{"id":478170,"date":"2022-07-27T01:21:33","date_gmt":"2022-07-26T22:21:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/are-garden-suites-part-of-the-housing-crisis-solution\/"},"modified":"2022-07-27T01:21:33","modified_gmt":"2022-07-26T22:21:33","slug":"are-garden-suites-part-of-the-housing-crisis-solution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/are-garden-suites-part-of-the-housing-crisis-solution\/","title":{"rendered":"#Are garden suites part of the housing crisis solution?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3a9a9baf002\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3a9a9baf002\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/are-garden-suites-part-of-the-housing-crisis-solution\/#%E2%80%9CAre_garden_suites_part_of_the_housing_crisis_solution%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;Are garden suites part of the housing crisis solution?&#8221;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CAre_garden_suites_part_of_the_housing_crisis_solution%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>&#8220;Are garden suites part of the housing crisis solution?&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div>\n                            After Toronto joined the list of Canadian cities allowing for the secondary structures, many are left wondering how\u2014and if\u2014the suites can help address housing affordability\n                        <\/div>\n<div>\n                                                                        Garden suites\u2014freestanding backyard homes that tie into the main residence\u2019s services and utilities\u2014were given the green light earlier this month after the Ontario Land Tribunal dismissed an <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>eal filed by a Toronto residents\u2019 association contesting a bylaw permitting the construction of these small structures.<\/p>\n<p>In a statement, the city said garden suites would help address housing concerns in the city by \u201callowing greater variety in the type and form of housing that can be built in the city\u2019s neighbourhoods.\u201d But questions remain regarding the affordability of the backyard suites, which have already been approved in cities across Canada, along with other barriers to being lauded as a solution to the nation\u2019s housing crisis.<\/p>\n<p>Maclean\u2019s spoke to garden suites specialist and Garden Suites Toronto project manager Kyle Springer on the suites\u2019 potential to increase housing options, how he got into building them and what the future of affordable housing could look like in Canadian cities. This conversation has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1238438\" style=\"width: 965px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-sizes=\"auto\" class=\"wp-image-1238438 size-full lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macleans.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/unnamed-e1658850671337.jpeg\" alt=\"Kyle Springer is a project manager and garden suites specialist.\" width=\"955\" height=\"641\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kyle Springer is a project manager and garden suites specialist.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Garden suites have only been legal in Toronto for about three weeks now. Are people interested in building them?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>On the day the appeal got thrown out, we had about 15 people reach out to us. In the past two weeks, we\u2019ve had probably 60 inquiries. So there\u2019s definitely interest. We\u2019re drawing and designing three garden suites right now and are expecting to start building next spring. I\u2019m guessing anywhere from 300,000 to 600,000 properties in the city will be eligible for garden suite builds, so there\u2019s the potential for interest to grow substantially.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Tell us how you got involved with garden suites.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We started with laneway suites in 2020, which are similar to garden suites but have to abut a laneway. Garden suites don\u2019t. Since then, we\u2019ve built two laneway suites and are currently building five more.<\/p>\n<p>On top of that, I\u2019m very passionate about construction and building. I was into Lego as a kid and it grew from there. I think with garden suites, it\u2019s a cool concept that you can build a house in your backyard, especially in a city like Toronto where we are dealing with an affordable housing crisis.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1238436\" style=\"width: 970px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-sizes=\"auto\" class=\"wp-image-1238436 size-full lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macleans.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/GS2.jpeg\" alt=\"A rendering of a laneway suite, which is similar in concept to a garden suite.\" width=\"960\" height=\"960\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">A rendering of a laneway suite, which is similar in concept to a garden suite.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Are garden suites the solution?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Garden suites aren\u2019t going to solve the crisis completely, no. But they\u2019re definitely going to help because they add density to the city, and that\u2019s the direction housing development is headed right now. The theory is that over time, whether it\u2019s a laneway suite, a garden suite or even an addition, adding more of this infill development in the residential low-rise neighbourhoods will help with pricing.<\/p>\n<p>With HST and drawings, a garden suite can average about $500 a square foot. A similar sized condo in Toronto starts at around $1,000. A lot of the value comes from the land itself, and with a garden suite you or someone you know already owns the land, you\u2019re just building on top of it. It\u2019s a bonus.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>RELATED:\u00a0This man is building a tiny-home utopia in P.E.I.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>I\u2019m 28 and still live at home. Is a garden suite my ticket out?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It depends. If you\u2019re partnering up with a family member that has the main property, you could work out an agreement. Maybe you cover the building costs or do something like a rent-to-own. You wouldn\u2019t be able to own the land because you can\u2019t sever a garden suite from the main property, but technically the suite could be yours.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I\u2019m 30, and if my parents had a property in Toronto, I\u2019d convince them to build one and do exactly that. I know there\u2019s a lot of parents helping our generation with mortgage payments and buying property, but this is a good in-between.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>What are people mostly interested in using garden suites for?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I would say half are using them for rentals and the other half for family, whether that be for a parent or child. Actually, we\u2019re building a laneway suite for a retired couple right now and the suite is for themselves. They\u2019re having their children take over the main house. I think we\u2019ll see more of this, especially for people who don\u2019t want to send their parents to a retirement home. Garden suites are a good option because your parents aren\u2019t exactly living with you but are still close enough for you to keep an eye on and help with any health issues.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1238437\" style=\"width: 970px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-sizes=\"auto\" class=\"wp-image-1238437 size-full lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macleans.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/GS3.jpeg\" alt=\"Another laneway suite rendering, which gives an idea of what a similar-sized garden suite could look like.\" width=\"960\" height=\"960\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Another laneway suite rendering, which gives an idea of what a similar-sized garden suite could look like.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Let\u2019s talk challenges. How hard is it going to be to build one of these?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Unless there\u2019s another association that tries to appeal again, I don\u2019t foresee there being any huge challenges. Once we get past the permit process, everything\u2019s pretty easy from there.<\/p>\n<p>But it\u2019s worth considering that with laneway suites, you usually have good access to the building site because laneways are <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/general\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"3\" title=\"General\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">general<\/a>ly big enough to drive concrete trucks and forklifts through. Garden suites, especially if they\u2019re in the downtown core, might only have a three-foot-wide access between the two houses for you to bring all of your materials and equipment. So you might have to bring every single element of the build to the site by hand, piece by piece.<\/p>\n<p><strong>That\u2019s a lot of manpower. And time.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>And logistical effort, especially in Toronto where the cars switch sides every two weeks. If it\u2019s not the two weeks where you\u2019re on the right side of the road, you\u2019re gonna have to walk everything across the street and block or dodge traffic.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What\u2019s next after garden suites?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I read a couple weeks ago that the city is looking at allowing people who live on major streets with low-rise residential zoning, like Lawrence Avenue, to build apartment buildings of up to six storeys as-of-right. If you tried to do that now, you\u2019d have to go to the Committee of Adjustment and you\u2019d have to do rezoning, which might take years to complete. With as-of-right zoning, all you\u2019d have to do is follow the city\u2019s regulations and then apply for a building permit, similar to a garden suite.<\/p>\n<p>One of the stipulations is that the ground floor would have to be something like a commercial unit, but that way you\u2019re getting a mix of commercial and residential all in one area. We really have no choice but to figure out creative ways like this to add density to the city.<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async defer crossorigin=\"anonymous\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News<\/a> articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/general\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">General category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.macleans.ca\/society\/are-garden-suites-part-of-the-housing-crisis-solution\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Are garden suites part of the housing crisis solution?&#8221; After Toronto joined the list of Canadian cities allowing for the secondary structures, many are left wondering how\u2014and if\u2014the suites can help address housing affordability Garden suites\u2014freestanding backyard homes that tie into the main residence\u2019s services and utilities\u2014were given the green light earlier this month after&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":478171,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.macleans.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/GS1-e1658876492517-766x431.jpeg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[131761,81958,131762,12156,106171,131763,4999],"class_list":["post-478170","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general","tag-affordability","tag-affordable-housing","tag-garden-suites","tag-housing","tag-housing-affordability","tag-housing-crisis","tag-policy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/478170","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=478170"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/478170\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/478171"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=478170"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=478170"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=478170"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}