Eden Village, city settle lawsuit

Eden Village and the city of Springfield reached a settlement on a 2019 lawsuit filed by the tiny home developer's parent company, nonprofit The Gathering Tree.

The suit, filed last July, alleged violations of the American With Disabilities Act and the Fair Housing Act after Springfield City Council denied a zoning request for a second Eden Village in Springfield. The first, a 31-home community for the homeless at 2801 E. Division St., opened in August 2018.

Eden Village last year went to council to rezone 5 acres at 3303 W. Division St. for the second development.

As part of the settlement, the city purchased the West Division property at its appraised value of $236,000 from The Gathering Tree, said Springfield spokeswoman Cora Scott.

Additionally, council at its April 20 meeting held a public hearing on zoning ordinance amendments that would permit the development of tiny home projects.

“Eden Village and the city have worked in partnership in recent years to address homelessness within the city,” Springfield City Manager Jason Gage said in the release. “This has included a $300,501 Community Development Block Grant that contributed to the completion of Eden Village I. We look forward to resuming that partnership and continuing to address this important issue.”

Eden Village Chief Visionary Officer Nate Schlueter said the organization already has moved forward on a second local Eden Village at 3155 W. Brower St. The former site of a trailer park, the 24-home development is slated for completion this fall, he said.

Schlueter said the development's costs are being covered by grants and private donations. Sponsors can pay $35,000 to adopt a home, he said, noting four of the tiny residences are not yet spoken for.

Eden Village has received 120 applications for the homes so far, Schlueter said, noting tenants would be selected two weeks prior to opening.

The nonprofit also is working with other organizations nationwide on their own tiny home developments. A 36-unit project underway in Wilmington, North Carolina, is scheduled to open next year, he said.

Eden Village also recently announced the hiring of Harlan Hill as CEO. He formerly was the city's Building Development Services director.