The City of Sioux Falls Department of Community Development, in partnership with Affordable Housing Solutions (formerly Sioux Falls Housing Corp), Architects for Humanity – Sioux Falls, and several other community housing advocates are pleased to announce the construction start of the first Affordable Housing Design competition winning home design.

Architecture Incorporated’s design concept was selected to be built in the Whittier Neighborhood of Sioux Falls. The "Shift House" was designed to "shift the perception of what affordable housing can be. It can be innovative, sustainable, and well-designed." A ground breaking ceremony was held on the site located at 726 N. Highland Ave on September 20, 2011.

View the groundbreaking ceremony.

Excavation for the basement walls began on Friday September 23rd and was completed by the following Monday. The concrete footings and foundations have been completed. Dampproofing, backfill, floor truss and subflooring will be installed next, with rough framing to follow. Upon completion this two bedroom home will be made available to a household whose median income is at or less than 80 percent of the Sioux Falls area median income.

This first Affordable Housing Design Competition strives to show residents of Sioux Falls the benefits of a sustainable design and how it can be incorporated into affordable housing. It will provide a new resident with a higher quality of life through both short-term and long-term affordability and to use replicable strategies that could contribute to the future of affordable housing in Sioux Falls.