Bexar Square - Affordable Townhomes From Shipping Containers

Welcome to my Make it Modular entry! I'm Daniel T, and I am from the Dallas, TX area. When I started working on this scholarship, I was closing out my senior year of high school, but since have graduated. I will be attending the University of Arkansas to obtain a bachelors of architecture starting this fall.

What if there was a way to help the unfortunate now while also protecting the Earth for the future?

Bexar Square sets out to achieve this goal and hopes to set an example for future development. The 101 townhomes at Bexar Square are mainly comprised of state-sourced shipping containers and can comfortably accommodate four families of varied sizes. Shipping containers can provide a temporary, comfortable, and adequate space for shelter. They are inexpensive to transport and can be refurbished or replaced if necessary. Dallas has nearly 5000 homeless residents, and homelessness is an issue in nearly any urban area. Bexar Square hopes to provide quality, affordable housing to low-income families and individuals through the Dallas Housing Authority's effective and efficient administration of housing assistance programs.

Autodesk Revit  - 107 Hours of Worktime

Autodesk AutoCAD - 11 Hours of Worktime

Pixlr-E (Photoshop Online) - 18 Hours of Worktime

Google Maps - World Imagery Source

Apple iPhone 8 - Self-Photography

Instructables - Scholarship Entry Page

All uncredited photos and graphics are my own property and fall under Creative Commons License BY-NC-SA 4.0. This project required over one hundred hours of work, communications, travel, planning, and research to create and distribute, so please keep true to the license.

Higher resolution photos and graphics of my own on this scholarship entry are linked below for a better viewing experience:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1E-2DAxfy3zzor3HSYGTqLGlslwB8tcUt?usp=sharing

Photos Shown Above:

Row 1: Site Region Overview, William Blair Park (1), Thompson Elementary School (2)

Row 2: Dade Middle School (3), Lincoln High School (4), 30 Minute Walk/Cycle Spread

Row 3: Bexar Square Affordability to ZIP Comparison, Community Map

Image Sources: Dallas Parks & Rec (1), Dallas ISD (2,4), Kayla Harper @ HMDB & KAI Enterprises (3)

Bexar Square offers convenient access to everything the city of Dallas has to offer within a half an hour's drive, including the Dallas Zoo and Fair Park. Just a 5 minute drive away is the Malcolm X DART transfer station, which allows affordable public transit to a majority of the Metroplex. Additionally, those living in Bexar Square are served by Dallas ISD's school system, and the local elementary school is just a 5-minute walk away. For nature lovers living in the community, the 900-acre William Blair Park is just a stone's throw away!

Locally, Bexar Square is located just off US-175 off Railroad Avenue and Municipal Road. There are 404 spaces across 101 buildings for low-income families to settle for both the short and long term. Bexar Park and an amenity center are available to all residents to strengthen community bonds while having fun!

To figure out rentable costs for the townhomes, I followed the 30% rule. This rule states that a household should spend no more than 30 percent of its income on housing costs. To assume the near-worst case scenario, I used a single parent earning just over minimum wage at $8.25 an hour. This parent works 40 hours a week, 4 weeks a month, and earns $1320 over that span. With the cost of the 3 bedroom space at $375 a month, this will fall at 28% of their income, staying true the rule. Once we get to the much larger 4 bedroom space, I assumed that both parents earning minimum wage of $7.25 an hour to support their many children. To factor in the higher dedication to their children, the parents work a total of 60 hours a week, 4 weeks a month, to earn $1740. With the cost of the 4 bedroom space at $450 a month, this will fall at 25% of their income.

Bexar Square features a walking trail around a pond, a community park & amenity center, and multiple community gathering spaces. The central pavilion of the community features a clock tower which marks the heart of the community. Every structure in the community, with the exception of trellis' and the clock tower, is made primarily of shipping containers.

A handful of renders were done in Enscape, however the software could not handle the sheer size of the project and was unable to render multiple views.

For a 3D community view please read below:

Before you open the link, note that custom textures are not loaded to provide a smoother 3D experience.

Secondly, because the file is large, please give it 10-15 seconds to load on your browser.

If a popup occurs saying there is an error, close it, as it does not affect the experience.

To view, copy & paste this link on your browser: https://autode.sk/3yZkzDt

As part of my research of townhome designs and layout, I toured multiple models of townhomes and a container home. This not only helped me develop a fundamental understanding of shape and scale, but also interior design and replicability concepts. Also, I could figure out the difference between an "affordable" and a more luxurious townhome through their features, layout, and material choices. I want to thank Ashton Woods Homes and CB Jeni Homes for allowing photography in their model homes. I also want to thank Habitat for Humanity for a tour of their model shipping container home.

For a more luxurious townhome, I toured Ashton Woods' model for a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom townhome. This model was broken into 4 sections per building. Knowing that this house is high-end, I would have to pick, choose, and possibly modify only one or two features to put in Bexar Square.

Image Description/Use (In Order) Shown:

• Due to extrusions, the exterior of this model was hard to take from. I did notice, though, that each model had its own particular look, including the location of the door.
• This model included a number of high-tech amenities, such as LED lights above and below the kitchen cabinets.
• Wood or metal decoration around lights and ceiling fixtures in common areas is an idea unique to this model. This was an creative method to establish a focal point and a sense of place.
• The doors on this model had higher head clearances and windows on the external doors, although this was not a key feature.
• The main entertainment area had tall ceilings and was breathtaking from the moment you walked in.
• Every bedroom had an accent wall with a pattern, and I attempted to replicate the idea but with shipping container steel.
• On the window sills of living spaces such as bedrooms and public spaces, there was cushioned seating. Unfortunately, I discovered that executing this task in a shipping container in a space-efficient manner to be difficult.

For a more down-to-Earth and comparable townhome, I toured CB Jeni's two models for a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom townhome. Both models were broken into 6 sections per building. Since these townhomes were the best representation of the quality of home, I used a handful of features from them in Bexar Square.

Image Description/Use (In Order) Shown:

• The front of the home was a flat wall, something that I have in Bexar Square's townhomes. Additionally, windows were placed symmetrically. To bring focus to the main entrance it was set back and was framed in a different material.
• Each model had a suite of pre-determined interior pallet of materials a prospective owner could choose from, something an affordable home could switch out every so often between occupancies to freshen up the space.
• Stairs were framed inside a wall in order to conserve space upstairs. While this removes the possibility for a high ceiling downstairs, much more space is available for use on the upper level.
• A small study space at the top of the stairs. This would be a good alternative to an office in a smaller, more affordable home.
• The kitchen only had LED lights onto the counter and the kitchen was laid out symmetrically to allow easy access to all high-use fixtures & appliances.
• Due to lacking an accent wall, wall décor is used to create a focal point around the bed.

While photography was not allowed indoors, I learned a lot of lessons involved in the construction of shipping container homes.

• First, each window had to be plasma cut due to metal construction, which is unheard of in conventional home design. This means that it is difficult to find someone who can process and cut windows at an efficient pace.
• Usually, the used shipping containers arrive with pre-cut window holes to save both time and money.
• Another component of these homes is the required use of new/1-use shipping containers to keep rust from forming and guarantee a long lifespan.
• Marine coating is applied to almost all shipping containers, making them waterproof. When a shipping container's walls are insulated, the waterproof seal created by the marine coating keeps AC and power units affordable and effective. This means that the container is soundproof and will not create tension with neighboring residents in the same townhome!
• A unique feature of shipping container homes is that most use a split-level AC system. A split-level AC system has a much smaller foot space while just as efficient as a conventional one.
• Due to the metal construction of the shipping container homes, firewalls can be thinner, and can even be removed with an indoor sprinkler system.
• As per usual, frames are put on the inside for a conventional wall, however, it is possible to do a double steel wall to keep the shipping container feel inside the home.

Even though it's not shown above, there is a video tour / build time-lapse from Habitat for Humanity of Collin County located here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XO8-s-0FxM This shows the time it took to build: 15 months!

Image Description/Use Of Cotton Groves (In Order) Shown:

• Collage of interior from Habitat for Humanity of Collin County. Ductwork is located inside the wall rather than the roof to preserve a more conventional ceiling. Even in a small home, full-sized appliances were placed in the kitchen with a modern finish. Since shipping containers have a bamboo floor, in this home they were just stained over to keep costs down.
• The exterior is basic and boxy, as one might anticipate. Hardie wood siding and stone were utilized on the front of the house to increase color and contrast. Even though small, this home features a balcony with a carport and maintenance unit under it. The maintenance unit contains the AC, water heater, and electrical panel.
• A completely remodeled outdoor amenity center made of shipping containers is shown. The construction the amenity center was far more expensive than the homes themselves due to the exterior being completely redone with stone and stucco. Furthermore, rather than conserving the top of the shipping container, a new steel roof was built.
• A shipping container home is currently in construction. Due to prefabrication, the cutouts for windows and doors were finished beforehand. Secondly, the front of the home was wrapped and was being prepared for a stone and hardie siding finish since all the windows were placed into their frame.

Each townhome is 84 shipping containers, some of which have minor modifications. The Dallas plan hosts 24 containers & the Bexar plan hosts 18 containers, and there are 2 of each per townhome.

The ability to create a community of townhomes with only shipping containers allows clean-up of space in ports while providing a time and cost-effective method of construction. Using shipping containers to create a home that requires less labor and materials which can reduce waste and decrease the release of harmful pollutants such as nitrous oxides. As mentioned previously, one benefit of shipping containers is their build: marine coating on the corten steel containers is waterproof and can survive a variety of weather conditions that typical homes cannot.

A new/very good condition 20' long, 8' wide, and 9'6" high shipping container costs ~$4,000 for purchase, transport, and placement. Each townhome contains 84 containers, bringing the basic cost to ~$336,000.

• Landscaping around each townhome will cost ~$3,000 due to 4 trees at ~$500 each and ~$1,000 to plant 20 shrubs.
• Pavement for driveways and walkways comes in at ~$15 a square foot over 2000 square feet comes in at ~$30,000. 
• Electrical setup will cost ~$10,000
• Plumbing setup will cost ~$4,000
• Engineering work costs ~$8,000. 
• Windows cost about $400, and each townhome has 70, totaling $28,000.
• This brings the total for a townhome to $419,000. 
• The cost per townhome will be $430,000 to account for any unanticipated complications and labor costs.

$430,000 may seem like a lot, but one townhome can hold 4 families or 18 people comfortably. In reality, each section of the townhome only costs $107,500 to put together, compared to $225,000 for a similarly sized home. When compared to traditional construction methods, the cost of construction is cut in half, making the homes much more affordable.

For the whole development of 101 townhomes, there will be a cost of ~$43.5 million. The overall rentable value of each townhome is $19,800 per year, and in total will add up to 2 million a year. While profit seems small, the park will likely stay around for at least a century and provide benefits to the community throughout that time. To alleviate costs and still provide to the local community, units will probably be built out over a decade as the need continues to grow. The full cost of the community development will be made up in 2045 at the current rent rate, however with city incentives, neighborhood profit through the Farmhouse, and other revenue sources this time could be shortened. When the need for affordable housing decreases in the area, some townhomes could be rented out to anyone, which will allow higher rent rates and profit margins.

Elevations Shown Above:

Row 1: Full Townhome Front, Full Townhome Back, East/Right Elevation

Row 2: West/Left Elevation, Dallas Plan Front, Bexar Plan Front

Row 3: Dallas Plan Back, Bexar Plan Back, Paint Swatches

The Bexar Plan is available on the middle two sections of each townhome, while the larger Dallas Plan is available on the outer sections of each townhome.

Both plans have four color options to choose from: Farmhouse Red, Sage Green, Canary Gold, and Celestial Blue.

The first photo is a combination of two separate sketches to give feel of the combined building form; note that the alignment is not perfect.

The second and third photos are the individual sketches of the Dallas and Bexar plan front elevations.

The Bexar Plan can support up to a family of 4 comfortably, with it's 3 bedroom and 2.5 bath layout. On the ground level there is a garage, the master suite with a private patio, and a laundry room. The second level features a living room, kitchen, powder room, and a small dining space. Finally, the third level contains 2 bedrooms, a bathroom, and a loft/study space.

Higher resolution graphics are linked below for a better viewing experience:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1E-2DAxfy3zzor3HSYGTqLGlslwB8tcUt?usp=sharing

Calculations:

A typical fan running 24/7 uses 22.39 kWh per month, and this plan has 4 fans. Assuming each fan is on for only 6 hours a day, meaning there is a usage of about 22.39 kWh per month.

An average light uses 0.06 kWh per hour, and this plan has 51 lights in total. Assuming each light is on for 2 hours a day, meaning there is a usage of about 171.36 kWh per month.

An average dishwasher uses 1.2 kWh per load, and assuming the family runs a load three times a week, meaning there is a usage of about 14.4 kWh per month.

An average washing machine uses 2.25 kWh per load, and assuming the family runs 3 loads a week (colors, whites, work clothes), meaning there is a usage of about 27 kWh per month.

An average dryer uses 2 kWh per load, and using the same assumptions as above, this means there is a usage of about 24 kWh per month.

An average garage door uses 2 kWh per month, and this plan has 2, meaning there is a usage of about 4 kWh per month.

A typical refrigerator uses 41 kWh per month.

Assuming the family cooks 1.5 times a day (alternating 1 and 2 meals), the average oven uses 2.3 kWh an hour, and each meal uses the oven for 0.75 hours, there will be a usage of about 72.45 kWh per month.

A microwave uses about 0.3 kWh every 15 minutes, and assuming that the microwave is used for 30 minutes a week, it will use about 2.4 kWh per month.

A TV uses about 0.06 kWh per hour, and assuming the TV is on for 3 hours a day, it will use about 5.04 kWh per month.

An average AC runs 132 hours a month, and uses about 3.5 kWh (3000W unit) per hour, it will use about 462 kWh per month.

The estimated total electricity use per month for the Bexar Plan is about 846 kWh. Using Dallas' electricity cost of 0.128 per kWh, this leads to an estimated electric bill of $108.29 a month.

Higher resolution graphics are linked below for a better viewing experience:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1E-2DAxfy3zzor3HSYGTqLGlslwB8tcUt?usp=sharing

Calculations:

A common person in the US uses 555 gallons of toilet water a month, and the Bexar Plan will host at minimum 4 people meaning about 2220 gallons will be used a month for toilet water.

Each fill of a tub uses about 30 gallons, and assuming each family member takes a bath once a week, that means 480 gallons are used per month. An average shower uses 17 gallons per use, and assuming the family uses the shower 20 times a week, this means that about 340 gallons are used per month.

A washing machine uses approximately 14 gallons per use, and assuming the family runs 3 loads a week (colors, whites, work clothes), that means about 168 gallons are used per month.

Assuming that each sink uses 2 gallons per minute, the toilet is used about 350 times, and an average hand wash lasts 0.75 minutes, that means bathroom sinks use about 525 gallons. Kitchen sinks are a bit harder to calculate, but a good average is 10 gallons per day used, which leads to about 280 gallons per month. This makes total sink water use to be about 805 gallons per month.

An average person uses 15 gallons of fridge water a month, leading to about 60 gallons used per month.

An average dishwasher uses 5 gallons per load, and assuming the family runs a load three times a week, about 60 gallons are used per month.

An sprinkler system that runs three times a week for an hour uses about 500 gallons per hour, about 6,000 gallons are used per month.

The estimated total water use per month for the Bexar Plan is about 9653 gallons. Using Dallas' water bill estimator leads to an estimated water bill of $38.61 a month.

Rooms Shown Above:

Master Bedroom, Master Bathroom, Entry & Laundry Room.

Rooms Shown Above:

Living Room & Kitchen.

Rooms Shown Above:

Bedrooms Two/Three & Bathroom Two.

The Dallas Plan can support up to a family of 6 comfortably, with it's 4 bedroom and 3.5 bath layout. On the ground level there is a garage, the master suite, and a laundry room. The second level features a living room, kitchen, powder room, dining room, office, and an outdoor entertainment space. Finally, the third level contains 3 bedrooms, one which can be guest suite, 2 bathrooms, and a play area to keep children entertained.

Higher resolution graphics are linked below for a better viewing experience:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1E-2DAxfy3zzor3HSYGTqLGlslwB8tcUt?usp=sharing

Calculations:

A typical fan running 24/7 uses 22.39 kWh per month, and this plan has 7 fans. Assuming each fan is on for only 6 hours a day, meaning there is a usage of about 39.18 kWh per month.

An average light uses 0.06 kWh per hour, and this plan has 75 lights in total. Assuming each light is on for 2 hours a day, meaning there is a usage of about 252 kWh per month.

An average dishwasher uses 1.2 kWh per load, and assuming the family runs a load three times a week, meaning there is a usage of about 14.4 kWh per month.

An average washing machine uses 2.25 kWh per load, and assuming the family runs 4 loads a week (colors x2, whites, work clothes), meaning there is a usage of about 36 kWh per month.

An average dryer uses 2 kWh per load, and using the same assumptions as above, this means there is a usage of about 32 kWh per month.

An average garage door uses 2 kWh per month, and this plan has 2, meaning there is a usage of about 4 kWh per month.

A typical refrigerator uses 41 kWh per month.

Assuming the family cooks 1.5 times a day (alternating 1 and 2 meals), the average oven uses 2.3 kWh an hour, and each meal uses the oven for 0.75 hours, there will be a usage of about 72.45 kWh per month.

A microwave uses about 0.3 kWh every 15 minutes, and assuming that the microwave is used for 45 minutes a week, it will use about 3.6 kWh per month.

A TV uses about 0.06 kWh per hour, and assuming the TV is on for 3.5 hours a day, it will use about 5.88 kWh per month.

An average AC runs 132 hours a month, and uses about 3.5 kWh (3000W unit) per hour, it will use about 462 kWh per month.

The estimated total electricity use per month for the Bexar Plan is about 962.51 kWh. Using Dallas' electricity cost of 0.128 per kWh, this leads to an estimated electric bill of $123.20 a month.

Higher resolution graphics are linked below for a better viewing experience:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1E-2DAxfy3zzor3HSYGTqLGlslwB8tcUt?usp=sharing

Calculations:

A common person in the US uses 555 gallons of toilet water a month, and the Dallas Plan will host at minimum 5 people meaning about 2775 gallons will be used a month for toilet water.

Each fill of a tub uses about 30 gallons, and assuming each family member takes a bath once a week, that means 600 gallons are used per month. An average shower uses 17 gallons per use, and assuming the family uses the shower 25 times a week, this means that about 425 gallons are used per month.

A washing machine uses approximately 14 gallons per use, and assuming the family runs 4 loads a week (colors x2, whites, work clothes), that means about 224 gallons are used per month.

Assuming that each sink uses 2 gallons per minute, the toilet is used about 450 times, and an average hand wash lasts 0.75 minutes, that means bathroom sinks use about 675 gallons. Kitchen sinks are a bit harder to calculate, but a good average is 10 gallons per day used, which leads to about 280 gallons per month. This makes total sink water use to be about 955 gallons per month.

An average person uses 15 gallons of fridge water a month, leading to about 75 gallons used per month.

An average dishwasher uses 5 gallons per load, and assuming the family runs a load four times a week, about 80 gallons are used per month.

An sprinkler system that runs three times a week for an hour uses about 500 gallons per hour, about 6,000 gallons are used per month.

The estimated total water use per month for the Dallas Plan is about 10534 gallons. Using Dallas' water bill estimator leads to an estimated water bill of $43.86 a month.

Rooms Shown Above:

Master Bedroom, Master Bathroom (x2), Entry & Laundry Room.

Rooms Shown Above:

Living Room, Kitchen, Dining Room & Office/Study.

Rooms Shown Above:

Playroom, Bedrooms Two/Three/Four & Bathrooms Two/Three.

Before I start this section, I want to give a MAJOR thank you to Reese Collins, an Area Redevelopment Manager for the city of Dallas, and his coworkers. Not only did they provide sources for a large amount of information for this section, but they also did it thoroughly and in a timely manner. They diligently answered any questions I had and were able to provide references to questions they were unable to answer.

What comes in an affordable home in Dallas?

In affordable housing, a stove, dishwasher, and refrigerator are included. Some developments provide a washer and dryer as part of the package. A pool, common space, park, and parking are all features in multi-family projects in Dallas. As technology progresses, more communities now have apps to help ensure safety and create a sense of place. 

Zoning & Related Codes:

The site I chose is zoned MF-1(A) which means there are multiple requirements to fulfill local codes.

• 15' minimum front, side, and rear setbacks (30', 17' & 20' for Bexar Square) ✓
• Minimum lot size of 3,000 square feet (4,000 for Bexar Square) ✓
• Additional 200 square feet per bedroom, meaning 3,800 actual.
• Maximum height of 36' (29' for Bexar Square) ✓
• Approximately 60% of the site should be the home pad (64% for Bexar Square) ✓
• Multifamily, duplex, single-family use (Bexar Square is multifamily) ✓

The Mixed-Income Housing Development Bonus (MIHDB):

Since this is a multifamily development, this is eligible for the ​​MIHDB. The development bonus and number of reserved units required to attain that bonus varies by the location of the development. Sadly, Bexar Square is just outside of the Neighborhood Empowerment Zone (NEZ). See attached map for more details. New single-family development inside a designated NEZ could qualify for a tax abatement and reimbursement of development fees if the home is sold to a qualified low-income buyer. See attached image above for more details. In the site's zone MF-1(A), the (A) at the end means that properties in the development are required to serve families at lower income levels. Some important codes related to the MIHDB are located below:

•  A development using a development bonus in this division shall reserve no more than 50 percent of the dwelling units in each development for households at or below 80 percent of the areas median family income.
• This maximum percentage of reserved dwelling units may be waived for developments that are enrolled in a program administered by the department of housing and neighborhood revitalization and authorized by the city council which furthers the public purposes of the city's housing policy and affirmatively furthers fair housing. (In the case of Bexar Square, the DHA is the waiver program)
• A project plan must be presented to the building official along with the initial construction permit application to get a development bonus for phased development.
• Eligible families or voucher holders occupying reserved units may not be restricted from common areas and amenities unless the restrictions apply to all dwelling unit occupants. 
• All street-fronting facades and open-space fronting facades must have at least one window and at least one common primary entrance facing the street or open space at street level. The entrance must access the street or open space with an improved path connecting to the sidewalk. 
• A sidewalk with a minimum average width of six feet must be provided along all street frontages.
• At least 10 percent of the building site must be reserved as open space for activities such as active or passive recreation, playground activity, groundwater recharge, or landscaping. (~20% Bexar Square)

For more information on the MIHDB, visit: 

https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/dallas/latest/dallas_tx/0-0-0-60868 

For the fees related to the MIHDB visit: 

https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/dallas/latest/dallas_tx/0-0-0-59983

Demographics and Economic Data:

Using the site PolicyMap, I was able to find out a lot of demographic and economic data about the area this development is in. To research more information, 481130115004 is the block # just southeast of Downtown Dallas at https://www.policymap.com/newmaps#/ (no account is needed, just click the X)

• Median Income Per Capita: $18,387 ▼
• $35,487 for Dallas
• Median Family Income With 2 Working Adults: $32,330 ▼
• $64,994 in Dallas
• Median Household Income: $22,708 ▼
• $55,332 in Dallas
• Gini Index of Inequality (See image above for comparisons): 0.48 ▲
• 0.54 in Dallas
• Percent of Income Spent On Housing By A Very Low Income Individual: 39.19%
• Percent of Income Spent On Transportation By A Very Low Income Individual: 60.48%
• Food Insecurity Rate: 14% ▲
• 20.3% in Dallas
• Upward Mobility Rate: 3% ▼
• 4.6% in Dallas
• Cost Burdened Percent: 22.59% ▲
• 47.2% in Dallas
• Access to Internet: 55.81% ▼
• 81.5% in Dallas
• Unemployment: 7.7% (Dallas as a whole)

Regional Marketing Report Key Statistics:

To begin, the single-family house market in the DFW area will be examined. For the change in sales by price year-to-year, see the image above. To view the full report, visit this link: https://assets.recenter.tamu.edu/Documents/housing-reports/Quarterly_Metro_Housing_Report-DPI-20221.PDF

• The median price in the Dallas-Plano-Irving metro increased by approximately 21.2% year-over-year, from $331,000 to $400,000. Metro area price exceeded the statewide median price of $325,000 by $75,000.
• 2022 Q1 total sales volume decreased by approximately 1.5% year-over-year, from 14,759 to 14,545 homes. Year over year, the sale of homes between $300k and $400k rose from 3,667 to 3,729 units, homes between $500k and $750k rose from 1,863 to 2,910 units, and homes between $400k and $500k rose from 2,104 to 2,774 units. This shows that home prices are generally increasing the DFW area at the same time more homes are being sold.

The rental market in the DFW area will be viewed next. To view the full report, visit this link: https://www.apartmentdata.com/databases/marketlineADSonline_TXDL.pdf

• Occupancy Rate: 93.2%
• Currently, there are 3,369 rentable communities with 809,924 total units built. Another ~95,000 units are currently in planning or construction.
• Average Rental Rate: $1,475 a month

Photos Shown Above:

Row 1: Main Entrance to Bexar Plaza, Ordering Deck, Central Stage View

Row 2: Far Stage View, Upstairs Stage View from The Farmhouse, Secondary View

Row 3: Interior View of The Farmhouse, Location of Bexar Plaza In Bexar Park

Overview:

The Farmhouse and Bexar Plaza will be constructed in the southwest corner of the park as the first blocks of housing become move-in ready for anyone in need. The hope is this part of the project will get DHA and city approval as a reduced-cost food service center for citizens who are eligible in the DFW Metroplex.

The Farmhouse building will have the ability to serve affordable meals to all residents. Any DHA resident will be eligible for reduced-cost meals from the Farmhouse, even those living in other communities. Anyone can order food from the Farmhouse, and all profits will go back into the Bexar Square community to support maintenance and residency programs. Since the Farmhouse is located in the heart of the community, residents will be able to gain access to food security, while reducing travel expenses. Reducing both travel and food costs for residents of Bexar Square gives residents a much greater chance of recovering from insecurities and breaking out of the inequality cycle. The farmhouse will still be open in the winter months to serve food and host smaller-scale events catered to the current needs of the community indoors. Any Bexar Square resident gets first priority to interviews to work at the Farmhouse, which will offer pay starting at $12/hr with tips. This will give residents a fall back when in a tough spot, with quick access to their family during emergencies.

The outdoor section next to the Farmhouse, Bexar Plaza will help bond the community together and create lifelong experiences for all the residents. The ability to have a gathering space with a stage allows job fairs, educational experiences, and assistance programs to be more accessible to residents. All these factors will not only benefit adults in the present day but their children's future well-being. The stage space can be used to host educational events to expand learning past the classroom. Due to the outdoor environment, the real world can be used and interacted with while teaching, giving children a first-hand experience that is not possible in a classroom. Finally, children will be able to connect with others their age for both recreational fun and educational assistance. Even once a resident leaves Bexar Square, the plaza will be open for them to attend any events to continue to grow their professional skills.

These townhomes can be turned into a mixed-use development once the demand for affordable housing in the DFW area has decreased. Lower levels of every townhome can be redone as a shop space without the need to remove any walls. Owners of the shops still have the upper two levels, and half of the ground floor if desired, to live in privately. Additionally, as part of this mixed-use development, full townhomes can be remodeled as a full office space able to host up to 100 employees. As part of this mixed-use development, the 15 townhomes bordering the park would be redone, creating up to 1000 jobs through offices & shops. The remaining townhomes would likely have their interior and exterior cleaned up and resold on the market as part of the new community development.