Funding boost for homeless
selling history
your two cents
Budget adds additional $9 million for affordable housing
Inglewood shop a designer’s dream
City looking for input on popular green spaces
affordable housing A6
design A8
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FREE mar 11 to mar 17 2011 issue 01-08 www.creb.com
Mayor calls secondary suites compromise
‘an important first step’ Despite strong support, issue will head back to council in December cody stuart managing editor
J
ust days after a poll by the University of Calgary Students’ Union showed that a large majority of Calgarians support secondary suites, a compromise of sorts has been reached that will make it easier for some Calgary homeowners to have their suites approved. With Aldermen John Mar and Shane Keating legally unable to vote because the suites they’re applying for in their own homes put them in conflict of interest, the vote on Mayor Naheed Nenshi’s proposed citywide legalization of secondary suites was headed for an apparent 7-6 defeat before council sat down to discuss the issue. Although the decision stops well short of providing the final answer on the issue, Mayor Nenshi sounded optimistic that the move was a step in the right direction. “Today is an important first step in the legalization of safe secondary suites in Calgary,” said Mayor Nenshi in a statement. “By eliminating red tape at City Hall, we are making it easier for many Calgarians to create legal and safe secondary suites in those communities that already allow such suites.” The decision to stop short of voting on Mayor Nenshi’s proposed citywide legalization, which could be delayed until next year, means that secondary suites will remain illegal in most areas of the city. The “R2” zones that will see the secondary suite process stream-
cody stuart, CREB® Staff
lined covers around 116,000 homes, however they will still be off-limits for more than 165,000 homeowners who live in “R1” or other zones. The delay will allow council more time to explore how to tackle one of the biggest obstacles for the legalization of existing suites. As of now, the
SINGLE FAMILY
guidelines set forth for secondary suites in the Alberta Building Code mean that many homes with illegal suites would have to undergo largescale renovations to be approved by the city. “City Council has also directed the Administration to make recommen-
MLS® AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET* FEB ‘09 – FEB ’11
59
56 52
51
50
48 45
47 44
43
42
40
41
42
52
50
52
Although stopping short of legalizing secondary suites citywide, the recent vote at City Hall will make it easier for certain Calgary homeowners to have their suites approved.
secondary suites A3
Albertans big contents on new homes, news briefs A3 according to test your knowledge A8 The Alberta budget TD Report mortgage rates
CREB® Staff
45
43
36
38
45
39
33
FEB09 MAR09 APR09 MAY09 JUN09 JUL09 AUG09 SEP09 OCT09 NOV09 DEC09 JAN10 FEB10 MAR10 APR10 MAY10 JUN10 JUL10 AUG10 SEP10 OCT10 NOV10 DEC10 JAN11 FEB11
34
*All statistics based on monthly data compiled by CREB® via MLS® activity.
$499,900
dations to the provincial government regarding those aspects of the building code that make it unnecessarily costly to develop a safe secondary suite,” said Mayor Nenshi.
CHaRlEsWooD Award winning gardens with amazing landscaping. Gorgeous corner lot in prime location. Fabulous bungalow in excellent condition, gleaming hardwoods, gas fireplace. Newer windows. Double attached garage. Fully developed basement. 2704 - 48 AVE N.W.
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W
hen they browse the listings and hit the open houses this spring, seven-in-ten Albertans are looking for a home that won’t need any fixing up, according to the 2011 TD Canada Trust Home Buyers Report. In the report, Albertans were twice as likely (39 per cent) than the national average (22 per cent) to pay the extra money for a new home.
market A3
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Renovations
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Building a secondary suite
Donna Williams
Sutton CanweSt Real eState
(403) 617-7749