July 3, 2022

Winnipeg
19° C, Partly cloudy

Full Forecast

Contact Us Subscribe Manage Subscription Chat with us
Log in Create Free Account Help Chat with us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertising Contact
    • Submit a News Tip
    • Subscribe to Newsletters

    • Finding your
      information

    • My Account
    • Manage my Subscription
    • Change Password

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate

    • Log Out
    • Log in
    • Create Free Account
    • Help

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate
  • Coronavirus Coverage
  • Replica E-Edition
    • About the E-Edition
    • Winnipeg Free Press
    • Community Review East
    • Community Review West
  • Above the Fold
  • Front page
  • Arts & Life
    • All Arts & Life
    • The Arts
    • Autos
    • Books
    • Book Club
    • Cannabis
    • Celebrities
    • Diversions
    • Puzzles
    • Environment
    • Events
    • Faith
    • Food & Drink
    • Your Health
    • Life & Style
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Science & Technology
    • TV
    • Travel
  • Business
    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Personal Finance
    • Manitoba's Top Employers
  • Canada
  • Local
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send a Letter to the Editor
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Amateur
    • Auto Racing
    • Blue Bombers
    • Curling
    • Football
    • Goldeyes
    • Golf
    • High School
    • Hockey
    • Horse Racing
    • Winnipeg Jets
    • Manitoba Moose
    • WHL
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • Olympics
    • Soccer
  • World
  • Reader BridgeNEW
  • WFP EventsNEW
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Advertising
    • Contact Us
    • Carrier Positions & Retailer Requests
    • FP Newspapers Inc.
    • History
    • Internships
    • Job Opportunities
    • News Café
    • Privacy Policy
    • Retail Locations
    • Staff Biographies
    • Terms and Conditions
  • Archives
  • Free Press Community Review
    • All Free Press Community Review News
    • East Edition
    • West Edition
    • Sports
    • Events
    • Contact Us
    • E-Editions
  • Classifieds
  • Contests
  • Coupons
    • All Coupons
    • Staples Copy & Print Coupons
    • Ripley's Aquariums Coupons
    • The Bay Coupons
    • Staples Canada Coupons
    • Altitude Sports Coupons
    • Nike Coupons
    • Tuango Coupons
    • Ebay Canada Coupons
    • Sport Chek Coupons
    • Roots Coupons
  • LifestylesNEW
    • All Lifestyles
    • Business Hub
    • Community
    • Drink & Dine
    • Life
    • Wellness
    • Whiskers & Wings
    • Sponsored Articles
  • Homes
    • Property Listings
    • Featured News
    • Renovation and design
    • New homes
    • Resale homes
  • Newsletters
  • Obituaries
  • Puzzles
  • Photo and Book store
  • More

©2022 FP Newspaper Inc.

Close
  • Quick Links

    • Coronavirus Coverage
    • Federal Election
    • Above the Fold
    • Home
    • Local
    • Canada
    • World
    • Classifieds
    • Special Coverage
    • Newsletters
    • Obituaries
    • Photo and Book store
    • Archives
    • Contests
    • Publications
    • Sponsored Content
    • Privacy Policy

    Ways to support us

    • Pay it Forward program
    • Subscribe
    • Support Faith coverage
    • Support Arts coverage
  • Replica E-Edition

    • About the E-Edition
    • Winnipeg Free Press
    • Community Review East
    • Community Review West

    Business

    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Personal Finance
  • Arts & Life

    • All Arts & Life
    • The Arts
    • Autos
    • Books
    • Cannabis
    • Celebrities
    • Diversions
    • Puzzles
    • Environment
    • Events
    • Faith
    • Food & Drink
    • Your Health
    • Life & Style
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Science & Technology
    • TV
    • Travel
  • Sports

    • All Sports
    • Amateur
    • Auto Racing
    • Blue Bombers
    • Curling
    • Football
    • Goldeyes
    • Golf
    • High School
    • Hockey
    • Horse Racing
    • Winnipeg Jets
    • Manitoba Moose
    • WHL
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • Olympics
    • Soccer
  • Opinion

    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send a Letter to the Editor

    Media

    • All Media
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos

    Homes

    • Property Listings
    • Featured News
    • Renovation and design
    • New homes
    • Resale homes
  • Canstar Community News

    • All Free Press Community Review News
    • East Edition
    • West Edition
    • Sports
    • Events
    • Contact Us
    • E-Editions
  • Coupons

    • All Coupons
    • Staples Copy & Print Coupons
    • Ripley's Aquariums Coupons
    • The Bay Coupons
    • Staples Canada Coupons
    • Altitude Sports Coupons
    • Nike Coupons
    • Tuango Coupons
    • Ebay Canada Coupons
    • Sport Chek Coupons
    • Roots Coupons
  • About Us

    • About Us
    • Advertising
    • Contact Us
    • Carrier Positions & Retailer Requests
    • FP Newspapers Inc.
    • History
    • Internships
    • Job Opportunities
    • News Café
    • Privacy Policy
    • Retail Locations
    • Staff Biographies
    • Terms and Conditions
The Free Press
Articles Read
Your Balance +tax
Day Pass Till
Day Pass
    • Contact Us
    • Advertising Contact
    • Report an Error
    • Send a Letter to the Editor
    • Staff Biographies
    • Submit a News Tip
    • Subscribe to Newsletters

    • Finding your
      information

    • Log in
    • Create Account
    • Help
    • Chat with us

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate
    • My Account
    • Manage My Subscription
    • Change Password
    • Chat with us

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate

    • Log Out
Log in Create Account Contact Us
Contact Us Manage Subscription
  • Sections
  • Local
  • Arts & Life
    • All Arts & Life
    • The Arts
    • Autos
    • Books
    • Diversions
    • Environment
    • Faith
    • Food & Drink
    • Health
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV
    • Travel
  • Business
    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Personal Finance
    • Manitoba's Top Employers
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Amateur
    • Blue Bombers
    • Curling
    • Football
    • Goldeyes
    • High School
    • Hockey
    • Winnipeg Jets
    • Manitoba Moose
    • WHL
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • Soccer
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send a Letter to the Editor
  • E-Edition
  • Homes
  • Classifieds
    • All Classifieds
    • Announcements
    • Automotive
    • Careers
    • Garage Sales
    • Merchandise
    • Pets
    • Real Estate
    • Rentals
    • Services
  • Lifestyles
    • Business Hub
    • Community
    • Drink & Dine
    • Life
    • Manitoba’s Top Employers
    • Wellness
    • Whiskers & Wings
    • Sponsored Articles
  • Coupons
    • All Coupons
    • Staples Copy & Print
    • Ripley's Aquariums
    • The Bay
    • Staples Canada
    • Altitude Sports
    • Nike
    • Tuango
    • Ebay Canada
    • Sport Chek
    • Roots
  • Obituaries
  • Subscribe$1.50 for 5 months
Home Business

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

All for lot

Mini-home builders pushing for major bylaw amendments

By: Murray McNeill 
Posted: 4:00 AM CDT Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016
Last Modified: 11:26 AM CDT Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016 | Updates

  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Print
  • Email
  • Save to Read Later

The owners of the city’s only custom builder of tiny houses have a big problem — they haven't been able to convince Winnipeg officials to amend city bylaws to allow for mini homes to be built on individual lots in the city.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/10/2016 (2082 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The owners of the city’s only custom builder of tiny houses have a big problem — they haven't been able to convince Winnipeg officials to amend city bylaws to allow for mini homes to be built on individual lots in the city.

BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS</p><p>Anita Munn (right) her husband, Darrell Manuliak (centre) and daughter Bridget Stewart pose for a photo in one of a mini homes they will deliver this week to a client near Clear Lake.</p>

BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Anita Munn (right) her husband, Darrell Manuliak (centre) and daughter Bridget Stewart pose for a photo in one of a mini homes they will deliver this week to a client near Clear Lake.

"The minimum-size requirements (for houses) have to be looked at," Anita Munn, co-founder and general manager of Mini Homes of Manitoba (MHM), said in an interview Wednesday.

Munn said the requirements vary, depending on the size and location of the lot. She said she's not familiar with all of the details. But she knows that in some areas of the city, houses have to be a minimum of 600 square feet in size and the first mini home she and her husband, Darrell Manuliak, built last year for a Winnipeg mother of two was only 322 square feet.

She said that customer had them build the home on a trailer. Because it's on wheels, rather than a concrete pad, she was able to park in a relative's yard.

"She's been in it now for a year and hasn't had any issues with the neighbours complaining," Munn added.

But she and Manuliak maintain buyers shouldn't have to put their home on a trailer and park it on someone else's property. They should be allowed to have their own lot, similar to how it works in a trailer park.

"We've met with two different councillors. They've been very supportive and we've had great conversations with them, but then nothing ever came of it," she added.

St. Vital councillor Brian Mayes confirmed he met with the couple about a month ago. Mayes said he hasn't had a chance yet to raise the issue with Coun. John Orlikow, chair of the city's property, planning and development committee. But he hopes to do so within the next few weeks.

"I did say I would follow up... and we do owe these folks a response," he added.

He noted the city's largest trailer park — there are three altogether — is in his ward, and it's been there for decades.

"It works pretty well. People (living there) are pretty happy, and they're well-maintained communities. So I'm not ruling out something like this mini-home thing."

He also noted the city is trying to encourage denser housing development, and allowing mini-home communities may be one way of achieving that.

But he said there may be opposition to allowing someone to build a mini-home on a property where there is already an existing home. There also may be some provincial building code requirements that come into play.

"So this isn't a slam dunk by any means. But we should at least take a look at it."

BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS</p><p>Inside a mini home. </p>

BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Inside a mini home.

Munn said Saskatoon recently approved the development of a mini-home community. So if other cities are allowing it, why can't Winnipeg, she added.

The tiny-house concept has been around for years in Europe and parts of North America. But the movement has taken on added life in the last few years in the wake of rising rents and soaring house prices, especially in larger cities.

The Free Press | Newsletter

Want to get a head start on your day?

Get the day’s breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning.

Sign up for Head Start
Sign Up

There is also a growing desire among younger people for a simpler, more economically-sustainable lifestyle. And a slew of reality TV shows about tiny homes have helped raise the profile and the demand for this lower-cost housing option.

Munn said MHM can build a mini-home for as little as $60,000.

"The majority of our clients have said that is something I can afford. And the neat thing about them is they can be built onto afterwards (if their space-requirements change)."

She said MHM has completed five homes in the year that it has been in operation, and it has orders for three more. Only one of them was for a client in Winnipeg, and another was for a client in western Manitoba.

But they have a list of about 15 other people who have said they'll buy one as soon as they can find a place to put it, she added. 

murray.mcneill@freepress.mb.ca

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

History

Updated on Thursday, October 20, 2016 at 8:02 AM CDT: Formats text

11:26 AM: Fixes photo captions.

  • Report Error
  • Submit a Tip
  • Refund
  • The Free Press is certified by

The Winnipeg Free Press invites you to share your opinion on this story in a letter to the editor. A selection of letters to the editor are published daily.

To submit a letter:
• fill out the form on this page, or
• email letters@freepress.mb.ca, or
• mail Letters to the Editor, 1355 Mountain Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2X 3B6.

Letters must include the writer’s full name, address, and a daytime phone number. Letters are edited for length and clarity.

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

Top