FORT SCOTT It was a dilemma Rachel Pruitt had seen before.
A young professional couple was hoping to relocate to Fort Scott, and quickly.
But their search for a place to live was anything but encouraging.
There just wasnt anything that suited them, said Pruitt, Fort Scotts director of economic development. They almost had to get a place in Pittsburg and commute.
Their golden ticket came in the form of a small home, one of four newly constructed 783-square-foot rental houses at the intersection of Sixth and Lowman streets.
The tiny homes, built by RII Concrete Construction, were snapped up as quickly as they were finished earlier this month.
We could have rented these weeks ago if we wanted, noted Rory Chaplin of 3RK, a subsidiary of RII set up to manage the rental properties. We wanted to be a little picky.
The young couple was a perfect fit, Pruitt noted, in that they signed a six-month lease, long enough to get situated, and search for a home to buy.
THE KEY to the houses is their efficient use of space, Chaplin noted. The homes have two bedrooms, a full Jack-and-Jill style bathroom, and a kitchen and living room.
Think of it as an apartment, but with added independence, Chaplin said.
The homes are 18 feet apart and separated by privacy fences, with each allocated a small yard and patio area.
With 36-inch wide doors and no steps or stairs, the home is accessible from stem to stern, opening the door for potential elderly renters as well.
You can do a lot off of this floor plan, Chaplin said, such as designing a single bedroom, adding an office or implementing other subtle changes.
FORT SCOTTS aim is to find homes for residents in transition, said Rhonda Dunn, community development director for Fort Scott, a task easier said than done, in a community where 70 percent of the homes were built prior to 1980.
The small homes appeal both to elderly residents ready to downsize from full-sized homes, but too independent for a senior living facility, or for young adults just branching out on their own.
Folks that age dont care about owning things, she said. They dont want or need a bunch of stuff. They want something new, energy efficient with a smaller carbon footprint.
