A New Haven, Conn., developer Friday proposed an initiative to the city Redevelopment Authority under which she would build a series of tiny homes, in a proposed collaboration that authority members seemed eager to embrace.

Having learned about Altoona through a friend of a friend who “raves” about her native city, Roberta Hoskie of RH Realty at first hoped to build standard-sized affordable homes here, but realized that plan would be economically unfeasible, because Altoona’s low average income wouldn’t allow enough potential buyers to afford mortgages they’d need to pay the cost of construction plus a profit for developers, Hoskie told the board.

It will be economically feasible, however, to build homes in the 500- to 650-square-foot range, on land supplied by the authority, as drawn up on proposals Hoskie presented to board members showing eight units per double lot, according to Hoskie.

The authority and the city in general has struggled to attract housing development, which is needed to boost a tax base that has declined steadily over the years, based on a shrinkage in population from a high of 80,000 in the 1920s to the current 43,500, according to officials.

There is not much virgin ground in the city. Most of the vacant property is the result of demolition and long considered too small to be suitable for development.

But given recent changes in the city’s Subdivision and Land Development ordinances, including provisions for accessory dwelling units and an acceptance of zero setbacks, those many small lots are looking more promising for development, especially given that older people often find smaller homes attractive, because they’re easier and cheaper to maintain — and Altoona has a high percentage of older people, according to city officials and Hoskie.

“We live in an age of downsizing, especially for the elderly,” Hoskie said.

The houses she tentatively proposes to build would be modular, constructed by Pleasant Valley Homes of Pine Grove in Schuylkill County.

The Sequoia Accessory Dwelling Unit model is single-story.

The regular version would be 656 square feet — 48 by 13 feet, eight inches, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room, dining room and kitchen.

The accessible model that would comprise half the inventory would be 519 square feet, 38 by 13 feet, eight inches, with one bedroom, one bathroom, a living room, a combo kitchen/dining area, a utility room and a “flex” room.

The rectangular houses would be built with their long sides parallel to the street, a row of four from street to alley on the left and a row of four on the right.

There would be a mini-basement crawl space, with a footer deep enough to get below the frost line, according to authority member Ron Beatty, who took Hoskie, her friend and business associate Dominica Young on a tour of the city to examine potential lots for development.

There would be solar panels to provide electric and two off-street parking spaces per unit.

Tiny homes are a “hit” in New England, where he’s shipped a couple dozen, said Pleasant Valley Homes’ Jeffrey Brown.

“What if we look at Altoona as cutting-edge,” Hoskie asked rhetorically. “Look at us as being a trendsetter.”

If it costs $125,000 to build a unit, she could break even, Hoskie said.

If it costs less, there would be profit, she implied.

Each would sell for under $200,000 per unit, she predicted.

Among city lots that might be suitable are several on the 100 and 200 block of Sixth Avenue that the city is preparing for development, several lots it has prepared for development in Fifth Ward, in the area of 19th Street and 14th Avenue; and a parcel on North Sixth Avenue around North 12th Street, according to Beatty and Community Development Director Eric Luchansky.

It would be ideal to have at least some of the homes on a busy thoroughfare “to get eyes on the product,” Hoskie said.

It will also be ideal to build on lots that already have water taps, to save money, Beatty said.

As expressed over the last couple years, the authority’s current mission is to provide enough subsidy assistance in the form of free ground, clear titles and site preparation help to make projects worthwhile — along with a push to seek willing partners to construct the homes.

The governor’s new Housing Action Plan calls for increasing the number of housing units in the Southern Alleghenies region by 6,400 by 2035, Luchansky said.

Partners like Hoskie can help Altoona start “chipping away” at that total, Luchansky said.

“We are very intrigued,” said authority Chairman Richard Fiore. “I think this is the beginning of what could be a great partnership.”

“I would not have driven six hours here if we were not looking for a long-term relationship,” Hoskie said.