PINELLAS PARK, Fla. — A Pinellas Park business is thinking outside the box when it comes to giving people the option of high-quality, inexpensive container builds and modifications.

What You Need To Know

  • St. Pete Box modifies shipping containers into offices, tiny homes and accessory dwelling units

  • Shipping containers are typically used to transport goods because of their durability. CEO Nick Dicosola says this also makes them a robust building product

  • Dicosola says these steel structures help bypass one of the biggest barriers in construction, which is time

  • The container homes could cost as low as $45,000 and as much as $1 million and can be shipped anywhere in the country

“Our motto here is build it as if you were building it for your mom or dad or who you care about,” said St. Pete Box CEO Nick Dicosola.

Dicosala is using some of the most skilled tradesmen to do just that.

Together, they modify shipping containers into offices, tiny homes and accessory dwelling units.

“Most of them of 8’6” to 9’6”,” he said.

It’s a concept he became aware of 15 years ago. He says these steel structures help bypass one of the biggest barriers in construction, which is time.

“One of the things we bring to the table is the timeline we can build quickly and control the environment in which they are built, and we can stock stuff in here so that we are not waiting on product from subcontractors. That is a big thing in construction — it takes a while,” said Dicosola.

He adds it’s an asset to getting more homes online.

Shipping containers are typically used to transport goods because of their durability.

Dicosola says this also makes them a robust building product.

“The reason that I prefer this construction is that this is already a product that goes on a ship and stays on a ship for 20-30 years sometimes,” he added.

He wants every customer to reap the benefits of their investment.

“This is not amateur hour,” he said. “The stuff we are doing is very serious. We’re building homes; it’s all built to code. It’s all certified welding.”

His business was booming so much that he moved to a bigger lot. Now, since hurricane season, Dicosola says he’s been getting more calls from customers who want to build their “forever home” higher.

“That’s the number one phone call that we get. Can you build me a container home that is on stilts?” said Dicosola.

These homes can handle sustained winds of 180 miles per hour, according to Dicosola. He says that St. Pete Box provides various luxury builds while consistently ensuring safety.

“Like, I’m not building container homes. I’m building homes, and the homes that I’m building use containers as a building material,” he added.

The container homes could cost as low as $45,000 and as much as $1 million, and can be shipped anywhere in the country. St. Pete Box is looking for more tradesmen and skilled laborers to join their team. They also hope to partner with other nonprofits on affordable housing projects.