FERRIS’ TINY HOME PROJECT UNDERWAY

FERRIS – While things might appear to be bigger in Texas in most cases, in Ferris, city leaders are pushing forward on a tiny project.

On Sept. 21, Ferris Planning & Zoning along with the city council approved a zoning change for Lennar Homes of Texas Land and Construction, Ltd. to rezone 11.0-acres from the commercial neighborhood and the multi-family residential zoning districts to a planned development residential zoning district. 

The property, located on the south side of FM 660, is approximately 1,000 feet east of the Ferris ISD High School, within the City of Ferris.

Named “Ferris Springs,” Lennar Homes is planning on building approximately 85 tiny homes with the smallest at 740 sq. ft. up to 1,500 sq. ft.

Williams said Lennar is proposing homes in an HOA community that could become a much larger 375+ acre master planned development with traditional single-family homes comprising the remaining acreage.

Since 1954, Lennar has touted to be one of America’s leading homebuilders, and has helped hundreds of thousands of families across America move into the next stage of life with a new home. 

“We build in some of the nation’s most popular cities, and our communities cater to all lifestyles, with new homes for all stages of life, whether you are a first-time or move-up buyer, a multigenerational family or ‘Active Adult,’” according to their website.

Lennar builds new homes in 21 states, and in more than 76 popular real estate markets across the nation.

Ferris City Manager Brooks Williams said, “This is the first step of many for them to get the development rolling.” 

The homes would have no garage, but a front porch with enhanced landscaping and cementitious siding.

“The project came to be because Lennar called and asked about Ferris and our plans for future growth and development,” the city manager said.  

Ferris Springs will be part of the Ferris Independent School District, and will consist of open space of about 20-percent. 

The open space would include walking paths, an open-air shade structure, benches, picnic tables and outside grills.

The tiny home community would be the first in North Texas.

Per Lennar, the average price of one of the tiny homes would be around $150,000.

“They [Lennar] have mentioned that we were one of the first cities to have processes in place for developers to be able to conduct business with the city during COVID,” Williams concluded. “That other cities just shut down.

“They were impressed that we did not.”