Land at the Y in South Lake Tahoe to be purchased for affordable housing project

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A vacant one-half acre lot on Emerald Bay Road at the "Y" in South Lake Tahoe will soon become an “affordable by design” housing project and could be the site of tiny houses. At Thursday's California Tahoe Conservancy meeting they announced their intent to sell one of its developable properties to Dinsmore Sierra who will finance and build the project which is across the street from Alpina Cafe.

There was a lot of interest in the property from several developers but ultimately the proposal by Dinsmore Sierra was selected. The Reno company's website says they "implement smart growth practices that preserve community character. The goal of Dinsmore SIERRA is to create unique sustainable communities that are walkable and feature great neighborhood design with vibrant town centers."

The terms of the deal are still to be negotiated.

“Housing is one of the most urgent issues facing Tahoe communities,” said Conservancy Chair and City of South Lake Tahoe Mayor Brooke Laine. “The prospect of adding affordable homes to this walkable, bikeable neighborhood supports the Lake Tahoe Basin’s sustainable development goals.”

Dinsmore Sierra has proposed developing a project that makes efficient use of land while minimizing the impact on the natural landscape. The company intends to save costs by using small, simple and repeatable building types.

They will look at putting tiny houses on the lot but will have to work with both the City and Conservancy to see exactly what can, and will, be built. There is currently no policy around tiny houses in South Lake Tahoe but that could change now that the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency has updated their affordable housing policy.

Darin Dinsmore of Dinsmore Sierra is in Sedona, Arizona currently, installing tiny houses at the Sedona Charter School for teachers and has completed a like project in Riverside. He is the industry representative for tiny homes in California, Nevada, and Arizona.

Dinsmore is also working on the new Truckee Railround development project.

The developer and Conservancy will also collaborate with partner agencies on strategies to keep the units affordable, while also considering the housing policy and fee recommendations from the Tahoe Prosperity Center and the Mountain Housing Council. By exploring all such options to reduce overhead costs compared to typical residential developments, Dinsmore Sierra aims for housing that is more affordable by design, while improving housing choices for South Lake Tahoe.

Dinsmore said he'll be working with all area partners over the next two months and hopes to have a project started by 2020.

In addition to the new homes, the potential 833 Emerald Bay Road project must meet the Conservancy’s requirements to include a permanent easement for public access and open space. Dinsmore Sierra will explore meeting those requirements by including such possible amenities as a bicycle path and a public bike repair station.

As part of its Tahoe Livable Communities program, the Conservancy has committed to using some of its “asset lands” to help foster sustainable redevelopment in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Asset lands include developable lands in urbanized areas of the Lake Tahoe Basin that could support sustainable, compact development, consistent with Tahoe’s regional and local community planning. The 833 Emerald Bay Road property is located within the South Lake Tahoe “Y” area town center and close to bicycle routes and transit.

In 2019 the Conservancy will release other Requests for Proposal (RFP) for the purchase and development for some of their other buildable lots in South Lake Tahoe for more affordable housing.