On the Atascadero city cable network, a City Council member recently boldly advertised that a developer wishes to develop a 1.7-acre lot in Atascadero and build approximately 26 “tiny homes.” This council member proudly remarked that this was an “affordable housing” development for Atascadero.
These free-standing units will range from approximately 500 square feet to 900 square feet in size. Prices start at $250,000 and jump to $350,000. Some quick math indicates that the price per square foot, at these prices, is approximately $390 to $500 per square foot per dwelling. I do not know where this council member resides and what style home he currently owns. Personally, I have not stepped into $500-per-square-foot homes in any zip codes in California that I can recall.
The developer’s cost for the land, permits, and other fees cannot warrant these excessive mortgage premiums. The developer will gain the advantage of being able to utilize a Henry Ford type of construction line building these dwellings on the one parcel. Henry Ford, using the same techniques, made the cost of a Model T very reasonable and within the budget of the common man. I request that the city of Atascadero in its earliest consideration of this project delve deep into what is an acceptable cost per square foot and reasonable profit for this developer. Some quick math indicates that this small lot might bring in a total of approximately $10 million or more on a 1.7-acre developed site.
I wholeheartedly support our dire need for affordable housing. This project does not in any sense afford first-time homebuyers with any bang for their buck and exceeds any semblance of affordability or practicality to the buyer. I suggest that New Times investigate further how essentially unaffordable housing, with square footage costs exceeding that of Bel Air or Beverly Hills, can be shuffled off on the consumer while he or she listens to the roar of Highway 101 traffic that borders this parcel’s development.
This project as tentatively discussed is a parody on affordability and an affront to sensibility. We have become jaded to think that $500-per-square-foot building costs are acceptable on what I gather will be approximately 1,500 to 2,000 square foot lot sizes for each dwelling. The words of Mr. Redd Foxx on the TV show named Sanford and Son must be heralded here: “Are you crazy?”
Robert Sonek
Atascadero
This article appears in Nov 14-24, 2019.
The real story to dig into is how much developer money is being doled out on the sly to get these idiots in control of A-town to try and pass this project off as humanitarian and affordable.
It didn’t make any sense to this A-town heavy residential property tax (plus) payer the first time I recently read about it and NEVER will in its current planned configuration.
When something smells fishy, there is usually a dead fish lying [sic] around.
You claim to be reporters, research and report before this BS gets built, NOT after the fact.
This was my first thought on reading about this proposal, I’d never spend that much money on such a ridiculously small space. I only moved to Atascadero a year ago and am very disappointed in the politics here 🙁
Too late to stop the development approval process. The dirty appearing A-town city council approved the sham development mid week.
Now dig deep in research NTS to find out how $500/sq ft housing was considered and approved as affordable housing.
Some serious BS is taking place right under everyones (elses, not mine) noses.