Parade of Homes

Feature WElcOME AddiTiONS granny flats fit the bill for multi-generation families by Wendy King >>here in North america, the two-generation household is pretty much standard. Think of it as a "mom and pop with kids-style" organization. But demographics and social norms are shifting, with the three-generation household becoming increasingly more common. One way that is be- ing accommodated is with granny flats. A granny flat, or secondary suite, is a small, self- contained suite that is an "accessory to a single- family home." It can be attached as a basement suite, located over a detached garage or built as an addition at grade. The construction of secondary suites is a growing trend in some cities. "I think there are two drivers for it," says Martin grady, Zoning and Permits administrator with City of Winnipeg Planning, Property and devel- opment. "One is aging baby boomers with aging parents wanting to have mom and dad nearby, either in their own home or in a detached suite. The other driver is financial, being able to rent something out for a bit of an income." While not yet commonplace in Winnipeg, they are slowly gaining a foothold. "We've seen a lot of people renovate their lower level and put a secondary suite in the basement," says grady. "But we've also seen some where they've actually put an addition on their house at grade" The detached suites, as part of a detached ga- rage or as a separate suite on the same lot (also called a garden suite) are not seen as frequently. "We've only done a handful of the detached ones, maybe only three or four, all above a garage, which is not a lot and I'm not sure why we're not getting an uptake on that," grady says. Manitoba Home Builders' Associa- tion president Mike Moore says he's baffled by the lack of uptake within the city, as well. He expected to see much greater interest, particularly among multi-generational families and homeowners who are looking for an income property. "What a great way to pay off your mortgage by maybe having a student live there. There's all sorts of opportu- nity like that." grady says some people may not be aware that secondary suites are even a legal option in Manitoba, but that may be about to change. "The province has done a really good job of adjust- ing the Manitoba Building Code to make it a little easier to put a secondary suite into the lower level of a home," he says. 36 Parade of Homes FALL 2015 'The province has done a really good job of adjusting the Manitoba Building Code to make it a little easier to put a secondary suite into the lower level of a home' Cont'd on page 52

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