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Committee advances NEZ certificate for modular infill house at 2505 Townsend
Summary
The Budget, Finance and Audit Standing Committee voted March 18 to advance a Neighborhood Enterprise Zone (NEZ) certificate application for a two‑story modular single‑family house at 2505 Townsend in West Village to formal session after a staff presentation and developer Q&A.
The Budget, Finance and Audit Standing Committee on March 18 advanced a Neighborhood Enterprise Zone certificate application for a modular single‑family house at 2505 Townsend, sending the item to formal session with no objections.
Chris Gulak, staff for the City Planning Commission, told the committee the lot is a 30‑by‑100‑foot vacant parcel in the West Village NEZ and was purchased from the land bank in November 2025 for $7,400. The petitioner, K Lite Holdings, applied for the NEZ certificate on Feb. 19, 2026; a building permit was issued Oct. 2, 2025, and construction is already under way, Gulak said.
Developer John Boros described the project as a factory‑assembled modular house made of two stacked units, with a basement, two stories, three bedrooms and three bathrooms, energy‑efficient windows and modern HVAC. Boros said his manufacturer, RitzCraft, builds modules in Michigan and delivers them by truck for on‑site assembly. He told the committee the goal is to produce homes under $400,000 at scale and that single‑project pilot costs ran higher than target. He said his current all‑in price targets for future builds are about $350,000 to $375,000 for comparable three‑bedroom models.
Committee members pressed on community engagement, neighborhood compatibility, utilities and accessibility. Vice Chair Leticia Johnson and Member Mary Waters asked whether the developer has engaged neighbors; Boros said he has been on site throughout construction, has invited city staff to tours and has worked with local organizations including Church of the Messiah and Genesis Hope. Gulak noted the West Village NEZ covers roughly 87 acres and allows post‑permit NEZ applications within a six‑month window; staff recommended approval based on those criteria.
On workforce and apprenticeship opportunities, the committee chair urged builders to consider apprenticeship and union hiring as projects expand. Boros said his crews are not unionized for this pilot but welcomed further conversations about pre‑apprenticeship opportunities.
Member Mary Waters moved to approve line item 6.2 and send the NEZ certificate to formal session; the motion passed with no objections.
The committee did not vote on building design details or labor agreements; those remain matters for future permits and developer commitments. The formal session will take up the resolution for final council consideration.
