The Gathering Tree breaks ground on city's third Eden Village

The Gathering Tree yesterday broke ground on Springfield's third Eden Village tiny home community for homeless residents.

A ceremony was held at the development site, 2419 W. High St., according to an event page on Facebook set up by The Gathering Tree nonprofit.

"We're going to celebrate bringing 24 more people home to their permanent home at Eden Village 3 in the near future," said Nate Schlueter, Eden Village chief visionary officer, in a Facebook live video prior to the groundbreaking ceremony.

Eden Village 3 is designed as a tiny home development of duplex homes on nearly 5 acres in the 2400 block of West High Street in the Tom Watkins neighborhood near Kearney Street and Kansas Expressway, according to past reporting.

Schlueter previously told Springfield Business Journal that Eden Village 3 is slated for completion by the end of 2023.

The Gathering Tree began building its Eden Village tiny homes in 2018 for the chronically homeless and disabled population in Springfield. The first Eden Village has 31 houses, while the second development, which opened in November 2021, has 24. All 55 homes were occupied as of August, according to past reporting.

Additionally, Eden Village has licensed its model, so tiny home developments are opening around the country.