Tim Collins
B次元官网网址 staff
An event organized by the recently-formed Affordable Housing Alternatives advocacy group hopes to educate people about the benefits of tiny houses.
This despite the fact that, should you choose to build a tiny home of your own, you may find it difficult to find anywhere to park it. Zoning regulations prohibit this sort of structure from occupying land within any of the Saanich Peninsula communities, or for that matter, anywhere in Greater Victoria.
But the tiny house movement began more than a decade ago and it appears this particular approach to minimalist living isnB次元官网网址檛 destined to go away any time soon.
Karen Kehler, one of the groups founders and spokesperson, said the group plans to actively promote the concept of the tiny living spaces to politicians on the peninsula and beyond.
B次元官网网址淎s far as we know thereB次元官网网址檚 currently no municipality that would allow a tiny home on wheels to be situated anywhere in the Greater Victoria area. They just arenB次元官网网址檛 accepted or understood,B次元官网网址� said Kehler.
She explained that the attraction of a tiny home is first and foremost the cost.
B次元官网网址淚f you build it yourself, depending on the size and how fancy you want it, you could have one for as little as $30,000. Of course there are some bigger ones that, if you had a professional builder build it for you could run up to $100,000,B次元官网网址� she said Kehler.
The homes being advocated by KehlerB次元官网网址檚 group are typically built on trailer frames ranging in length from 16 to 30 feet. The width of the dwellings is generally about 9 feet.
B次元官网网址淭he one I have is 320 square feet with another 100 square feet in a loft area,B次元官网网址� said Kehler.
That home, which is currently under construction will be on display at the Tiny House Showcase being sponsored by Affordable Housing Alternatives on Sunday, August 27 from 1 pm to 4 pm at 9800 McDonald Park Road in North Saanich. The display will also include a completed home.
Kehler admits that she may have jumped the gun a bit in getting her tiny home built considering the current bylaw situation but insists that she will find a place to put the home when the time comes.
B次元官网网址淚 realize these homes arenB次元官网网址檛 for everyone, and I hope the by-laws change. ItB次元官网网址檚 what weB次元官网网址檙e working for with our group. IB次元官网网址檝e been a law-abiding person my whole life and I donB次元官网网址檛 want to have to hide just because of my choice of home.B次元官网网址�
Saanich Councillor, Fred Haynes is sympathetic to KehlerB次元官网网址檚 concerns and said that municipalities need to be more creative and nimble in their approach if they are to respond to the crisis of housing affecting many communities.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 one hundred per cent in support of the tiny home movement. In fact I believe those who say that decreasing the size of your house can increase the size of your life.
B次元官网网址淢aybe we should be calling this the bigger life movement,B次元官网网址� said Haynes.
editor@peninsulanewsreview.com
