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EXPLORING the NEED for TINY HOUSES in URBAN CITIES by LENORE CUMBERBATCH-PEARSON a Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate School

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EXPLORING the NEED for TINY HOUSES in URBAN CITIES by LENORE CUMBERBATCH-PEARSON a Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate School EXPLORING THE NEED FOR TINY HOUSES IN URBAN CITIES By LENORE CUMBERBATCH-PEARSON A dissertation submitted to the Graduate School - Newark Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey In partial fulfillment of the requirements For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Graduate Program in Urban Systems Written under the direction of Todd Clear And approved by ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ Newark, New Jersey [October 2020] ABSTRACT People are embracing the tiny life philosophy, which is about freedom, the ability to make choices about how you want to live, your social life and obligations. It is also about decluttering your life and getting rid of material objects and getting rid of stress as well. Living in a tiny home can improve your financial situation and alleviate the inability to afford a home (Somerfield, 2017). While many Americans are overwhelmed by 30-year mortgages and the high cost of home ownership, living smaller is an alternative to this high cost of living. While small homes aren’t for everyone, there are many populations that could benefit from living in a tiny home, especially those in urban areas. This is a qualitative study to examine the impact of tiny houses in urban cities. The interviewees were 10 stakeholders and political leaders who possess relevant ideas regarding housing and community planning. These interviews provide insight into the ways that tiny living can influence the lives of Newark residents. The result shows a mixed response from the interviewees. Some of the subjects were positive about the new ideas as it would be financially crucial for employed homeless. They pointed out, for example, that tiny houses can be transferable assets for individuals who need those assets. Other interviewee’s opined that while tiny houses have the potential for reducing space, there is also the fear of creating a congested community or slums. Zoning laws may even create several dilemmas. The issues can be mitigated by providing aesthetic value and sustainability value to tiny houses. Aesthetic properties and sustainability are beneficial in attracting people to tiny house living. While collecting for this research, a bill was passed by the Newark city council to allow people to rent lots in the city of Newark for tiny houses. This study contributes to ii the knowledge of how living in tiny houses can impact urban neighborhoods and help to create housing sustainability for people who previously could only dream of owning their own home. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I am extremely grateful to all individuals who have helped me to conclude this research study successfully. I have been able to develop my skills on the different approaches related to the research study which examines Tiny Houses and the possibility of developing them in the city of Newark, NJ. I would especially like to convey my deep gratitude to my Chair, Dr. Todd Clear who has guided me whenever I needed any help during the study. I would also like to thank my committee members, Dr. Michael Simmons, Dr. Alan Sadovnic, David Troutt, Esq. and Dr. Norman Samuels for helping me look at things through a different lens and encouraging me throughout this process. I would like to thank Marcia Brown, Esq. for sending me on this journey and accepting nothing less but my best but doing it with gentle pushing. I am excessively thankful to my Urban Systems colleagues for sharing their knowledge with me on Tiny Houses in an urban landscape. I would also like to thank the interviewees, for giving me their valuable time in the interview process. Finally, I would like to thank my friends and family who have been a constant source of support for me and have endured my mental breakdowns during the conduction of the study. With all my heart, thank you. iv Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................. ii Acknowledgement ............................................................................................................ iv List of Figures .................................................................................................................. viii List of Illustrations ............................................................................................................ ix List of Tables .................................................................................................................... xi Working Glossary ............................................................................................................ xii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................... 1 1.1 Problem Statement .................................................................................................. 2 1.2 Significance of the Study ......................................................................................... 7 1.3 Summary ................................................................................................................. 7 CHAPTER TWO: THE HISTORY OF HOUSING IN NEWARK ........................................ 9 2.1 How Housing in Newark Began ............................................................................... 9 2.2 The Urban and Industrial Environment in the City of Newark, NJ ......................... 11 2.3 The Effects of World War I and World War II......................................................... 19 2.4 Detroit Mirrors Newark ........................................................................................... 29 2.5 Back in Newark ...................................................................................................... 31 2.6 Present Day Newark: A City of Wards ................................................................... 32 CHAPTER THREE: THE CASE FOR TINY HOUSES .................................................... 36 3.1 Newark’s population .............................................................................................. 36 3.2 Millennials .............................................................................................................. 42 3.3 Baby Boomers ....................................................................................................... 47 3.4 Homeless and Veteran Housing ............................................................................ 50 3.5 Re-Entry Housing .................................................................................................. 54 3.6 Micro-Unit Housing ................................................................................................ 56 3.7 Tiny Houses Sustainability .................................................................................... 58 3.8 Studies of Tiny Houses .......................................................................................... 64 Ecological Sustainability of Tiny Houses ..................................................................... 71 Economic Support Provided by Tiny Houses Sustaining Livelihood ........................... 72 Problems of Tiny Houses ............................................................................................ 73 Current Research ........................................................................................................ 75 3.10 Tiny Houses in Newark ........................................................................................ 75 Evolution of Tiny Houses ............................................................................................. 78 v CHAPTER FOUR: METHODOLOGY.............................................................................. 79 4.1 Research outline .................................................................................................... 84 4.2 Research methods ................................................................................................ 84 4.3 Case study research approach .............................................................................. 85 4.4 Data Analysis ......................................................................................................... 91 CHAPTER FIVE: FINDINGS AND DATA ANALYSIS ..................................................... 94 5.1 Summary of qualitative data and interpretation ..................................................... 94 5.1.1 Summary of interview with Candidate 1 ................................................................ 94 5.1.2 Summary of the interview of Candidate 2 .............................................................. 96 5.1.3 Summary of interview of Candidate 3 ................................................................... 98 5.1.4 Summary of interview of Candidate 4 and 5 ........................................................ 100 5.1.5 Summary of interview of Candidate 6 ................................................................. 104 5.1.6 Summary of Interview with Candidate 7 .............................................................. 109 5.1.7 Summary of Interview with Candidate 8 .............................................................. 111 5.1.8 Summary of interview of Candidate 9 ................................................................. 118 5.1.9. Summary of Interview with Candidate 10 ........................................................... 121 5.2 Summary of the results .......................................................................................
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