This article was originally written by Michael Lee Simpson at SWNS — the U.K.’s largest independent news agency, providing globally relevant original, verified, and engaging content to the world’s leading media outlets.
Welcome to the tiny homes town — where more than 60 people live in homes as small as 8.5 feet wide across four connecting neighborhoods.
Dan Dobrowolski, 66, is founder of the national tiny home company Escape, which built The Village, The Oaks, Palm Court, and The Grove in Tampa Bay, Florida. The 45 homes fit up to two bedrooms, a full kitchen, and bathrooms, and they cost as little as $156,199 to buy and $1,295 a month to rent. And unlike mobile home parks or RV sites, Escape Tampa Bay is constructed with permanent infrastructure.
“Even though it’s a tiny house, you still have a large area where you can go outside and walk just like you’re in a normal neighborhood,” Dobrowolski told SWNS. “We intentionally designated the entire central part of the development as a large park, so it’s very green, very quiet, and you have space.”
The community was created in 2020 in a bid to address the deepening housing affordability crisis. Homes range from about 200-600 square feet, with some of the earlier models reaching 800 square feet. Monthly rent averages around $1,400 — below current market rates in the area, where rental prices have been climbing amid high demand and limited availability.
Dobrowolski says he sees this type of housing as one possible solution to the problem. “People all talk about the affordability crisis in housing,” he said. “Especially if you’re a working person — cops, teachers, mechanics, they’re priced out.”
The shared amenities on-site include a pool, a workspace area, and secured entry, as well as underground utilities and fiber optic internet. Most residents own their homes, though the company offers some units as rentals with leases between 9 and 12 months. And some homes have been resold, with recent prices as low as $89,197 plus a $595 monthly lot fee.
“The demand is off the Richter scale,” Dobrowolski said. “Beauty is important, and we’ve shown that affordable housing doesn’t have to mean sacrificing neighborhood quality or design. What we’ve created here isn’t just housing — it’s a real community where people can afford to live and thrive in today’s economy.”
RELATED: This Man Built His Mom a Tiny Home, Then Founded a Company Teaching Others to Make Their Own
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