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Recycled cargo containers could create green affordable workforce housing for Atlanta

Developments like Container City are an excellent solution to Atlanta's ambitious goals for affordable workforce housing. 

Atlanta officials have earmarked approximately $240 million of TAD funds to be set aside in a trust fund for the purpose of building affordable workforce housing.

The goal is to prevent the displacement of lower income families as the city of Atlanta grows. The commitment is estimated to create up to 5,600 new workforce housing units inside the BeltLine area, the most significant investment of it's kind in Atlanta's history.

You'd be hard-pressed to find a greener building solution than recycling cargo containers. And at $80 - $100 dollars per month rent, they define affordable. Some folks might argue the desirability of a 300 square foot home [the size of a single container], but one trip to IKEA can open your eyes to how liveable a space that size can be. Apply technologies like insulating paint, and you're ready to shake-n-bake with a recipe for truly affordable and sustainable architecture.

I've discovered a cargo container home under construction in my travels through Atlanta, not far from the King Memorial MARTA Station [pictured below]. So it would appear that any zoning or building code issues have been resolved. This home appears to consist of six containers stacked two wide and three high and probably doesn't fall into the realm of "affordable," but it certainly sets a precedent for a Container City Atlanta.

cargo%20container%20house%20near%20MLK%20MARTA.jpg 

Posted on Sunday, December 2, 2007 at 01:56PM by Registered CommenterBurke Sisco | Comments4 Comments | References1 Reference

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Reader Comments (4)

hey, I am a big fan of container houses, and I was wondering if you could help me find that container house in atlanta to take pics of.
I would like to actually see a container house built,

any info would be cool, I tried to see if I could find it from google earth, but no real luck.

thanks :)
April 2, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterstpdmnky
How can I get more information on the pictured three story container home in Atlanta. I had an email address for this owner...but never got a responce. Looks like this person did it right...not one to copy, but when someone has paved the way and has some vision, they might share.
May 17, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterScott
The architect on this house was Francis Kirkpatrick. My company did the structural engineering - check out our website for more information on this house. I'll keep adding information on this house and container houses in general.http://www.runkleconsulting.com/Container%20House/Shipping%20Container%20House.htm
June 29, 2008 | Unregistered Commentergeorge
Envision Prefab is engaged in the process of designing, building, and selling green, affordable prefab homes built from cargo containers. The concept behind Envision Prefab is to target the affordable housing market by bringing a new level of sustainability and environmentally responsible construction to the workforce-housing marketplace. Essentially, Envision Prefab provides "Workforce Green"

envisionprefab.com
October 30, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterEnvision Prefab

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