We want to build an infill and are leaning towards 3 stories with more green space than trying to fill every square foot of the exterior. It's more expensive and I think more hoops to jump through for permits.
Kinda like this in South Calgary just north of Marda Loop (I did not know the community was called that) you can see 2 new infills with massive concrete pads and no space next to 2 old houses with nice yards and space
I don't know, if you look at the old street views it's not like those were amazing properties. One of those lots even had 2 houses on it, so I don't think they lost any yard.
Those front steps look like a fun idea in a winter climate. No way would you want to enter at ground level and go up a set of stairs inside.
No problem! You just shovel the snow from the steps onto the, err...ok, onto the driveway. Then you just move the snow on your driveway to the...uh...oh.
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To the twenty square feet of grass on the side of the driveway of course.
Honestly though that structure is understandable, that's how you get a million bucks of value out of a single lot in that location. Any reasonably sized single dwelling would represent a massive pay cut, yet still cost a full range higher than a duplex side that's almost the same amount of house at the end of the day. I blame neither the builders nor the buyers for this model, it's just undeniable reality.
__________________ "The great promise of the Internet was that more information would automatically yield better decisions. The great disappointment is that more information actually yields more possibilities to confirm what you already believed anyway." - Brian Eno
Because people pay more for extra square footage but pay nothing for extra side yard. So builders, trying to maximize their profits, build as big a house as they can.
To quick of a reply to catch my clarification ninja edt.
Those front steps look like a fun idea in a winter climate. No way would you want to enter at ground level and go up a set of stairs inside.
you probably enter through the garage door 99% of the time, those stairs are only there to make it a massive pita for solicitors to visit your house. Also have a no solicitor sign that is viewable only once you have conquered the massive staircase.
As someone looking to buy an infill soon, here's the reasons I want to get an infill:
1) I'm not a handyman. I want to spend literally $0 and 0 seconds on thinking about on housing maintenance or replacing anything for the first decade of home ownership. A brand new home is one of the few ways to do that, and I'm willing to pay the premium to do so.
2) Inner city living. I love the environment and have basically lived in high density all my life. Going to a smaller lot in an attached home or a smaller detached home is fine with me. My criteria is that my door to door commute via public transit is less than 25 minutes.
3) Furnishings. I want the modern look and style. I like the open concept, floating staircase, gas range with industrial hood fan, gigantic granite island, large panes of glass for windows. Some people think it's soul-less, but I really like the style.
4) I derive negative value from yard space. Even in the infills I've looked at, I put high value on the low-maintenance yards - the ones that have been paved with brick or have turf installed. The ones that I don't, I would immediately install turf so make it a zero maintenance backyard. I prefer going to the actual park that would be within walking distance (5 minutes or less).
5) Budget. I want all this stuff, but for less than a million dollars.
Infills are basically the only way to meet the criteria. A brand new full interior tear-down would meet most of the criteria, but I've seen a couple in the inner city that go for well above a million dollars since it's on a 15m wide lot rather than the standard infill 7.5m.
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Kinda like this in South Calgary just north of Marda Loop (I did not know the community was called that) you can see 2 new infills with massive concrete pads and no space next to 2 old houses with nice yards and space
What's interesting here to me is there are alleys behind these houses but they have chosen to put front garages on the infills and turn the entire back yard into green space. I actually don't mind that on it's own but I'm not sure how that squares with a neighborhood that was developed with alleys.
Ideally to me it would be better to move the house to the front of the yard, nobody uses their front anyways and take that additional room and put it behind the house. That leaves room for a garage and also a decent yard. Problem I suppose is none of the older homes sit that far forward on their lots so it would make for w weird dynamic.
It is an interesting point. When I was looking at my garage location, I was told that if you don't currently have a front driveway, and have an alley, you are not allowed to put a front drive in. You must use alley access for any new driveway/garage. I also was not allowed to make my front driveway any wider. It's possible these places got an exception to to the really steep grade on the alley. It would have made it very difficult to do.
It is an interesting point. When I was looking at my garage location, I was told that if you don't currently have a front driveway, and have an alley, you are not allowed to put a front drive in. You must use alley access for any new driveway/garage. I also was not allowed to make my front driveway any wider. It's possible these places got an exception to to the really steep grade on the alley. It would have made it very difficult to do.
Could be different rules for an attached garage?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by calgaryblood
Looks like you'll need one long before I will. May I suggest deflection king?
I don't think so, they seamed hung up on the converting non-driveway space to driveway. I assume it has to do with loss of street parking due to driveway access needs.
Quote:
A driveway accessing a street must not be constructed, altered or replaced, unless:
It is located on a parcel that does not have lane access.
It is located on a parcel that has lane access and 50 per cent of the same block face also have existing driveways accessing a street.
The driveway is legal and not being relocated or widened.
A development permit for a driveway relaxation has been approved by The City to relocate or widen a driveway.
A driveway connecting a private garage to a street must be a minimum of 6.0 m in length along the intended direction of travel and at least 3.0 m wide.
No problem! You just shovel the snow from the steps onto the, err...ok, onto the driveway. Then you just move the snow on your driveway to the...uh...oh.
Good question...
LARGE IMAGE
Spoiler!
Luckily I'm familiar with the area, and The Weather Network provided some evidence.
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It is an interesting point. When I was looking at my garage location, I was told that if you don't currently have a front driveway, and have an alley, you are not allowed to put a front drive in. You must use alley access for any new driveway/garage. I also was not allowed to make my front driveway any wider. It's possible these places got an exception to to the really steep grade on the alley. It would have made it very difficult to do.
The land use by-law allows new front drives on lots that have a lane only if at least 50% of the lots on the same street front already have front driveways. If less than 50% have front driveways you cant add a new driveway and if you have an existing driveway you can retain it as long as it doesn't increase in size.
We recently extended the back of our house with a sunroom and our original DP was denied because the city said we would be too close to the lot lines. We needed to go in about a foot on both sides. It frosts me that our extension, which would have blended with the house, was denied but this dufuses can get away with this. The City is as consistent as NHL player safety.
Typically basement windows extend up to the ceiling. Elevated ground floor gives you the ability to extend your basement windows above ground level and give you more daylight in your basement. Entering at ground level restricts the height of your basement ceiling, certainly at the landing.
Typically basement windows extend up to the ceiling. Elevated ground floor gives you the ability to extend your basement windows above ground level and give you more daylight in your basement. Entering at ground level restricts the height of your basement ceiling, certainly at the landing.
Talking about the homes in the streetview link.
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