the RV idea could work.

Comment by Tinman Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 4:41 pm
Is there a point where we can all just agree as a society that people don’t get to pretend like building a shed for poor people to live in is an innovative solution? People have been living in shacks for thousands of years.

The Chicago area has a housing shortage and a significant problem of migrants being dropped off with no good solutions, and we have people pretending that the most expensive per square foot shack in the history of the human race is a reasonable solution?

Is every person in a leadership position in Chicago too afraid of proposing something that a handful of people might get grumpy about that they’re just not going to do anything and hope the problem goes away?

Here’s an idea: Use imminent domain to seize Arlington Park from the Chicago Bears seem to be suggesting they can’t afford to actually build any of the things that they claim they want to build there and use it to build affordable housing and if someone builds luxury condos there instead after claiming it will be affordable housing, investigate them for fraud.

The City of Halas Park has a nice ring to it.

Comment by Candy Dogood Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 11:14 pm