Civic Saint, a Kansas City-based business, is dedicated to providing affordable and artful housing options for the community. Founded by Godfrey Riddle in 2020, the company’s mission is to increase homeownership opportunities, particularly for the Black community. To achieve this goal, Civic Saint plans to construct homes using compressed earth blocks (CEBs), which offer numerous benefits such as strength, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability.
Riddle’s personal experiences growing up in Kansas City and his parents’ struggles with homeownership inspired him to establish Civic Saint. He believes that everyone should have access to affordable housing and that it can lead to a more equitable society. The homes built by Civic Saint are estimated to cost around $100,000 to construct 850 square feet, with plans to sell them for $130,000-$140,000. The company’s first project will be a tiny home in Montgall Park, with future plans to expand into other neighborhoods that need affordable housing options.
Civic Saint aims to provide a variety of housing options such as single-family homes, townhouses, and small apartment complexes. Additionally, the company wants to incorporate art into the design of its homes to reflect each neighborhood’s unique character and identity. By doing so, they hope to make their developments more engaging and attractive for residents.
In partnership with the GEM Cultural and Education Center for KC Design Week on April 25th at kcdesignweek.org., Civic Saint will showcase an example facade of homes constructed using CEBs. This public forum will provide attendees with more information about this innovative housing solution and how it can benefit their communities.