Tiny Homes Catching On

 Recently new Tiny Homes appeared overnight in Calgary’s Rosedale community. Since the completion of the widening of the 16^th Ave. corridor in 2011 it took the city 8 years to realize tiny houses have their place in an urban environment. As part of the City’s affordable housing strategy, these small remnant spaces have become innovative and attractive Tiny Home (TH) properties for 16 families.

After community engagement between 2015-2017, the city contracted out the construction of one, two, and three-bedroom units to house different family configurations. The homes will be rented out according to a mixed-income model and managed by Calgary Housing Company. In compliance with the desires of the community, each home is individually designed to blend in with the character of the neighbourhood.

The prefabricated units were built off-site and then were lifted by crane over the 16^th Ave. sound wall into the narrow lots. This was done at night to minimize congestion on 16^th Ave. The modular units were built off-site on purpose to reduce community disruption with construction noise from months to a day.

This is but only a very small step for Tiny/Small Homes. The TH community approved for Okotoks has hit a snag. Okotoks would have made $6 million off its $3.4 million investment and after 60 years would own the ecovillage, community building, and solar power. It seems the fears associated with TH communities is from the stereotyping it with trailer trash. 

Social norm changes and many are looking to live without the burden of expensive homeownership. Today many would rather spend their time and money on enjoying life and less time taking care of their living accommodations. The fear that property values will drop with tiny houses in the community is not applicable in this Century.

Become part of the M.A.D. Movement to integrate tiny homes into an urban environment. A person shouldn’t have to overwork to live comfortably. Back in 2018, we began a Tiny House Land-Use Bylaw Amendment Movement to allow for the development of tiny lots. Encourage your counsellor to change the land-use bylaws to allow TH lots for affordable comfortable tiny/small homes.