The City of Rochester is expanding its Buy The Block initiative by inviting developers to propose factory-built modular housing on nine city-owned vacant lots. With 24 homes already built and nearly 36 more underway through the program, this next step aims to make affordable homeownership more accessible.
Mayor Malik Evans emphasized the importance of homeownership in building family wealth and stability, noting that modular and manufactured homes offer faster construction, weather independence, and starting prices around $170,000. The pilot program requires 100% private investment, with the city facilitating permitting and selling the land at assessed value.
GreenDoor Builders, a local modular home company, is among the early developers preparing an RFP. The city sees this as a test case to evaluate construction speed, cost savings, and energy efficiency in an urban environment—despite delivery challenges like narrow streets and infrastructure limits.
RFP proposals are due July 9, with a virtual information session scheduled for June 12. Details are available on the city’s website.
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Gary Fleisher, The Modcoach, writes about the modular and offsite construction industry at Modular Home Source.
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