Public invited to get up-close look at container homes at Innovative Housing Showcase | News | wfft.com

Oct 17, 2024

This is one of four types of houses the public can view starting Friday.

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WFFT) -- The public will have the chance to get a hands-on look at container homes and other housing projects at the Innovative Housing Showcase.

Fort Wayne Mayor Sharon Tucker and Royal Developments Owner JT King cut the ribbon on the showcase Tuesday.

The goal is to allow the public to explore the feasibility of new construction types that are meant to provide affordable housing in urban areas.

The different construction types include:

Houm: Digital fabrication and industrial-scale production for efficient housing construction.

Three Squared: Steel shipping containers are used as the main structural elements of housing construction.

New Energy Homes: Utilizing a post-frame building technique for better insulation and energy efficiency.

Volumod: Prefabricated modules assembled on-site for customizable and cost-effective housing units.

The developer says this task is one of the first of its kind

"We've only been open a year and a half, so we started this company for this project, and we've really leaned into this, and I hope the city has liked our job that we've done for them," said JT King.

The concept itself comes from Africa

"My inspiration actually comes from overseas. I lived overseas in East Africa, Uganda, and I love shipping containers there. That's what kind of brought this to Fort Wayne. And then the other three came along with it," said King.

The hope is for this concept to influence more like it in Fort Wayne.

"I hope that projects like this start to spark new growth. I'd love to see a complete innovative neighborhood, right, where they have housing that looks exactly like this in a neighborhood," said Mayor Sharon Tucker "I myself have a smart home, so let's bring in innovative housing that's a smart home so we can really bring it in, then add EV cars to it so that we can be good neighbors of our environment."

These homes are intended to fill empty lots to provide more opportunities for housing.

The public can walk through all four homes on Friday from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday from noon to 5 p.m.

The showcase is located at 904 E. Berry St.

More information is available here.