Land Betterment’s ekō Solutions Welcomes First 5 Residents To ekō Village Of Pike In Pikeville Kentucky

Land Betterment Corporation (“Land Betterment” or the “Company”), an environmental solutions company fostering positive impact through upcycling former coal mining sites to create sustainable community development and job creation, announced today that its ekō Solutions division has welcomed the first 5 residents into its ekō Village of Pike located just outside Pikeville, Kentucky. This marks the completion and full lease up of Phase 1 of ekō Village of Pike.

Mark Jensen, Executive Chair of Land Betterment stated, “This is big moment for our company! In February of 2020 we set out on an ambitious journey when we founded Land Betterment Corporation. We knew there was a better way to help communities in transition. This milestone is proof of concept that you can transform former coal mining sites into sustainable housing communities. As a solution-based company, our ekō Villages are bringing real sustainable, environmental and social solutions to a region in need.  We continue to work on additional site locations within our pipeline and look forward to bringing ekō Solutions’ modern, ecological and sustainable housing option to other nearby communities.”

ekō Village of Pike is located on a 4-acre controlled development site, 8 miles from downtown Pikeville, Kentucky. ekō Solutions’ parent company, Land Betterment Corporation, acquired control of the land, which was a former industrial site once utilized by the coal industry. Since February of 2020, the Company has been remediating the land so that it is safe, flat and livable. Now complete with ekō container-based homes, it is welcoming residents.

“We are thrilled to complete Phase 1of ekō Village of Pike and even more excited to welcome its new residents,” said Pete Rodriquez, President of ekō Solutions. “Our ekō homes are the perfect solution for Pikeville, as well as the entire Appalachian region, as their economies transition away from coal mining and diversifies into new industries which are bringing more jobs and employees to the area.”

This low cost housing property is invaluable to local organizations such as the Pikeville Medical Center, University of Pikeville, Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine as we all other organizations in the area which historically have struggled to provide housing as the Pikeville economy continues to diversify. Having these homes available will enable a needed workforce to better work and live in the Pikeville area.

“Our ekō homes are sustainable and efficiently manufactured to the highest of standards which eliminates on-site construction constraints,” Rodriguez said. “We can have these homes set up and running complete with utility hookups in approximately 4-6 weeks. ekō homes are designed to be high-quality, durable, energy efficient and affordable to live in and maintain.”

Phase 2 consists of 8 homes including 4 two-story models. These homes are currently being developed with anticipated leasing during summer of 2023.

The Phase 3 development of ekō Village of Pike is anticipated to commence in spring of 2024, and when fully built out, will have a total of 23 low-cost, modern ekō homes made from recycled steel shipping containers which are strong, energy efficient, weather, insect and rodent resistant and available for rent. These ekō homes provide transitioning and traditional communities with a safe, affordable and sustainable housing solution.

Details about the ekō Solutions models currently located in the ekō Village of Pike are as follows:

The Loggia

• 640 square foot open floor plan
• 2 bedrooms
• 1 full bathroom
• Single story w/ two connected 40’ standard containers side-by-side
• 40’ L x 16’ W x 8” H

The Two’s Company

• 480 square foot open floor plan
• 2 bedrooms
• 1 full bathroom
• 2 story lay out with rooftop deck
• 40’ L x 8’ W x 9’6” H with 20’ standard container for 2nd floor

The Tide

• 320 square foot open floor plan
• 1 bedroom
• 1 full bathroom
• 40’ L x 8’ W x 8’ H

The Agora

• 320 square foot open floor plan
• 1 bedroom
• 1 full bathroom
• 40′ L x 8′ W x 8’’ H

ekō Solutions offers an extensive line of shipping-container housing solutions to include mobile workstations, mobile bathrooms, mobile dog grooming, containerized food stands, RVs, ekō farms, hunting retreats and homes. ekō Solutions dispatched its models to Western Kentucky in 2021 to provide housing for displaced families impacted by the deadly December tornado outbreak.