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Tiny Homes Could Soon be Coming to Amherstburg

AM800-NEWS-Amherstburg-tiny-homes-Stella-Maris-students-October-28-2019
AM800-NEWS-Amherstburg-tiny-homes-Stella-Maris-students-October-28-2019
A bylaw is being drafted to allow tiny homes in the town

Tiny homes may soon become a reality in Amherstburg thanks to some big ideas from a group of local students.

The robotics team from Stella Maris Catholic Elementary School  brought the idea to council in an effort to tackle the affordable housing backlog while cutting back on energy use, in turn, helping the environment.

Tiny homes, typically less than 500-square-feet, resemble a cabin or cottage, but include all the amenities of a larger home in a smaller space and at a fraction of the cost. 

Grade 6 student Alexander Stadnick says smaller houses make home ownership easier for those just starting out.

"We were trying to change the law of tiny houses so we can get a house that's smaller for people who are just moving in and don't have a big family and just want to get started with their life in a small house," he says.

Grade 6 student Molly Parks says the homes are perfect for older people or those with disabilities.

"It would be easy maintenance for people. If you don't want to put that much work into building and maintaining it it would be easy," says Parks. "For people with disabilities, if they want to still be independent they can be independent in a tiny house."

Grade 6 student Ella Renaud says tiny house communities help cut back on urban sprawl as well.

"It also encourages densification which is more houses per hectare or even just in an area in general," says Renaud. "So maybe instead of having larger house neighbourhoods, maybe if we had a smaller neighbourhood we could have a tiny house neighbourhood and it would encourage more people to live there."

Council agreed to move forward on developing a bylaw to allow tiny homes in the town.

Tiny house communities have been popping up in several Canadian cities including Hamilton and Kingston with some using them as a way to provide housing for the homeless.

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