Craftsman Style House Numbers

Flood turns Minot's housing shortage into crisis

MINOT, N.D. (AP) — Workers in North Dakota's booming oil industry and related jobs had taken up any empty space in Minot before the swollen Souris River raced into the city, filling thousands of homes with water and turning the housing shortage into a crisis.

Housing is tight across the state's oil patch, with some workers in far-flung areas living in cars, campers and hotels. In Minot, the biggest city near the state's oil patch, new construction enabled people to find a roof to put over their heads. More than 1,000 apartments and 600 homes were built in the past three years.

But the flood that drowned some 4,100 homes last week destroyed those gains and set the city back. Many people are now living in vans, sleeping in tents and staying at shelters. Even more have bunked up with friends or relatives.

"We were already in a major building mode and desperately trying to catch up to the oil boom before the flood and this is going to make it worse," said Darrell Linnertz, Minot's building inspector for the past two decades. "This will make the housing shortage almost ridiculous — people are going to have to live anywhere they can."

The flood broke a more than 130-year-old record for high water. In some cases, the river reached the eaves of homes. A Federal Emergency Management Agency survey done by airplane found about 800 houses covered by more than 10 feet of water and 2,400 under at least 6 feet. For most residents, that means they've lost anything on their first floor and in finished basements, which are common.

The city will need to build — and build fast — and that creates another problem: where to house construction workers?

"There physically aren't enough companies here to do the work and outside contractors will have to come in," Linnertz said. "I don't know how that will happen."

It's not clear how many homes will have to be razed. Mayor Curt Zimbelman said demolition may be the only solution for nearly one-fifth of the homes hit with the highest water. But city officials said the final number will depend on several things, including how long the water remains.

"A lot of it is going to depend on the structure and how it was built and how old it was," Zimbelman said.

City Council member Dave Lehner owns a Craftsman-style home that was built in 1908 and listed locally as a historic structure. He had to evacuate the house last week and hasn't seen it since. He's heard reports that it and others in his neighborhood are standing in about 3 feet of water.

Craftsman Architectural Style House Plans | New Housing Developments

The desire for Craftsman style house plans is as high as ever, and discerning buyers love the high quality country finishes and elegant simplicity of the style. Today’s Craftsman house plans are an extension of the home design movement that traces is roots to the arts and crafts legacy of the early 19th century. A Craftsman design features an understated elegance in design, and although the plans may not as often boast the massive square footages of other Architectural styles, the style makes up for this lack of size with an attention to detail, livability, and wood finished quality.

One of the primary features of most Craftsman house plans is the prominent, pillared front porch. Additionally, the design style will typically include a battened door with wrought-iron strap hinges paired with the wide, inviting porch unique. The Craftsman style home’s front porch typically spans the width of the front exterior facade supported by heavy square or round columns contrasting the bold exterior stone chimneys.

Another design feature of most Craftsman house plansis an open floorplan with few hallways but a large number of windows to let in light. Additionally, stained or leaded glass windows may be included while beamed ceilings, dark wood wainscoting moldings, built-in cabinets, shelves and seating serve to create a cozy welcoming retreat for family activities and casual entertaining.

Finally, Craftsman style house plans usually feature wood, stone or stucco siding, a low pitched roof, and wide eaves with exposed wood rafters. The Craftsman design style is similar in features to Bungalow, Prairie, and Pueblo style, and is a great option for family’s looking for a new floor plan.

A country home plan creates a livable and “homey” place to live, and with the unassuming statures and country casual porch frontages, encourage the enjoyment of the space. With a country-style plan, you can build a home that feels like a home.

For an example of popular Craftsman style house plans, visit:

http://www.houseplangallery.

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