As beautiful as the homes are in carefully restricted neighborhoods and as charming as the homes are in protected historical districts, it’s nice to know there are still pockets in the heart of Lake Charles where homes are as varied as the personality of the owners. Bordered by Ryan, Hodges, 7th and 10th streets is one such neighborhood.

From historical houses constructed from lumber from some of the first mills in the Lake Area to a new custom-designed house that features steel framing and other unique features, house styles in this community run the gamut. The Steve Belcher family lives in a restored historic house that was at one time slated for condemnation. “We wanted to be part of an old style neighborhood; it’s a neighborhood that’s really improved in the last few years,” he said. Bernadette Langley lives in a renovated historical house on Bilbo Street and loves how convenient her home is to everything in Lake Charles. “We’re just a block from Ryan street,” she pointed out.

Twenty-five-year old Kale Crain wanted that same convenience. He’s the owner of the house under construction on East Street. It’s not your typical dwelling. Crain had particular specifications, which he spelled out for builder John Sturlese and designer, Mike Trahan. As much as he wanted to move to Lake Charles, he was adamant about one thing: “I’m not going to move from Sweetlake unless I have a place to keep my boat,” he told everyone who had anything to do with the project. The boat in question is a bay boat with a T-top. He bought the lot not only because it’s convenient to Lake Area restaurants, entertainment, businesses and a hop, skip and jump from Interstate 10. The lot is also not far from his father and near someone who was good friends with his grandfather for whom Crain has great respect.

The lot is very narrow, only 50-foot of frontage, which helped dictate the house style. “We started with a square and worked from there, Crain said of the way the house evolved, working around the lot size and his desire to have a place for his boat.

The steel frame system is a rare residential construction method, but it’s gaining in popularity, especially along the Gulf Coast. The price of steel varies. Lately it’s more expensive than lumber

but there have been times when lumber cost more. For Crain, the price difference was worth it. He hails from Cameron Parish where his family settled Pecan Island three generations ago. “My family knows a thing or two about what a hurricane will do to a house,” he said. The biggest appeal of steel is structural integrity and the house that Crain is building will withstand wind speeds of up to 155 mph, he said. Termites don’t like it either. And it’s fireproof. “That saves on insurance,” he noted.

The downstairs will feature an open floor plan. Kitchen cabinetry is hickory, which is not used very often. It’s another nod to the rugged individualism expressed in the house design. Crain selected the interior wall colors based on a color he saw in another finished Sturlese house called “Green Tea.” “My grandmother wanted me to put it in all the rooms,” he said. “She usually gets her way. But not this time.” Crain used the help of a local paint store professional to choose different hues that worked well together. He also stood his ground on his desire to have a maintenance-free front yard. “I’ll have a lawn in the back for the dogs,” he said. “I can add color to the front with potted plants.”

The stucco-clad house is about 3,000 square feet under its metal roof, although Crain didn’t start out with plans to build a home that big. (Of course the double door garage with storage for the boat takes up most of that room.) The open floor plan living and kitchen area, and master suite are downstairs. Three bedrooms and a media room are upstairs.

When asked if he’s worried about the resale value, Crain admits that homes designed to out of the ordinary specifications can be harder to sell. But his also offers certain advantages that any homeowner would find attractive. He’s not worried. Not married, he’s prepared to stay awhile, saying, “I’ll have rooms for the kids.”(Rita LeBleu / American Press)