Much of the front of container-composed 1709 Dan St. still sports that distinctive shipping container crimp, though the actual entrance to the 2-box structure has been partially camouflaged behind siding and a gabled-roof-sporting porch. The misalignment between the 2 boxes makes room for a matching patio space in the back of the home, which sits about a block and a half north of the intersection with Lyons St. in Fifth Ward. The house was put together by container enthusiast Build-a-Box (whose website says it’s also working up a 50-unit shipping container apartment complex for the neighborhood).
All the sections of the 2-bedroom, 2-bath structure add up to about 1,228 sq.ft.; the house went on sale last month for $189,995. The crimping has been completely masked on the inside of the house:
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The northern container contains an open plan living room, kitchen, and dining area:
The dining space opens out to the aforementioned back patio:
A small hallway space connects the living area to the master suite (below), the 2nd bedroom, and the second bathroom:
One of the bedrooms is shown staged as an office; the listing also suggest the building for office use:
The back patio maintains a container vibe:
- 1709 Dan St. [HAR]
- About Us [Build-A-Box Homes]
Photos: HAR
Attention: wanna be urban pioneers. This neighborhood IS VERY close to Downtown. I wouldn’t walk the Burke neighborhood, as it does have some sketchy occupants. But for less than $200,000 in very close proximity to downtown, it IS an option.
There’s much I like about this place!
But I’d have to hang out there for a while to experience it before I say for sure – like an overnight field trip!
Do sounds resonate or are they deadened?
Does it smell like steel?
Can I get radio and cel signals?
Over time, will rust become an issue?
I like that the interior was designed to resemble a 1920s/30s era remodeled home. WIth all steel construction above, I wonder why the kitchen needs not one but two support columns?
$155/sqft is unrealistic for this area\structure. It contradicts Build a Box’s slogan “Highest Quality Housing at the most cost effective priceâ€.
I understand that because of the height of the shipping containers they don’t have enough room for ducting, but a ductless mini split is a hard sale in the Houston area.
It is my understanding that both labor and building materials are cheap enough in this part of the country to make prefab or shipping container homes a much less attractive option.
Love this house but not the neighborhood. I wonder how much of that 190k is for the lot and how much is for the house?
@ Native Houstonian: Steel is only strong as part of a rigid structure. As a sheet or a bar, it is very malleable, not quite like a noodle comprised of starch, but not terribly unlike it either. Most of the rigidity in an ISO container is provided along its corners, but a significant amount of that is distributed to the walls lengthwise. When you start removing whole walls, this necessitates some kind of reinforcement. The same principles are why it is inadvisable to bury an ISO container and expect it not to sag and warp and leak; they are built to take weight above only at the corners.
Good effort! Haven’t been over that way in a long time, so I think I’ll take a drive out there. After suffering through skyrocketing real estate taxes for the past several years, I’m open to a good fence and Kevlar curtains..
The place is now completely off market. It was taken off and put up for rent instead a few months ago. I had contacted them about renting and to make a semi long story short. Because of a missed phone call when I try to contact the person again they thought I was a scammer of some sort. They emailed me “were done here. I don’t trust this whole story”. I told him that I wasn’t sure what else to say or do. I had told a friend that maybe it was an omen to back off and stay away. Sad, I really like the place and had drove by it. I thought it was interesting. It’s the Ward though and although there’s new buildings around it still has has hood-ish feel to it. I think the person who owns it is still stuck on the idea of selling it and not renting it out.
I am the landlord. The poster above Richard Cortez refused to talk on the phone. He wanted to communicate by email only and claimed he worked so much he can never talk to me on the phone. Thats why it seemed suspicious. I am not the original builder or seller. I have never listed the place for sale.
Also when Richard Cortez emailed me it said premier agent on the email letterhead. This guy was not looking to rent he is an agent that knows a new house in the 150K price point is in demand. I have gotten many calls from cash buyers and realtors trying to buy or list the place even though it is not for sale. Drive by and park near the house one day. It has a constant stream of looky loos. If I am at the house people stop and beg to see inside. I got over 200 emails from people on zillow in two months about the place.