All Forum Posts by: Sterling Cox

@Amin Brodie, Maine....Cumberland Co.

Hi Maverick,

I'm definitely a proponent of using shipping containers for housing. It's a strange subject because you'll have so many people tell you that it's a terrific idea and it will be an all-inclusive solution to many housing problems, etc. Then on the other hand, you'll have almost as many people tell you that it's impossible, dangerous, a waste of time, and give plenty of reasons why. To get anywhere you have to take that middle road. Just think, if they were as great as so many people purport, then you'd see them all over (it's not a new idea by any stretch). On the other hand, the benefits are quite apparent. 

Some people think that on the whole, people aren't ready to accept shipping containers as housing. The codes, regulations and zoning are prohibitive. Maybe people aren't ready to live in such small spaces.....but you know that's starting to change.

I've been focusing on shipping container housing (on a small scale) for a few years now. The largest lesson I've learned (and I've learned a lot of lessons), is that it takes a team. One person or two peopl cannot do it alone. There needs to be specialists in each area of development.....navigating the codes and red tape, efficient design, engineering, low-costs construction, marketing, etc.

Anyway, getting shipping container housing accepted into the mainstream is going to be a long road to travel, and I think the first person that makes it will be well compensated for their efforts.

Feel free to get in touch with me anytime.

-Sterling

Hi @Thomas S.,

Thanks for the input on this. I definitely appreciate hearing from all sides. All my experience with zoning thus far affirms the difficulties you're describing. 

Your suggestion of establishing a dedicated community within the regs of a local government as place for people use small-space dwellings as residences is a great idea.

@Michael Johnson, yeah I look at those too and have fun imagining them as passenger spaces. Those are typically 46' and 53' high cube containers and they have a lot of room. As of now, the freight fees would probably not make them a cheap ride especially with the insurance of having human cargo. 

But I think it's the reason it's not happening yet. I think ideas like that are what fuels innovation in a way that changes how we view our infrastructure.

Hi @Larry Fried,

I apologize I didn't respond to your question on this forum a couple months ago. I must have missed it.

To answer your question, I was looking at SFR's in a couple specific areas near my house. They are typically 3/1's and between say $50-100K.

I was pretty excited towards the end of the summer, but it's really dried up for now. I'm sure there are still good deals, though. I've been looking around in Athens, GA quite a bit lately. I'm scoping condos and duplexes as well as SFR's up there.

Hi @Samuel Rothmann,

I plan to be there in Jacksonville that weekend and can meet up. (I'm actually in the SF Bay Area now).

What part of town are you staying in?

PM me for contact info.

Thanks,

Sterling

@Michael Johnson, I like the way you're thinking. It would definitely be neat if train-based passenger containers were developed. Imagine if the infrastructure was in place to move a 20' container home across a continent by rail, then loaded on a container ship and sailed to a new location. It would need holding tanks, though. I've been messing around with a barge idea to make them into a little house boat.

@Allison Littman, I've seen that park. There's another one called Kate's Lazy Meadow owned by the singer of the B-52's. It's such a great concept (although a tad kitschy for my minimalist aesthetic), but there aren't any destinations that feature shipping containers. I think if it were done correctly, it would gain national attention, and the model could be easily replicated. I definitely agree, having site-specific attractions and amenities would be the key. I'm thinking a (container) community kitchen could be a used.

It seems using an existing trailer park or RV park would be the most expedient way to fall into zoning guidelines as well as having utilities already in place. The down side is that they can be really expensive (that's where investors would need to come in) and few and far between. We'll keep looking, though.

@Jeffrey H., that's super interesting, thanks for the advice. Do you find that the zoning regulations in a small town might be different or more lenient than the county regulations? I always just look at the planning for the county that a town is in, but I never thought to see if the town itself had different guidelines.

Also I was unaware of what an ETJ was....I just looked it up. Again, it's another area in which I need to educate myself. Up until now, I've just been doing all my zoning research on the county websites.

Hi @Vonn Peterson,

Thanks for the advice...I think you're totally on point. A trailer would definitely be a great way to have a container easily be mobile and possible comply with certain RV regulations. 

I didn't know agriculturally zones might be more lenient for siting living spaces. I'll start looking into it. 

I think the idea of purchasing and re-purposing an old mobile home park is an idea that has enormous potential. If it becomes a reality, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Thanks again.

@Matthew Paul, you're totally right. But I don't think it's impossible. I think the concept needs to be looked at with unconventional solutions taking advantage of the nuances of the regulations of certain areas. There's an undeniable widespread interest in unconventional (smaller) living spaces right now, especially for those who want to try it out short term. I'm just hoping to find some inspiration from other people with the same ideas here on BP.