STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- In the 1980s John Mellencamp sang about the American heartland where little pink houses exist.
Some decades later, builders are trying to make home ownership affordable by building "tiny houses" across the county -- particularly in the Midwest.
Albeit not pink, these apartment-size houses are actually becoming a trend.
For example, the Portland, Or.-based Shelter Wise, has designed a compact 96-square-foot home, reports Oregonlive.com. Though tiny by all standards, the design boasts all the amenities a homeowner needs: queen-size bed, bookshelves, bath and kitchen.
The best part: it costs only $22,500.
With the struggle for many middle- and low-income wage earners to be able to afford home ownership on Staten Island, some people are wondering if the tiny house could be the answer.
Think about it: on the 40 X 100 lot sizes common in the borough, you can build a slew of these homes.
However, Realtors say these miniature residences likely would never catch on here.
"I don't think anyone here would be amenable to anything like the tiny house," said Claire Bisignano Chesnoff, broker/owner of the New Dorp-based Claire Properties.
"It's like a studio apartment, but it's a house with everything in one room. But (to people) in the West and Midwest it's a great idea. It makes owning a home affordable," she added.
What do you think? Could Staten Island be the next home of the tiny house? Tell us in the comments section below.
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