What if solving North Carolina’s housing crisis didn’t mean subsidies — but speed, smarter construction, and better zoning? In this episode of On the Ground: The Grit That Drives Carolina Business, we visit Compact Cottages, an Asheville-based builder redefining affordable housing across the state.
Founder Barry Bialik shares how his team helped change local zoning laws, unlocking thousands of new backyard housing opportunities in Asheville and Hendersonville. Now, with a goal of delivering homes in just 30 days — and soon 10 — Compact Cottages is scaling into new markets like Durham and helping families gain access to real, high-quality homeownership faster than ever.
From system-built construction to an innovative online Home Configurator, Compact Cottages is building for scale, speed, and dignity. This is not just a construction story — it’s a story about entrepreneurship, regulation reform, and the people working behind the scenes to create smarter growth for North Carolina communities.
Learn more about the grit driving this mission — and how it’s reshaping the way we think about housing on our YouTube channel.