Tiny homes are being developed near Converse, where Lennar Homes continues to rapidly expand into various markets centering around San Antonio.With a small yard and inviting front porch, the newly built houses along a short street in an established neighborhood in far northeastern Bexar County have all the trademarks of a single-family home.
At least 30 are in various stages of construction in Elm Trails. A total of 100 houses eventually will be built. The houses stand side-by-side along a street named Elm Cove, two-tenths of a mile long, and three smaller streets. The homes are built on lots that measure about 20 feet across, leaving a narrow space between each residence.
Small-home developments could be the answer to housing shortages and rising costs. But zoning is often a roadblock. In March, a state senator from Houston introduced a bill that would nearly eliminate most zoning with lot size requirements in municipalities that are in counties with a population of 300,000 or more. Approved by the state Senate,If adopted, the bill would eliminate the City of San Antonio’s zoning codes that regulate lot sizes with regard to established development patterns and design flexibility, said Michael Shannon, director of the city’s development services.
In San Antonio, the median price for a new single-family home is $334,000, according to data from the San Antonio Board of Realtors. A new condo or townhome runs closer to $445,000.