Container houses pitched as great option for youth
Published:Thursday | April 20, 2023 | 1:10 AMJudana Murphy/Gleaner Writer
The Kingston Logistics Center (KLC) has launched six container housing solutions, ranging from 160 to 800 square feet, as it seeks to reduce Jamaica’s housing deficit.
The upcycled container homes are priced between $2.3 million and $12.5 million and are designed in one- to three-bedroom units.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness endorsed the housing options as he acknowledged that the country has a significant housing deficit of more than 100,000 units.
Holness shared that a housing scheme with container homes is a “good business prospect”.
“The size of the container home market in 2021 was estimated at US$56.85 billion worldwide, and it is expected to grow to US$87.1 billion by 2029, and we see how this is possible because companies that are involved in shipping, in architecture, in furniture design and development are merging the technology to provide solutions to housing demand,” the prime minister said in his address at Wednesday’s launch.
I 2021, the Government committed to providing 70,000 solutions to the housing market within five years. The National Housing Trust has committed to delivering 43,000 homes while the Housing Agency of Jamaica has promised 15,000.
Holness said that he was happy to see that among the six options, there are affordable solutions that are within the range of a large segment of the housing market.
“The challenge is for a company like KLC to win over the Jamaican public in utilising these new, innovative housing solutions … . I am happy to endorse this new initiative by KLC to move into the housing market with containers as a viable solution for those who are looking for a rapid deployment of housing solutions,” he remarked.
KLC Chairman Michal Defner underscored that sustainability is a core value of the company and upcycling shipping containers is one of the ways they can preserve the environment.
“In Israel, we are using containers for dorms, for soldiers in the army, and housing for the younger generation as we know inflation and the high cost of a new family securing a house. This is a great opportunity for the young generation,” Defner said.
KLC Marketing and Business Development Manager Cherine Forbes detailed that the six housing solutions are divided equally among one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom units.
Joint units are delivered separately and then assembled at the premises while single units are turnkey.
All units include ceramic tiles, drywall interior, wooden cupboards, and provision for air conditioning.
Decrabond roofing, front-patio decking, back-patio decking, granite countertops, a porcelain floor finish, patio rails, appliances, and air conditioners are additional amenities that can be requested by purchasers.
Forbes shared that KLC has partnered with Courts Jamaica/Unicomer, which will offer special discounts on furniture and appliances to purchasers.
“Our partners here today were strategically chosen to help us to create a network and an ecosystem that will support access to container homes. This is not necessarily the lowest price offer that we have on the market, but we have positioned it as an alternative housing solution that many Jamaicans will find as an attractive housing solution,” she explained.
Forbes added that Jamaicans in the diaspora could also purchase a housing solution to be dually used as a vacation home and a rental property.
Container home options
STRATUM
Container size – one 20-foot
Rooms – 1 bedroom, kitchen and bathroom
Total square feet – 160
Price – $2.3 million
TWIN STRATUM
Container size – one 40-foot
Rooms – 1 bedroom, kitchen and bathroom
Total square feet – 320
Price – $3.8 million
THE MOD
Container size – one 40-foot
Rooms – 2 bedrooms, kitchen and bathroom
Total square feet – 320
Price – $4.1 million
THE MOD-DONNA
Container size – one 40-foot and one 20-foot
Rooms – 2 bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom and living space
Total square feet – 480
Price – $8.5 million (includes roof and front patio)
THE IMPERIAL
Container size – two 40-foot
Rooms – 3 bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom and living space
Total square feet – 640
Price – $10 million
THE TWIN IMPERIAL
Container size – two 40-foot and one 20-foot
Rooms – bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and living space
Total square feet – 800
Price – $12.5 million