A Lakeland business has taken repurposing to a whole new level.
For the past 22 years, Steven Sawyer has made a good business out of buying old cargo containers for reuse, but then one day, he had an idea.
"About 10 years ago, we started building on-site offices for the contractor, you know, central heat and air, tile floors and sheet rock walls," he said. "And one thing led to another, and about a year ago, I said, 'Well I wanna make living units out of the shipping containers.' And you know, that's what I did."
Now his business, New Generation Builders, refurbishes the 8x20-foot cargo containers, turning them into small homes. After they are redone, they have all the conveniences of home contained in one durable space.
"They're versatile, they are super strong," Sawyer said. "Once I tie them down with architectural piling on the four container feet, they are hurricane proof. The architects and engineers tell me they're even tornado proof. They will not move."
The concept is picking up speed. One website shows the possibilities of cargo-container living spaces, from the simple to the sublime.
Sawyer hopes the new business will take off in Florida.
"There's so many people interested in it. I mean hunters, fishermen, you know, for an out cabin or a weekend getaway," he said. "At the last home show in Tampa, thought this would be great for a mother-in-law apartment. So use your imagination. Put your mother-in-law in a container? Absolutely man! Out in the back yard. I mean she's got her own space and she's comfortable."