DALTX Real EstateDALTX Real EstateDALTX Real Estate
  • Home
  • Guest Post
  • Agents
  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise With Us
Reading: A In-Depth Look at McKinney’s New Affordable Shipping Container Homes Neighborhood
Share
Font ResizerAa
DALTX Real EstateDALTX Real Estate
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • Guest Post
  • Agents
  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise With Us
  • Home
  • Guest Post
  • Agents
  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise With Us
Follow US
© DALTX. All Rights Reserved.
DALTX Real Estate > Collin County > A In-Depth Look at McKinney’s New Affordable Shipping Container Homes Neighborhood
Collin County

A In-Depth Look at McKinney’s New Affordable Shipping Container Homes Neighborhood

4 Min Read
SHARE
CottonGroves2-1024x576
Cotton Groves in McKinney is the nation’s first residential neighborhood made entirely of shipping containers.

Repurposing shipping containers into buildings, so-called cargotecture, isn’t a brand new concept, but it’s groundbreaking for Habitat for Humanity of Collin County, which hopes to build 35 affordable homes in Cotton Groves, the nation’s first residential neighborhood built entirely from upcycled steel containers.

Habitat affiliates in Kentucky, Louisiana, and Ohio have explored building affordable housing from shipping containers. Collin County’s Habitat CEO, Celeste Cox, says the first model townhouse should be ready by the end of October or mid-November.

When complete next year, the Cotton Groves neighborhood will contain 35 shipping container homes, a community center, and a playground on the 2.75 acre plot near McKinney’s small airport on the east side of town. But first, Habitat must raise the $4.5 million during an upcoming capital campaign needed to fund the complete development.

CottonGroves7-1024x576

CottonGroves7-1024x576

So how do you transform a utilitarian box of steel into a cozy abode? Architecture, landscaping, and some great ingenuity.

Cotton Groves will contain several different model homes including three- and four-bedroom plans. To make these shipping container homes as affordable and low maintenance as possible, the homes will have solar panels on the roof that help keep energy costs low. The exterior walls will use fiber cement siding and reclaimed wood for balcony fascia, as well as a thin stone veneer for some walls, as Cotton Groves plans show.

Constructing a three-bedroom model is like building with life-size Lego bricks. Four 8- by 40-foot shipping containers will be used to construct 1,280 square feet, arranged in different configurations for different floor plans. It takes approximately six to eight weeks to construct this re-imagined version of a modular home.

CottonGroves7-1024x576

CottonGroves7-1024x576

Covered carports that can accommodate two cars will be attached to the length-ways side of the townhouse. Above the carport, a 36-inch-high metal railing will surround the top of the carport, creating a full-length patio on the home’s second story, though some models will share a patio railing with the home across from it.

The cantilever roof has a low slope to aid rainfall drainage on these otherwise flat-looking roofs, and provides some protection from the elements.

CottonGroves7-1024x576

CottonGroves7-1024x576

In June, Habitat for Humanity of Collin County received an $877,521 grant from the McKinney Community Development Corp. to complete engineering designs; construct roadways; and lay water, sewer and utility lines for the largely undeveloped land. The McKinney Community Development Corporation was formed in 1998 when taxpayers agreed to a half-cent sales tax to be used to enhance McKinney’s amenities and is lead by seven city council-appointed McKinney residents.

The new neighborhood is located on 2.75 acres in east McKinney, near State Highway 5/S. McDonald Street and Eldorado Parkway/Industrial Boulevard, situated northwest of McKinney National Airport (TKI). What was formerly McKinney’s municipal airport is now known as a general aviation reliever airport that handles business and personal aviation travel, though no scheduled commercial passenger flights fly from McKinney.

Habitat will sell the homes to qualified, low-income residents at 30 percent of their gross monthly income. Appraisals will determine the market value of these newly constructed homes, so an estimate for the cost is not yet available, Cox says.

Adorable Casa View Cottage Zoned for Terrific Elementary School
Featured Realtor: After Years in Telecom Sales, Beth Fitzgerald is Following Her Passion as a Realtor
Advice From Experts: Star Realtor Lydia Player Offers Tips For Revamping Your Marketing Strategy
Lakewood Theater Makeover Concerns Preservationists, Neighbors
Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty Hits $1 Billion in Sales, Earliest Milestone EVER
TAGGED:Affordable housingCargotectureCeleste CoxDallas real estate newsHabitat for HumanityMcKinneyShipping Container Homes
Share This Article
Facebook Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article From Facebook: The Technology That Keeps Us Productive
Next Article Sunnyvale Stunner In The Falls Has Room To Spare — Inside and Out
Popular News
Blog

With Stellar Location and Luxe Spaces, This University Park Estate Has It All

Nine Safety Tips for Sellers: Protect Your Home While It’s on The Market
A Charming Greenway Parks Cottage Kate and William Would Love
You’ll Want to Play Ball With This Cooperstown Cottage
Local Builder Transforms a WTF Into a Wow
about us

DaltxRealEstate.com is the largest real estate blog and the only one in North Texas.

Links

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Contact Us
  • Paid Guest Post Submission

Categories

  • Wednesday WTF
  • East Dallas
  • Monday Morning Millionaire
  • Upon Closer Inspection

Get Involved

  • Advertise With Us
  • Write for Us: Submit Guest Post

Find Us on Socials

© DALTX. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?