A new venture called Civic Saint, based in Kansas City, is taking an innovative approach to affordable housing by building homes out of compressed earth blocks (CEBs). The company’s mission is to make homeownership more accessible, especially for the Black community. Godfrey Riddle, founder and CEO of Civic Saint, believes that increasing homeownership can uplift the community as a whole. He founded the company after seeing firsthand his parents’ struggles with homeownership growing up in Kansas City.
Civic Saint’s homes are designed to be around 850 square feet and cost approximately $100,000 to build. They plan to sell these homes for $130,000-$140,000 each. While their first build will be a tiny home in Montgall Park, they aim to continue constructing homes in neighborhoods that need affordable housing options. Riddle emphasizes the importance of offering single-family homes, townhouses, and small apartment complexes to provide more options for homeownership and wealth-building opportunities.
The exterior of Civic Saint’s homes will feature art that reflects the unique character of the neighborhoods they serve. The company has partnered with the GEM Cultural and Education Center for KC Design Week to showcase an example facade at 2001 Vine Street. On April 25th, there will be a public forum where attendees can learn more about the project and purchase tickets at kcdesignweek.org.
