Seneca Place shows cost savings for builders, buyers

Last week, representatives of Local Initiatives Support Corporation of Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky, the Center for Great Neighborhoods of Covington and the CDC Association of Greater Cincinnati were treated to a presentation on modular buildings and a tour of the two completed models of the Seneca Place development in Covington's Austinburg neighborhood.

Tom Hennings, president and COO of project builder Phoenix Building Solutions, led a discussion on how modular construction can be useful in the development of affordable and market-rate housing and how his company is incorporating green and sustainable building practices into its designs.

The homes' modular construction allows for each building to be under roof the same day they're delivered, cutting construction timelines by more than half.

"Construction started around 8 AM," Hennings says.  "The first house was completed by noon.  The second one was finished around 3 PM."

Hennings says that, compared to $110-$125 for conventional stick-built construction, factory-built homes can be built for a more affordable $80-$85 per square foot.

"There's some margin in there," he says.  "And a stick-built product will always run over cost.  Our price is what our price is."

And because the pieces are designed to fit together and are "overbuilt" to sustain long trips to the construction site, the result is an airtight home with an Energy Star 5+ rating, the highest rating one can attain.

"Energy bills for these homes shouldn't be over $100 a month," Hennings says.

Two more modular homes will begin construction soon on Thomas Street, making the models available for sale.

At buildout, Seneca Place will feature 12 new single-family homes and will be the first new homes built in Austinburg in more than 50 years.

Writer: Kevin LeMaster
Source: Tom Hennings, president and COO, Phoenix Building Solutions