
Home Coalition working to ensure 80 percent of people in SWFL have access to housing, transportation that costs less than 45% of their income
As a local contractor dedicated to creating innovative housing solutions, I’ve witnessed how current zoning and land-use policies can pose challenges to addressing our housing needs. Small-footprint homes — efficient, affordable, and community-oriented — offer a promising solution. However, certain misunderstandings need to be dispelled to make these homes a viable option: potential impacts on property tax revenue and perceptions about who would live in these homes.
Critics argue that small-footprint homes won’t generate enough property tax revenue. The truth is smaller homes don’t mean smaller economic contributions. In fact, increasing housing density by subdividing land can enhance tax revenue. For example, a single 10,000-square-foot lot with one large home might yield $3,500 annually in property taxes. If that same lot is divided into four parcels, each with a 750-square-foot home, the total tax revenue could rise to $10,000 annually, a 285% increase. Small-footprint developments also encourage more sustainable urban growth, reducing sprawl and infrastructure costs.
These homes are designed for hardworking professionals earning between $55,000 and $90,000 annually. These are the teachers shaping our children’s futures, the police officers ensuring our safety, and the nurses caring for our loved ones. They’re young professionals starting careers, retirees downsizing to stay near family, and middle-income families seeking stability in a challenging housing market.
Currently, many of these individuals find homeownership in our area beyond their reach, with the median home price at $380,000; far out of reach for someone earning $70,000 a year. Small-footprint homes offer a path to ownership and long-term investment in our community. When residents own their homes, they’re more likely to engage in community activities, support local businesses, and contribute to the city’s vibrancy.
We have the opportunity to adapt policies to support smaller homes. By reducing minimum lot sizes, encouraging smaller homes, and fostering innovative developments, we can build dynamic neighborhoods that increase tax revenue, meet the housing needs of our workforce, and strengthen the community fabric.
Envision a neighborhood where a young teacher can purchase her first home, a retired couple can comfortably downsize, and a firefighter can live close to his workplace. Picture streets lined with thoughtfully designed, sustainable homes that reflect our community’s commitment to addressing the housing crisis, giving everyone the opportunity to find a place they can call home.
As owner of Miniopolis and partner of the Home Coalition, my vision is to build sustainable, energy efficient, attainable homes rooted in the community. Our innovative building techniques are attractive, hurricane resistant, and green. I was inspired to make the American dream of home ownership a reality for hard-working families by building smaller footprint homes.
The Home Coalition is a regional network of cross-sector partners working to ensure that 80 percent of people in Southwest Florida have access to housing and transportation that costs less than 45% of their income by 2040. By joining forces with stakeholders from various sectors, the Home Coalition is committed to shaping a future where housing and transportation are not barriers to economic wellbeing but pillars of a thriving community in Southwest Florida.
Together, we can build a foundation for economic prosperity and a sustainable future for generations to come.