By Jenny Callison
Enquirer contributor

Developer Carolyn Rolfes walks through the kitchen of the Gatsby model. (Glenn Hartong photos) | ZOOM |

While pricey brick townhouses sprout elsewhere on vacant lots in Cincinnati, a development in Carthage may hold the key to affordable urban housing.

Fifteen new homes in styles reminiscent of the early 20th century are turning a former eyesore into a showcase. The Mills of Carthage development is made up entirely of manufactured housing, with price tags of $100,000 to $185,000. It's taking shape on a former industrial site in an otherwise residential neighborhood. Eventually, 60 new homes will occupy the 14-acre plot.

The Mills of Carthage is a project of Potterhill Homes, a Milford-based builder of manufactured homes that aims to provide affordable single-family housing with a traditional look.

Five manufacturers' models are represented in the first phase of the project. The structures were factory-built and shipped in three to four segments for assembly on site. Each house has a detached two-car garage, and a front porch to encourage neighborliness.

"We wanted to match the surroundings,'' said Potterhill president Carolyn Rolfes, indicating the tidy single-family dwellings that front the site on two sides.

The kitchen and dining room in the Eames model. | ZOOM |

The new one- and two-story homes are 1,350 to 2,400 square feet and are designed for urban lots 40 feet wide by 140 feet deep. They come equipped with carpet and other floor coverings, kitchen appliances and light fixtures. Basic landscaping is provided for the front yard.

"I really truly love it,'' said neighbor Fran Burns, who has watched the project take shape after working with others in the community to bring a residential development to the former brownfields site. "What was there before - which was basically warehouses - wasn't too conducive to good living. Tractor-trailer trucks were going in and out day and night.''

After the old structures were demolished, the site sat vacant for several years. One proposal, to construct upscale homes on the property, fell through.

In stepped Potterhill Homes.

Although hers is a new company, Ms. Rolfes learned about the manufactured-home industry from her father, who has been in the business for 35 years. She says she has worked with manufacturers to add touches that increase appeal. Ground-floor rooms have 9-foot ceilings. Framing is done with 2-by-6s rather than 2-by-4s. Insulation exceeds code. Jacuzzi tubs are available for a minimal fee. All models have master suites.

Exterior of some of the newly built homes along 66th Avenue at the Mills of Carthage | ZOOM |

"The construction and features are a lot better than in many new homes I've seen,' said Angela Brown, who has purchased one of the models. "You would never guess this was a modular home development.''

Ms. Brown, who now lives in Highland Heights, chose a home at the Mills of Carthage for two main reasons.

"The first reason is that it's new, and finding a new home in Cincinnati is very difficult. With my allergies, a new home is almost a requirement. Second, it's centrally located, only about 10 minutes from downtown, where I work.''

Meanwhile, others in the neighborhood are sprucing up their homes.

"More people are fixing up their homes. I see them out with paintbrushes,'' said Ms. Burns.