Welcome to the town of tiny homes, where over 60 individuals reside in four villages, with houses as narrow as 8.5ft. Dan Dobrowolski, aged 66, is the founder of the national tiny home company Escape and has constructed The Village, The Oaks, Palm Court, and The Grove in Tampa Bay, Florida.
Despite the smallest being less than 8.5 feet wide, the 45 homes can accommodate up to two bedrooms, a full kitchen and bathrooms, and cost as little as $156,199 to purchase or $1,295 per month to rent. Unlike caravan parks or RV sites, Escape Tampa Bay is built with permanent infrastructure. In an effort to tackle the escalating housing affordability crisis, Dobrowolski constructed the homes in 2020, some of which he has built across the country.
“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 neighbourhood,” he said. “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.” Escape Tampa Bay is conveniently located near major roads and basic amenities, offering long-term housing at lower costs than typical rentals in the region.
Homes in the community range from about 200 to 600 square feet, with some of the earlier models reaching 800 square feet. With rental prices in the area soaring due to high demand and limited availability, the average monthly rent is around $1,400 – below current market rates. Dobrowolski views this type of housing as a potential solution to the broader affordability issue.
“People all talk about the affordability crisis in housing,” he commented. “Especially if you’re a working person – cops, teachers, mechanics – they’re priced out.” The site boasts shared amenities such as a pool, a workspace area, secured entry, underground utilities and fibre optic internet.
Most residents are homeowners, although the company does offer some units for rent with leases ranging from nine to twelve months. Some homes have been resold at prices as low as $89,197, plus a monthly lot fee of $595. Dobrowolski purchased the land and developed the community himself. However, he doesn’t personally own all the homes in the village. The homes are sold to individual buyers who then privately own or rent their units.
Zoning restrictions and local opposition can hinder or halt expansion.
“The demand is off the Richter scale,” he stated.
“Beauty is important, and we’ve shown that affordable housing doesn’t have to mean sacrificing neighbourhood quality or design.He further added: “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.”