Why Small Houses Belong In Historic Neighborhoods

From Tiny House Blog
Benefits of building a small house within a historic district:

• Site utilities are already in place, saving on development costs
• Established neighborhoods have sidewalks and mature trees
• Zoning laws are commonly adapted to lot sizes and the scale of surrounding properties, allowing for smaller footprints
• Historic neighborhoods are often within walking distance to stores and restaurants reducing or eliminating the need for a car
• Neighbors to look out for you and socialize with; many historic preservation proponents have similar mindsets to tiny house people
• Historic District design standards direct the area’s future development which often helps to maintain economic stability
• Many historic districts allow for accessory dwellings behind the main residence that can be even smaller than the main house, allowing for rental income or a co-op living arrangement
• Property values are based on livability, aesthetics and historic character rather than a “bigger is better” mentality
• When looking for a lot for your small house, you may find the perfect little house already in existence waiting for your loving touch – historic preservation is the ultimate recycling project

When looking for an appropriate historic neighborhood to build in consider the following:

• Look for a neighborhood of predominantly smaller homes; neighborhoods with shotgun style or bungalows are generally suitable
• Neighborhoods platted from the 1890s to 1930s developed for working class residents often have small lots suited for smaller homes
• Irregular or previously subdivided lots, often called “non-conforming” by zoning standards, may be perfect for construction of a small house and very affordable
• Look for an “up and coming” neighborhood, preferably with an active neighborhood association for more affordable property
• Avoid neighborhoods where the trend has been to demolish the older small homes and replace them with “McMansions”
• Avoid neighborhoods where new additions to existing homes are equal to or bigger than the original historic home
• Look at the architectural style of surrounding homes; you will likely be required to build a home with similar scale and shape (i.e. if most of the homes have gable roofs, yours will more likely meet design requirements if it also has a gable roof)
• Talk to local Zoning officials to find out minimum and maximum lot coverage, setbacks, parking requirements and other site development regulations before you buy
• Talk to the local Historic Preservation office to learn about design guidelines for infill construction within the neighborhood before you design your small home
• Consider buying a lot with an existing home and build a tiny house behind to provide rental income if zoning allows

For those interested in living more economically in a smaller footprint without having to build from scratch, looking for a house in a historic district may be a great opportunity to both live in an attractive home and neighborhood and to recycle an entire house. If the perfect house doesn’t already exist, or is not within budget, building a new small house within a historic district may be just the right combination.