Zoning and designing for affordability using modular housing

Abstract

<p>Zoning and designing for affordability using modular housing examines the differences between the two types of factory built housing, manufactured and modular. The purpose of the study is to explore why more high quality modular housing isn't being built and how one can build affordable and well designed modular housing in more communities. The text covers multiple topics, including the history, perception, technological advances and financing of factory built housing, from the viewpoint of architects, developers, planners and home buyers. Case study methodology was used to examine how four communities treat modular housing, individually and collectively. One of the communities was purposely selected because it has a unique residential development that used modular construction for roughly one third of the homes. The results show that factory built housing has a relatively small market share and that educating home buyers, as well as professionals, on its benefits are crucial to changing that.</p>