The lot fit 9 McMansions. They built 44 small homes for locals instead

Maggie and John Randolph kept losing employees priced out of the New Hampshire coast, so they got to support local workers by building a pocket neighborhood of tiny homes, helping them avoid long commutes or housing issues. The lot was originally zoned for 9 luxury homes, but they took advantage of a special zoning program which allowed them to build 44 homes on less than 4 acres.

“As a developer we could have built $700,00 to $800,000-dollar homes versus building these”, explains John, a contractor, but instead he and his wife Maggie, an architect, used their skills to design affordable housing. To keep the footprint within the legal size of a tiny home, each 384-square-foot bungalow has a 160-square-foot loft that can be used as a bedroom.

The rents here are about half that of market one-bedrooms in Dover (NH), but each unit is a stand-alone home built around a common green. “I love the idea of pocket neighborhoods,” explains Maggie, “and how do we create communities, creating opportunities to interact with each other”.

Every house at their Cottages at Back River Road has a ground-floor bedroom, a loft that could serve as a second bedroom, a kitchen, a living room, a bathroom with a stand-up shower, washer and dryer hookups, and a mini-split system for heating and cooling.

[ravicka]

We need this as entry level home buying, not just rentals.

[JustMoi]

I am surprised by all the negative comments. This couple are providing lovely, affordable homes to people who WANT to live there. They ae trying their best to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. To all those complainers out there, let's see you put your time and money where your mouth is. Yes, they have money but this couple have also worked physically hard to get this project up and running. I suspect they live and breathe their business 24/7 and have always worked hard. I applaud their efforts and wish more employers (and property developers) were like them.

[hotstewglass]

Why aren’t we doing this all over the USA? So admirable to think of your employees.

[bellarose]

I love the care the employers show their staff. Ingenuity at its finest! ❤

[lydiakinnaman]

Brilliant... they need to do that for the Elderly and our Veterans.

[jeannamcgregor]

I would put fruit trees into those central common spaces. With that many people I would think, with a couple of pole fruit pickers, the fruit would be harvested and used. I love this project! 💚

[smrk]

This took a lot of math. Smart thinking to eliminate waste. Awesome 😎

[justmaria]

What an amazing couple. What an amazing little community. Please return for a visit in a couple of years. We'd like to see them greened out and planted with trees, and quite frankly, how the residents have taken care of their little neighborhood. It is my hope this video is shared and that more communities will begin their own affordable neighborhoods.

[TonyDoGood]

That's little boy makes my heart melt. So good to see these families get to have a home.. Imagine how that boys life would have been without this home..

[Sher-]

I am 60 live in Ga with my 68 yr old cousin she was a RN for 35 yrs and she got glaucoma and unfortunately now she is legally blind and has had 4 cornea transplants. I worked 26 yrs full time and from lifting so much weight on my job at hospital I hurt my back we have been looking for something like this the rent is horrible everywhere. I sure wish you guys would look into buying something in the Appalachian mountains up around north ga I can assure you guys would never go wrong building more of these. God please send us something like this!! You guys are amazing. I live like 30 mins from Former President Carter and I remember him and his wife always working with habitat for humanity here in Ga. They help build many homes in Americus Ga. So glad I found y’all’s channel. God Bless you guys.

[seeingyouontube]

Respect and admiration for this talented, driven couple!

[-sstevens]

Impressed that they're taking care of their employees first. And then being selective about a mix of other people, ages and work.
Well done. Willing to move when have space... ❤

[Bashfuldoc]

If only all people would think of ways to help others while also protecting the environment. This makes me so happy!

[HurricaneHeather]

This!!! This is what I have been wanting to see more of in housing. Intentional communities designed with a purpose to house people, not maximize profit for the sake of profit alone. We already have plenty of housing that is out of reach for more than half of Americans, for ownership or for rent.
Thank you for using your knowledge to make the world a better place for everyone you touch with your efforts.

[thehangmansdaughter]

You gave a home to 13 families for Xmas? 😭😭 What you're doing for your employees and community is wonderful and you're to be congratulated for your compassion and empathy.

[KindnessInChaos]

The realtor that said you could sell these for $290k all day long??!! They are the reason (among many other things) why there’s a housing crisis!

[SCCL]

Finally, a progressive and approved village. Kudos to you two and to Dover, NH for responding to real need. Awards should be given for a decent and respectful solution to today's housing shortage. Can I move in?

[JKART-dojc]

These people are awesome. Thanks for their good work. I just built a 800 sq. Ft home by myself and it took 1.5 years while living in my camper van. It is a 2/1. I was 65 woman when I started…it was a great experience. I love this concept of living, it’s ideal if people stay neat and clean…not allowed to junk it up. Love the way she did the bottom plate 2x6, good thinking for that insulation

[tommycollier]

Those 2 individuals Are probably the best humanitarian I've ever run across

[juanitasellshouses]

What a brilliant idea! As a Realtor is a very demanding, price expanding area of the country, my heart grieves for those I meet on a regular basis who can no longer afford to live in their hometown. I'm going to show this video to our powers that be to see if we can do something similar. I'm not the one with the finances, but I'll sure try to find someone!