In yet another sign of a burgeoning interest in using manufactured homes in urban areas, an attractive three bedroom, two bath, 1500 square-foot home was dedicated in the shadows of the North Carolina statehouse in downtown Raleigh on June 14. Designed complete with a factory-constructed front porch, the house blends in with the 1920s bungalow-style architecture of the neighborhood in the southwestern part of the city.

The manufactured home, located at 125 Prospect Avenue, is priced at $120,000-- about 40 percent less than what a comparable site-built house would have cost on the same lot. Built by R-Anell Custom Homes, Inc. of Denver, N.C., the gable-end entry home fits well on its relatively narrow lot. Joan Troy of Troy Enterprises, the developer on the project, had a great deal of experience with HUD-Code manufactured homes across the state.

On hand for the grand opening ceremony were Raleigh Mayor Paul Coble, members of the city council, and representatives from local governments in North and South Carolina that were interested in learning more about the use of manufactured homes on urban infill lots. Dozens of neighborhood residents were also able to tour their newest neighbor.

"The whole block could go this way and things would be much better than they are right now. We're very, very pleased," said long-time Prospect Avenue resident and community leader Mildred Flynn. The project was undertaken by the North Carolina Manufactured Housing Institute (NCMHI) (http://www.ncmhi.com/) to demonstrate that manufactured homes can be architecturally compatible with existing homes in urban settings and also be a solution to the affordable housing crisis facing many of the state's urban and inner suburban areas. Yet despite its affordability and quality, manufactured housing continues to face opposition from some political forces around the state. The new home on Prospect Avenue was allowed under an exception to the Raleigh City Ordinance, which currently prohibits manufactured housing within the city. NCMHI is seeking a permanent change in the Raleigh Ordinance, as well as others like it around the state, in order to bring an affordable, safe, and attractive housing alternative to the market.