Our Principles

MicroLife specializes in developing “Pocket Neighborhoods”. We believe there is room for homes that come in all shapes and sizes, that meet the needs of all kinds of people in a way that creates complete neighborhoods, reduces carbon footprints, brings our communities together, allows people to age in place with dignity, and adds critical missing middle housing stock to the market.

Naturally Affordable

LEVERAGING MISSING MIDDLE PRINCIPLES TO SPEND EFFICIENTLY

Pocket Neighborhoods utilize low-cost residential construction techniques with shared use of land that yield naturally affordable units without subsidy. This allows us to achieve quantity AND quality, and increase access to existing desirable neighborhoods.

Spatial Efficiency

ALL THE SPACE YOU NEED, NONE YOU DON’T

Our projects aren’t always “Tiny Houses”, but they do strive to eliminate wasted space and encourage doing more with less. Whether it’s individual cottages, attached dwellings, or apartments— we strive to pack great experience into a small package.

Connecting Community

GENTLE DENSITY NATURALLY YIELDS A SENSE OF COMMUNITY

Pocket Neighborhoods tend to be “just right” sized to allow connection, collaboration, and shared ownership of common spaces without the overwhelming anonymity of large scale multi-family developments. Neighbors know and can support one another.

Walkability & Transit

REDUCING OUR RELIANCE ON CARS & DISCOURAGING AMENITY DESERTS

Our ideal projects make more efficient use of existing infrastructure and municipal services. Residents have improved access to amenities—such as parks, schools, and retail—and development in areas that put transit and other amenities in walkable distances.

A Commitment to Inclusivity and Equitability.

Creating Equal Opportunities in Homeownership

Our naturally-affordable cottages sell well below average home prices, even without subsidy. This increases access to homeownership for people who may otherwise be stuck in a multi-generational cycle of renting. Our buyers can build equity in their homes and invest in the future of their families for generations to come.

Improving Access to High-Demand Neighborhoods

Our more efficient use of land and the lower costs of constructing small cottages introduces naturally affordable homes in existing desirable neighborhoods. People who have been prevented – through policies or pricing – from living in the neighborhood of their dreams have an opportunity to purchase a home there.

Preventing Disruption & Displacement

Atlanta has numerous neighborhoods experiencing pressure from growth and development. Existing homeowners and residents are often displaced – and communities are fractured – by rising property taxes and a strong incentive to sell their homes. Adding new naturally affordable housing creates options to remain in their communities and share in the success of their growth.

Strengthening Communities

MicroLife developments are built to encourage a sense of community and collaboration between residents. Residents of pocket neighborhoods know and support each other. People with similar cultural backgrounds can build stronger ties, and people from different cultures, household composition, and ages can build stronger ties through shared experiences and central amenities.

MicroLife In the News

ULI Announces Winners for the 2022 Jack Kemp, Terwilliger Center Awards

Gov. Kemp Awards Over $62M to Address Homelessness and Housing Insecurity

Returning to types of housing we need to age in place

MicroLife Institute is Bringing Their Biggest Tiny House Festival to Middle Georgia

Innovative Housing Can Address Affordability and Aging in Place

To Boost Housing Access, Fulton County Floats Tiny Home Pilot Project

Our Morally Indefensible Affordable-Housing Crisis

Affordable and Efficient? Check and Check, With Tiny Homes

ARC: State of the Region Recap – Innovative Development Award

Georgia’s 1st Tiny Home Community Wins innovation Award

Clarkston’s Big Idea to Boost Home Ownership Is to Go Small

Downsizing Could Allow More Seniors to Age in Place

There's a New Luxury Tiny-House Community Near Atlanta

Georgia's First Tiny Home Village Is Complete—and Sold Out

Creating Middle Housing in DeKalb County

Groundbreaking Ceremony for Motherhood Housing Initiative

Atlantans Are Finding New Ways to Share Space

Macro Opportunities for Micro Living: Tiny Houses

MicroLife Institute Shows Off Tiny House Community

Tiny Home Industry Association: The Cottages on Vaughan: Clarkston, Georgia

MicroLife Institute Unveils Net-Zero Carbon Micro Cottages Designed in cove.tool

Cottages on Vaughn: Half-Acre Pocket Neighborhood with Tiny Homes

ARC’s Regional Excellence Awards: Visionary Planning and Development

Tiny Home Community Completed in Clarkston

CHRIS 180 Breaks Ground on New Housing Initiative

This “Pocket Neighborhood” Has 8 houses on a Lot, Instead of One McMansion

City of Clarkston set to welcome Georgia’s first tiny home neighborhood

Clarkston Approves First Tiny Home Community in Georgia

The Georgia Voice: Tiny Living in the ATL

Meet the Team

Will Johnston

Executive Director
After a career in Marketing with stints at the AJC and Cox, Will evolved a Tiny House interested meetup group into MLI after the success of the Cottages on Vaughan. In addition to being our Inspiring Leader, Will focuses on Business Development and Outreach.
Sara Beresford

Director of Planning & Program Management
Sara is an urban planner with a background in non-profit program development. She focuses on program management and engaging with partners on site design and entitlements.
Devin Vermeulen

Director of Design & Development
With a background in Architecture and a career enabling start-up growth at WeWork and Getaway House, Devin is focused on strategy and driving our projects forward while innovating on our product through great experience and efficient use of capital.
Erica Copenhaver

Research & Community Coordinator
With a background in Engineering, Erica focuses on the Education and Community Engagement for MicroLife’s mission. They uphold that housing is a human right, and they are passionate about utilizing missing middle housing to create housing choice.
Luke McEachern

Architecture Design Intern
Luke is a fifth-year architecture student at Kennesaw State University. He brings his architecture background and innovative design ideas to his internship with the MicroLife Institute, and he is currently building his very own tiny house on wheels.

Our Board of Directors

Dirk Brown (chair)

INVESTOR/PHILANTRHOPIST

Kim Bucciero (treasurer)

DEVELOPER, TINY SOUTH

Tish Spearman (secretary)

ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL, DAVINCI DEVELOPMENT COLLABORATIVE

Jennifer Fine

INVEST ATLANTA

Nicolia Robinson

COOPER CARRY ARCHITECTURE

Kay Sibetta

COMMUNITY OUTREACH, METRO ATLANTA AARP GEORGIA

Ryan Burrell

MISTUBISHI ELECTRIC HEATING & COOLING

Michèle Battle

BATTLE LAW