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Ann Arbor official says he'll propose "tiny houses" as affordable housing option

A 140 square foot "tiny house."
Gregory Johnson
/
The Environment Report

A member of the Ann Arbor City Council says he will introduce a resolution directing city staff to draft a plan for establishing a small village of tiny houses on city-owned property across from the YMCA.

Ryan Stanton of the Ann Arbor News reports that council member Stephen Kunselman announced Tuesday his plans to bring forward the resolution at the next council meeting on June 15.

Kunselman noted tiny houses were discussed as a possibility for county-owned property on Platt Road, and he wants to have a similar discussion about the city-owned property at 415 W. Washington St. "Something actually can be done very cheaply and affordably," he said. "It's a prime location. It's near an existing homeless shelter where services are provided. There's actually even a homeless hostel being operated just up the street."

Kunselman's colleagues didn't offer an immediate response to his proposal, but the concept of tiny houses has been discussed by community leaders as a means for expanding the supply of affordable housing.

Kunselman says the tiny home communities, which essentially are trailers on parking lots, have been created in other states.

He says it can be done cheaply at what he calls a prime location in Ann Arbor.

Mark Brush was the station's Digital Media Director. He succumbed to a year-long battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, in March 2018. He was 49 years old.
The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting.
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