One theme that Tarrant County Tuesday is focusing on in 2021 is the continually increasing number of people moving to the area.
In 2017, the average number of people moving to Fort Worth was around 165 per day. In 2020, that number increased to almost 200 people per day! That’s a huge jump in such a short period of time … and it’s only going to increase.
While many people moving from other states find homes in the suburbs and neighboring cities near Fort Worth, not everyone wants to live in the ‘burbs.
Young professionals, couples, and empty-nesters all seem to have the desire to experience urban living in Fort Worth. Whether it’s to be closer to nightlife, shopping and entertainment or to be close to places of work or outdoor experiences such as the Trinity River — there is a draw to urban living that must go beyond expensive apartments and condominiums.
The Cottage Experience
Kelley and Warren Walker started Cowtown Cottages in the Tarrant County area for a myriad of reasons.
First they looked at the ongoing turmoil and uncertainty in our nation and looked for an opportunity to move to land they owned further from the big city.
Then, once they discovered the cottage homes that became Cowtown Cottages, the realized there were tremendous dwelling opportunities both in remote areas or in urban environments that weren’t being met.
Don’t think of Cowtown Cottages as simply a tiny house company. Typically, the tiny houses that we see on television or on social media range from 60 to 200 square feet in size. While it’s a fun concept with little stoves and beds that turn into couches that turn into a dining table, there are elements of the tiny house that just aren’t sustainable for inhabitants beyond a weekend stay.
Cowtown Cottages are all 399 square feet on the main level. Porches and loft spaces are not considered in that square foot calculation.
With homes typically 11 feet in width, there is plenty of space within a cottage for a full-sized kitchen — full range, microwave and refrigerator — and full-sized bathrooms.
Closet, counter, and cabinet space is abundant in all of the five series of homes — approximately 30 different floorplan configurations if you so desire.
Cottages For Rural And Urban Living
Immediately, these homes, priced from $60,000 to $80,000 depending on plan and features, are perfect for placing on your property around a lake or hunting lodge or for weekend getaways.
Hopefully one day these beautiful homes will be seen inside the city limits in private communities where residents can enjoy the urban experience while actually being able to afford it. How cool would it be to have a cottage park community with walking paths between the homes, fire pits and gathering areas, creating a sense of community and culture.
If ever, now is the time for timid city councils and zoning boards to get off their bureaucratic high horses, lose their rigid and outdated mindsets, and not be afraid to create a plausible zoning and covenants to make it possible for homes like Cowtown Cottages to be situated in urban settings.
Fort Worth and other cities in Texas have housing problems. Out-of-state residents aren’t going to stop flocking to our area. Cowtown Cottages and cottage park living can be a viable and sustainable piece of the solution, if anyone in authority would only have the guts to allow it. We can only hope!
Currently, cottages are taking close to six months from contract to delivery. With fresh designs, knowledgeable owners with interior design skills, and amazing prices, Cowtown Cottages is quickly becoming the go-to company for those looking for the right home to fit their needs.
