Success Story | NEST Kinda Tiny Houses

Northsiders Engaged in Sustainable Transformation (NEST) is a community development corporation that rehabs vacant and blighted properties in the neighborhood. It identified the Fergus Street Intersection as an area to revitalize and provide affordable and accessible homes through its Kinda Tiny House (KTH) Project. The organization began by focusing on three blighted and vacant single family homes – 4222 and 4240 Fergus, 4221 Mad Anthony Street – for rehab.

NEST’s Role: NEST received City of Cincinnati funding to rehab five blighted properties in the neighborhood and it secured a construction loan from North Side Bank & Trust for 4222 Fergus. It identified the three residential properties to rehab and approached the Hamilton County Landbank about acquiring the properties. The KTH homes are aimed at increasing housing diversity at affordable prices. NEST focuses on energy efficiency when rehabbing the homes as well as accessibility for individuals in wheelchairs or using walkers.

The Landbank’s Role: 4222 and 4240 Fergus and 4221 Mad Anthony were acquired by the Hamilton County Landbank from the County’s forfeited land list. The Landbank sold the three properties, identified by NEST, at a nominal fee of $1,000/parcel to NEST in September 2015.

Impact: All three homes have been renovated and sold to owner-occupants. Renovations enabled NEST to launch NEST Egg Program, which raises funds to offer a soft second mortgage for families at or below 80% AMI.

Partners: Northsiders Engaged in Sustainable Transformation (NEST), City of Cincinnati, Hamilton County Landbank, North Side Bank & Trust