Austin’s tiny home village wins engineering award

A planned community of tiny houses, “canvas-sided”, recreational vehicles, and Airstream-type trailers in East Austin recently received highest honors from an engineering publication, the Austin Business Journal reported Tuesday.

Engineering News Record awarded the Community First! Village this year’s top prize in its residential/hospitality category, according to the Journal story.

The 27-acre project, which we profiled in May, has received recognition nationwide for its successful implementation of the Housing First model for approaching homelessness.

Founder and CEO Alan Graham has emphasized the importance of not only shelter, but a community with services, gathering spaces, and job training to keep people from having to live on the street.

In addition to its various housing options, the development includes a health clinic with full-time nursing staff, a community kitchen, an outdoor movie theater, an extensive garden and chicken coop, a food pantry, and much more.

The Gin at the Co-op District in the nearby town of Hutto also won an award in the magazine’s renovation/restoration category, the Journal reported.

• Two Austin-area real estate projects rank among best in U.S., according to engineering publication [ABJ]