BELLOWS FALLS — The village of Bellows Falls is seeing the tiny house movement as one key to neighborhood revitalization.
Work has just been completed on the first micro house built on a permanent foundation in the village, the 256-square-foot Little Sprout on 7 Green St.
“We have a fantastic, walkable downtown,” Town Development Director Emmett Dunbar said in a news release. “With restaurants, all services, shops, library, daily rail service to New York - just about anything one might need - all within walking distance. We think the village of Bellows Falls is a perfect place to offer comfortable tiny houses to those wanting to make a lifestyle change.”
The “Little Sprout” is built on a permanent foundation with a storage basement, sports bamboo flooring, all-new appliances including a washer and dryer, solid cherry cabinetry, granite countertops, a first-floor bedroom, a 12-foot vaulted ceiling, and plenty of closet space, all atop a beautiful, spacious lot in a pleasant neighborhood.
Local start-up BigEnough LLC tapped the town's revolving loan fund for capital to build their first project, which was designed by BigEnough partner Holly Bartel. Bartel lives in a tiny house herself and finds the lifestyle perfect for young professionals, empty-nesters, and others.
“Tiny houses are very compelling for many people,” Bartel says. “Many people are searching for livable alternative housing, but worry about the legalities that surround the classic tiny house on a trailer. Others have no interest in maintaining a large home or the sometimes complicated water, power, or wastewater systems needed in a big house. [This] offers a really great solution for these folks.”
Radican Construction of Mt. Holly, Vt., built the Little Sprout, and the property is being offered through Barrett & Valley Real Estate.