Huntington Homes’ Jason Webster says HUD certification is possible but warns it could enable park 'gentrification'

Jason Webster of Huntington Homes told the General & Housing Committee on April 22 that his company could pursue HUD certification to build manufactured homes to HUD standards but would not necessarily lower its internal specification floor to HUD minima. "We could become a HUD builder," he said, adding that Huntington could "seriously exceed their specifications" if it chose to be certified.

Webster said some towns tie park zoning to HUD construction rules while others do not. He described observed changes in certain parks where older, lower‑spec manufactured units have been replaced by site‑built houses, calling that trend "gentrifying the parks" and saying he did not agree with that outcome.

He noted Huntington had considered HUD certification in the past but preferred to maintain a minimum quality level for its product rather than adopt a lower regulatory baseline. Committee members asked whether catalog manufacturers are moving into state‑code single‑family lines; Webster said firms with "one foot in both markets" might answer that better but confirmed the company could pursue HUD certification while continuing to exceed HUD minimums.

Why it matters: Zoning and code decisions about whether parks are limited to HUD‑built units or may accept site‑built dwellings affect affordability and neighborhood character. Webster’s comments provide local officials with a manufacturer's perspective on trade‑offs between certification, product quality and park change.