It's a "green" house that has some people seeing red. Construction has begun on an environmentally friendly home near Downtown Gainesville that's made of recycled shipping containers.
Although the home is receiving positive attention from green building authorities, some who live in the neighborhood are very unhappy with the new addition. Gladys Perkins is a long time resident of the Porters Community and she said, "We do strongly object to the fact that he's using metal containers to build a home in our neighborhood."
Perkins and others in the community are outraged by the new three story high structure they say is out of place.
Janie S. Williams said, "Right now they are all up in arms...because they did not realize that this was what it was gonna be." Williams said no one knew the green building they'd heard about would be made of recycled shipping containers.
Williams said, "I just think that Mr. Fox did us an injustice by not coming to our meetings and letting us know what exactly he planned to do." Some believe the home is a sign of disrespect for their community, which they say is finally improving. Perkins said, "We were told twice today, it's too late, it's done, it's a done deal...it's going up. That shows the lack of respect for the people in this neighborhood."
But the homeowner Tom Fox said this is the first complaint he's heard. He said, "I feel like I'm adding to the community, investing my finances into this place. And you know, I think I'm benefiting the community...so I don't know what else I was supposed to do."
Right now these shipping containers are completely unfinished and that has some neighbors concerned. But Fox said it will look completely different once the project is finished.
Fox said, "I wouldn't recommend anybody going to any construction site...literally this is the first 3 days that we've started and trying to judge what it's gonna look like when it's done."
Even though the home is far from finished, some residents already like what they see. Melzone Johnson said, "I wish it was mine...it would be great to have a house built like that." However those who oppose the home, say it will never be acceptable.
Perkins said, "It being a green, so called "green" building, quote un quote, means nothing. It's just a bunch of metal shipping containers that looks contaminated...it's rusted out...I don't care what they do to make it look better, it's still a three story building...it is not in keeping with the atmosphere we're trying to build in our neighborhood."
Even with the objections, Fox said this will be his dream home: hurricane proof, C02 neutral and in a great location.