The Shrinking Lot
As Lots Tighten Their Girth, Builders and Architects are
Scrutinizing Ways to Make the Houses on Them Live Large

Project 3

Silverado Place
Las Vegas

Targeted toward young professionals, this entry-level house has room for just the basics--and no backyard. Tracy Lee, vice president of design for Astoria Homes, made the most of the tiny lot by including a landscaped and fenced front courtyard for outdoor living. At 7 feet by 13 feet, the courtyard is just big enough for a patio table and chairs. Well-mannered street elevations feature recessed one-car garages and projections such as balconies and covered entryways that break up the box.

Inside, the kitchen, dining, and living areas read as one large space, and the laundry, tucked into a niche in the garage, consists of stacked units that come with the house. The upper level is big enough for two bedrooms and a multipurpose loft. Astoria offers four different floor plans in this 429-home community ranging from 1,138 square feet to 1,244 square feet, and three elevation choices per plan. Lee says the builder's best-selling model is the largest one, which features a deck off the master suite.

Project: Silverado Place, Las Vegas; Lot size: 1,530 square feet (34 feet wide by 45 feet deep); House size: 1,176 square feet; Builder/Developer/Architect: Astoria Homes, Las Vegas

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