Good morning, Pelham!
Yes, that is a brazen theft of a headline if there ever was one! I enjoy the photography here every day because the photos give us a visual perspective on the beauty of our town and the pride of the residents. I mention perspective for a reason. Perspective is very important today, if only because we are left to deal with the real, residual consequences of a great pandemic.
There is an increasingly evident shortage of appropriate housing. We have witnessed the weaknesses of our overworked health and long-term care systems. We have experienced the isolation of a lengthy lockdown. There is a renewed determination to enjoy our freedom and age at home near our loved ones. In the last term of council, we passed a bylaw allowing for Second Dwelling Units (SDU). I think that council was justifiably proud of that moment. I know that I was.
I’m getting many calls from residents who are interested in SDUs. Reasons for the interest are as varied as the families they are intended to serve. Some people want their aging parents to be closer for care and company, so they sell the parents' house, and the parents move into a backyard SDU. One family I know was using the SDU as a coveted ‘starter’ home for a young married couple.
Still another family was helping their mother care for an increasingly infirm father in St. Catharines. Their idea was to move Mom and Dad into an SDU so they could help more with Dad’s care. The grandchildren could see their grandparents every day. It also saved a twice daily trip to St. Catharines. Their plan was for an idyllic rural setting with enough space for privacy and independent living.
When council passed our SDU Bylaw, I had done my homework and studied a variety of designs and concepts. I was looking for solutions that were practical, stylish, environmentally responsible and versatile to accommodate lifestyle changes. The solutions on offer were impressive and I was left with a tremendous faith in the ingenuity of our residents and builders to meet challenges and come up with customized innovative designs. After reading this I hope you will agree.
Recently, I was invited, along with Mayor Junkin, to see a Second Dwelling Unit that has been constructed in Pelham. I was immediately impressed with the appearance of the model SDU. The surfaces and the colour blended well into the style of the neighbourhood. The mature trees and landscaping on the property were virtually undisturbed by construction.
The building had the appearance of being there forever, or at least as long as the original house. It brought to mind one of those West Vancouver gardens near the University of British Columbia with lush coastal greenery and shaded private places to sit and talk or just contemplate. The model had high ceilings and large windows and what I would describe as a modern, minimalist Scandinavian vibe; ideal for someone seeking a stylish, compact and uncomplicated manner of living.
In the final analysis, consumers look for three things: price, quality and versatility. One answer to all three is the modular manufacturing method. The material for the model I saw was extruded foam, encapsulated in a cladding. The method ensured that the process was repeatable, leading to superior quality and ease of manufacture which impacts cost. The modular method means that the floor-plan can be easily modified and scaled to be bigger or smaller.
This model was a two-bedroom unit of about 600 square feet. It was built on large screws driven into the ground. I was there with four other men and there wasn’t a floor squeak. In fact, the whole model had a very sound fitted custom feeling to it, which I attribute to the precision modular, repeatable manufacturing method.
The modules were delivered in ‘flat pack’ form and carried through the garden gate with no construction disruption to the yard and neighbourhood. Construction was completed in under a week. It’s hard to imagine a more advantageous process. Heating was baseboard electric. I understand the building is very environmentally friendly and efficient. There is plenty of room for personal design and taste; window size, shape and location could create a total change.
If you know me, you know I prefer to hold an optimistic view. So I am very happy to share the details of this valuable solution to the challenge of affordable housing. Even better news: there are many more options such as renovations and rentals. Complicated problems usually have many small solutions. The more practical the better. I will watch with considerable interest as more and more of our residents choose a Second Dwelling Unit to improve their lives and the lives of their loved ones.
