RSS FeedNov 05 2008
Houseboat Venture Runs Aground in Chesapeake Bay
The Washington Post recently published a story about a new houseboat company that has run into problems with community resistance. To recap the article–Eric Smith and Douglass Dillard recently started a company to build houseboats intended for the Chesapeake Bay. Their prototype is a 55 foot model called the Annapolis and it isn’t exactly a minimalist shanty. The home includes clerestory windows, flat-screen TVs, a vaulted ceiling, wet bar, rooftop sun deck, and swimming platform.
Unfortunately, in many communities floating homes are perceived as “nothing more than trailer homes on the water”. In addition, Chesapeake had the unfortunate history of a millionaire with a 3-story house atop a barge having ongoing drunken parties on the bay.
When word got out that the couple hoped to establish a neighborhood of floating homes in Chesapeake Bay, the local government sprung into action and forbade any houseboat that: exceeded 46 feet in length, was intended to be used as a house/office, and is not self-propelling.
The builders are now expected to move their prototype within 30 days or they risk daily fines. The full story can be read here.
I am both sad and indignant on their behalf. I wish that mainstream America felt less threatened by innovative solutions to housing. But anything that doesn’t look like the next house they’d want to buy or that might have some remote chance of driving down the value of their property it is to be stopped at all costs.
Never mind that a segment of the U.S. population very well may need innovative housing solutions in the next few years.
The Washington Post recently published a story about a new houseboat company that has run into problems with community resistance. To recap the article–Eric Smith and Douglass Dillard recently started a company to build houseboats intended for the Chesapeake Bay. Their prototype is a 55 foot model called the Annapolis and it isn’t exactly a minimalist shanty. The home includes clerestory windows, flat-screen TVs, a vaulted ceiling, wet bar, rooftop sun deck, and swimming platform.
Unfortunately, in many communities floating homes are perceived as “nothing more than trailer homes on the water”. In addition, Chesapeake had the unfortunate history of a millionaire with a 3-story house atop a barge having ongoing drunken parties on the bay.
When word got out that the couple hoped to establish a neighborhood of floating homes in Chesapeake Bay, the local government sprung into action and forbade any houseboat that: exceeded 46 feet in length, was intended to be used as a house/office, and is not self-propelling.
The builders are now expected to move their prototype within 30 days or they risk daily fines. The full story can be read here.
I am both sad and indignant on their behalf. I wish that mainstream America felt less threatened by innovative solutions to housing. But anything that doesn’t look like the next house they’d want to buy or that might have some remote chance of driving down the value of their property it is to be stopped at all costs.
Never mind that a segment of the U.S. population very well may need innovative housing solutions in the next few years.
You would think that the income to shops and restaurants in the area, especially now, would warrant at least a trail period or something, Eric and Douglas should check the next nearest areas and find a town/city or area to be developed specifially for their needs. Someone should benefit from their good ideas. Move the building site to another location as well, why should those who are against their ideas make any money in either income or taxes from something their so dead set against….
If they can get the financing, I’ld say open a large marina to cater to their house boats as well as other sail boats and power boats needs…. the income from dock/storage rental can help finance and build a new marine village. Then give the nay sayers a mooning or the finger.
I was recently given the oportunity to own a small sailboat, a 22′ sloop, and while its definitely not a live a board size boat, it got me to thinking about what it would be like. And to see/hear others dictating what people can live on or where they can live, bugs me…. if the millionaire has been such a problem, they should have refused to take his money and drove him out, not take it out on others who want to take advantage of houseboat living…
Les, I’m with you on being disappointed with the reaction to their project. I think the home they designed is really pretty clever and I hope they find a way to continue their project.
The issue I see with opening their own marina is they still need to find a location where the local zoning ordinances would allow them to have houseboats/floating homes.