...Smaller Sustainable Housing Focused on Affordability & Community
Building sustainable affordable housing begins with value engineering every aspect of the build.
The Process
House Plans
See our selection of value engineered house plans ranging from 400-1500 square feet designed to optimize space.
Value Engineering
Find out how to save money while maintaining quality at each stage of a build.
Resources
There is a wealth of knowledge and experience that I have benefitted from in the field of sustainable housing and affordability. Find some great resources here.
John Sullivan, J.D.
I am confident that Carrie’s tremendous drive and motivation, and her attention to detail will contribute to the success and productivity of your organization
Carrie Lorene Cranston
Master of Science Construction Management
Incurable Optimist
My name is
Carrie Cranston
Long before deciding to move into the field of construction, each of my life chapters has been the result of a desire to take on a meaningful roll in an industry where I felt I could contribute toward positive change. I started out as a producer in television in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania shortly after finishing college. I moved back to the US to start my family and tried out corporate life as a retail executive. This job showed me that spending my life working toward a goal that didn’t align with my own beliefs wasn’t for me. I packed up my family and we moved back to Tanzania.
During my twenty years of living in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I started and ran four different companies. The first was a media production company followed by a green grocer which was meant to be a side gig. The green grocer grew so quickly that it led me to open a restaurant featuring all the fresh produce that I sold at the grocer. I housed both in a historical colonial home that I renovated into a cozy cafe overlooking gardens. I had an open upstairs with a large garden overlook. This transformed into holistic spa offering Tai Chi classes as well a traditional treatments. I felt like each new business chose me. Together, they taught me effective about project management, building resilient teams, and providing services to fulfill an under represented niche.Â
I left Tanzania and moved to Vermont three months before the Covid pandemic hit. During Covid, like most, I hunkered down, took a job as an essential worker to support my family and planned for the future. The housing market in Vermont had become unaffordable during Covid. Housing prices rose skyrocketed and the stock of small affordable homes seemed to vanish. There are not enough builders and developers to fulfill the housing needs in Vermont. I saw that this problem is not only a Vermont issue, but is present across the US. There are simply not enough sustainable, high quality, single family affordable homes.Â
I went back to school and got my Master’s degree in Construction Management so that I could understand and contribute to the sector of affordable eco-friendly housing. I took classes in design, building foundations, carpentry and green building from Yestermorrow Design Build School to supplement my formal education. I am now working to build communities of small sustainable houses.
It takes a community to build communities
Join me in making smaller sustainable houses a reality.
