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Secondary dwellings: the hottest trend in real estate
With a lot of planning and a little ingenuity, these tiny buildings can be a wonderful addition to an urban property By Misty Pratt for Homes and Condos
KT HOMES & CONDOS 14 April 13, 2017
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he first tiny homes are being built in Ottawa neighbourhoods, and Kitchissippi area residents may soon see these mini properties grow in numbers. Coach houses, secondary dwellings, tiny homes – whatever you want to call them, they’re the next big thing in real estate trends. In October 2016, the City of Ottawa amended zoning by-laws to allow residents to construct secondary dwellings separate from the existing home. This allows for stand-alone units to be built in some backyards and laneways, increasing urban density and creating potential rental properties. “Secondary dwelling units are of interest to a substantial chunk of our urban first-time buyers,” says Kerry Millican, Sales Representative with Royal Lepage Team Realty. “With an aging population, we find quite a few buyers looking for their forever home and factoring in [parents] potentially living with them at some point in time.” Characterized by deep lots and serviced with back lanes, many Kitchissippi area homes are perfect for coach houses. First-time buyers see the appeal of being able to pay down a mortgage with the help of a rental property, especially when privacy can be maintained. Creating a “grandparent pod” or rental property is not the only reason homeowners are building accessory structures on their property. Wellington West residents Pierre Flez and Lindsay McGraw Flez were motivated by the issue of space – or lack thereof – in their 100-year-old home. Limited to a crawl space in the basement, Pierre knew he needed to get creative if he wanted to build a substantial workshop for his custom furniture and home renovation projects. Pierre designed and built a 400 sq. ft. structure in their backyard, where he can store his tools and do his woodworking. Spanning a good chunk of the yard, it still allows for a beautiful deck and grassy area. “The workshop is insulated and has been built with heated floors, so we can work in here at any time of the year,” says Pierre. A small room off to the right of the structure is Lindsay’s dedicated creative space, where she paints, sews, and knits. Prior to the zoning change, accessory buildings were allowed in certain areas if they were not being used as residential dwellings. Some residents have converted old sheds into art studios, offices, and even recording studios. Ottawa resident and singer-songwriter Jeremy Fisher,
Wellington West residents Pierre Flez and Lindsay McGraw Flez needed a workshop that was separate from their home so they designed and built their own. Photos by Ellen Bond built a tiny studio in his backyard. “My partner and I had a daughter last year, and it seemed like a good time to get my stuff out of the house and into a space that was dedicated to my work,” says Jeremy. Just twenty feet away from his home, Jeremy’s studio provides the privacy and creative freedom to do things he couldn’t do in a basement or attic. Both Pierre and Jeremy did most of the initial legwork for their projects. Online design tools such as SketchUp allow residents to design their structure without hiring an architect. A builder
can be brought on board to do the city’s application process, but many individuals choose to complete the paperwork themselves. Pierre suggests starting the design and application process well in advance of the construction date. “It can be a frustrating process, and can take a long time,” says Pierre. Pierre made many visits to the building services desk at Ottawa City Hall, where staff answered his questions and provided guidance. City officials also do an inspection of the site before the building process can move forward.