Kansas City Firm Seeks to Build Affordable Homes Using Earthen Blocks

In the heartland of the United States, a business out of Kansas City is making strides towards creating affordable housing solutions that are both durable and beautiful. Civic Saint, a company established in 2020, aims to construct dwellings from compressed earth blocks (CEBs), an initiative targeted towards uplifting the Black community through homeownership.

Reimaging Home Construction

CEBs, according to Civic Saint’s founder and president Godfrey Riddle, are composed of 90% sand, clay, soil, and 10% water, lime or cement. Not only are these blocks twice as strong as regular concrete units, but they are also inexpensive to manufacture, environmentally-friendly, fireproof, and bulletproof making them an ideal building material.

“Growing up in Kansas City, homeownership was a challenge for my parents,” Riddle disclosed. “I see this as an opportunity for a rising tide to raise all boats. If we can facilitate more people, specifically those from the Black community, into homeownership, we can make a real difference.”

Homes That Don’t Break The Bank

Designed for practicality and cost-efficiency, these homes created by Civic Saint are priced at approximately $100,000 for 850 square feet. When built, the company plans to list these homes in the $130,000-$140,000 range, creating a affordable option for potential homeowners.

Riddle and his team have planned their inaugural build to be a tiny home in Montgall Park. Thereafter, the plan is to capture the public’s interest and continue the construction of homes in neighborhoods where affordable housing is in dire need. The vision for the future doesn’t stop at single-family homes; Riddle mentioned that he sees an opportunity for constructing townhouses and small apartment complexes to widen the range of homeownership and wealth-building options for Kansas City residents.

A Fusion of Art and Architecture

Commanding an artistic edge over traditional homes, these structures will showcase a fusion of art and architecture, a passion point for the Civic Saint founder. He stressed his desire for the homes to reflect the colorful fabric of the neighborhoods they will be planted in.

In collaboration with the GEM Cultural and Education Center, Civic Saint exhibited an example façade of what can be achieved with CEBs at 2001 Vine Street during KC Design Week. An open forum was also held to elaborate on the potential of this innovative building technology.

The future of affordable housing looks positively earthy in Kansas City, as Civic Saint embarks on a mission to transform the housing landscape, one earthen block at a time.