Promoting Urban Tiny House Communities

The City of Calgary is undertaking a project to redevelop the land of the former Midfield Trailer Park including the former RCMP and EMS area in Winston Heights. This would be a great opportunity for the city to redevelop a better tiny/small house community than the one that formerly existed there. This could also become a pilot project for the development of affordable self-sustaining tiny house communities all over the city.

There is a need to change current outdated bylaws to allow the development of tiny/small house lots to become reality. The city has begun implementing changes to allow the existence of tiny homes as secondary dwellings on city properties, but need to go further to allow for individual tiny lots. Instead of owning the land the city should sell individual tiny/small properties. This would relieve the city of the burden of maintaining the properties and infrastructure and becoming the responsibility of the property owner, as it currently is with all property owners. The city would also generate additional revenue in the form of taxes. 

After 3 years of planning, Homes for Heroes village may become a reality in October of 2019 in Forest Lawn. Atco is building 15 -275 sq. ft. tiny homes with all the amenities to allow homeless veterans to reintegrate into society. Originally it was first proposed to be developed behind the EMS facility on the Winston Heights property.

Redevelopment of the Winston Heights property could also include another much-needed veteran’s village. Part of the veteran’s rehabilitation could include maintaining and patrolling the common areas of the entire development. A Win-Win situation promoting community spirit.

 The Winston Heights land development project could become a model eco-village providing sustainable affordable housing for Calgarians. It could also revolutionize the home construction industry by insisting on the use of eco-friendly building practices and products. The use of solar and wind power with the excess going to the city power grid, allows residents to reduce their expenses. Using eco-friendly made materials, like hemp concrete foundations, can help reduce the carbon footprint. The list goes on…Geothermal Heating, water-saving fixtures, community sharing, etc.

You now have the opportunity to voice your opinion with the City of Calgary Engage on how the city should redevelop the former Midfield Trailer Park into an innovative sustainable eco-friendly, affordable community. Make your M.A.D. Move by attending the Winston Heights Redevelopment Project Open House on October 01, 2019, between 6 and 8:30 pm at the Renfrew Community Hall located at 811 Radford Road in the N.E. The project team wants you to join them at the upcoming interactive open house to learn more about this project and to share your ideas and listen to your input. Make A Difference to the way our city progresses.