Origin Homes will be adding diversity to the five new homes that will be built in Knoxville’s new Veterans District.

Last spring, the city council approved five new homes to be built by Origin in the Veterans District so they could apply for workforce housing tax credits in which they received. Origin already has five homes in the new development, but the council included in the agreement in the spring that the homes had to be diverse, as the current ones all look similar. Origin will build three different styles. The council approved back then that two of the homes must be two-story, but ultimately, they moved forward with Origin’s request that only one of the five homes needs to meet that requirement in the fall.

At the last city council meeting, Knoxville Planning and Zoning Administrator Nathan Parch said that Origin had submitted building permits for the new homes that will include the one two story home with single story homes on each side on Veterans Boulevard. Origin does not plan on building two of the same style of home next to each other and a second one story model will be constructed. According to Origin, the plans will be four ranch style homes which will be two different variations and then the one two story home. After the council approved the amendment development agreement in the fall which passed in a 4-1 split vote, City Manager Heather Ussery said the city wanted to modify the frontage of one of the floor plans. 

“Given the market and Origin’s feedback they were hesitant to go forward with two of those two-story homes. The request of the amended agreement was to do one two-story home and two other floor plans. It was a lengthy discussion. I think it was an overall good conversation and council overall approved the amended agreement, but they want to modify the frontage of one of the floor plans that was provided.”

These homes are expected to start being constructed this spring. Origin expects to release more details about the home being built this week.