Elliot Lake – Concept v1
This is our initial concept for the Elliot Lake development. We are proposing a 96-home development, with a SmartHub community centre, greenhouses, orchards, fruit/vegetable/flower gardens, and lots of community greenspace. While only an early version, we wanted to share the vision. This community is on public transit, will have full municipal services, and be affordable for minimum wage earners.
affordable housing, affordable to purchase, Elliot Lake, rent-to-own, rentals
Claudia Espindola
This would be great! Is there a list to sign up if interested in buying? Thank you
Founder
Claudia, we do not have something like that setup at the present. As a subscriber to our news, you will be kept updated on our progress. Thanks,
Richard Laurin
Qestions. are you planning on building soon? are you funding or looking for grants. do you have a home design yet? are you looking and potential land. are you planing a condo type thing or subdivision. I am looking at a few things. but i may start this summer. are you looking at pre fabs do you have a floor plan lay out. i think its a great step forward. but experiance tells me 750 sq feet are enough, anything smaller wont work very well. unless your willing to run a condo type plan. would like to have a chat with you one on one. Laurin Properties,, Richard Laurin 705 817 0576.
Founder
We are working through the process to build with the city.
We are working with a number of business for funding, and will be applying to all government grants we can access, however the development does not rely on grants.
We have a couple of home designs that we are working through, based on a 384 sq ft design.
We have a property for the development.
The development will be similar to a condominium, in that it is owned by the group.
The units will be fabricated in a factory, transported to the site and installed on the foundation system. They are built to OBC requirements and will be inspected by the building department as per traditional building.
Our home design provides a bedroom, living room, kitchen and full washroom, for individual living, and our community center will provide space for group activities.
I’m happy to chat any will send you a Zoom invite.
Ian Ross
It does not look accessible for people with disabilities or seniors who would require parking at their front doors. Elliot Lake is a senior’s town. It also looks like you’ve opted for a cookie-cutter, run-of-the-mill design and layout.
Founder
Ian, this is a first concept, and we are already looking at parking closer to the homes, however like apartments or condos, we are looking at communal parking areas. To the comment on cookie-cutter design, again this is an early concept, so details are kept to a minimum. Additionally, the goal is affordable housing, and unique customizations cost money. If you would like to create and submit a proposal, we welcome all interested parties input.
Richard Laurin
Are you just blow air or you going to build some just curious. we should chat this is not a concept unless your running a condo type plan. rental units..
Founder
Yes, we are working to build this community.
This will be a cooperatively owned community, and will include some rentals units, as well as some rent to own.
Kathy Hubbard
I love the idea of this. We can house so many seniors and homeless
Founder
Thank you
Kathy Hubbard
I love this idea for seniors and and homeless.
Mitch Bloom
I like the pocket community layout, though I am curious how large the space is overall. Municipal services does allow for greater density, but with tiny homes being….tiny…there is added importance of some private outdoor space for individual unit owners. BTW are these intended as rentals or sales? The later may be a challenge for minimum wage earners in terms of a down payment.
Founder
Mitch, the proposed space is just over 6.7 acres. We are more focused on community shared space, both indoors and out, rather than private space. These are planned to be a combination of affordable rentals, rent-to-own, and affordable to purchase homes. A major challenge is providing affordable homes & large lots. The bigger the lots and homes, the less people we can house affordably.
Rebecca Weber
Where is Elliot Lake?
Founder
Rebecca, Elliot Lake is city in Northern Ontario
https://goo.gl/maps/U9X4prB4cX6ywemk8
Hart Hill
“Overall, I like the concept, and the thought of living in a tiny home really intrigues me. But I’m an octogenarian with some health concerns, and that’s somewhat the norm here in Elliot Lake, as this is a seniors town (in case you didn’t know). Since moving here I’ve needed an ambulance on three occasions. If I lived in one of the units far away from the parking lot, without roads how would the ambulance get to me in a life-threatening emergency? Would they have to park in the parking lot and race with their gurney to my unit? Imagine how this would play out in the winter, especially just after a snowfall when the paths haven’t been cleared. I have a car which I use primarily for groceries once a week, including heavy items like cases of water. I’m not capable of hauling all my provisions a few hundred yards to my unit. Of course I could use a cart, but then I’d have to return the cart to the parking lot, thus walking twice the distance. If I didn’t have a car, I’d be using taxis to and from the stores or appointments. But if you called a cab, how would they pick you up if you have mobility issues? How do guests with similar mobility issues visit you? Will the paths be wheelchair friendly, especially in the winter? How do you move large items in or out, like stoves and fridges in – do you have to dolly them in along the paths? Are the paths paved or gravel? How would police drive in if there’s an altercation? What about parking for snowmobiles and ATV’s beside your unit? I think you need to solve all of these issues and possibly increase the paths to full-fledged roads and thus reduce the number of units significantly before you’d get me to sign on.”
Founder
Hart, you’ve brought up many great points, that I will discuss with the design team. Don’t think of this as the final design, but still a work in progress, so a great opportunity to help shape the community design.
Hart Hill
I live in an Elliot Lake Retirement Living building, and yes, we all have to leave our cars in the parking lot which runs along more than half the length of the building. Management has assigned spots according to which entry/exit door is closest to our apartment, meaning we have only short distances to cover. In fact we can drive right up to our closest entry/exit door for loading or off-loading. In my case the entry/exit door is only about 10 metres from my apartment. We have shopping-type carts to transport items.
So, may I suggest you move the parking lot to the centre of the complex so that each unit is close to, if not attached to, the parking lot. This may mean you will have to reduce the number of units in your plan, but it would mean that all of the units are much more accessible. In Elliot Lake I see accessibility and emergency access as your chief obstacles.
Founder
Thank you for your comments, Hart.
We’ll review your suggestions and see what can be incorporated.
I am beginning to think that the homes closest to parking may become reserved for seniors, and further ones for those in need of affordable housing but are more agile. Part of our expected citizen base will be those working in Timmies, the grocery store, the hospitals, seniors residences, etc. In Elliot Lake as everywhere, there is a huge support system of people that are struggling with affordable housing too.
John Leith
Wow, what a great idea. I’m actually thinking about moving up to Elliot Lake from Toronto and a tiny home would be terrific for my needs. Please add me to your mailing list so I can learn more. I’d like to know the various sizes you are planning. Would they be available to rent, and if so, how much?
Founder
John, I subscribed you to our newsletter. Others that are interested can subscribe on the bottom of most pages on the website to stay informed.
Tom Massiah
Does the vision include tiny homes on wheels?
Founder
Tom, at present we are focused on tiny homes on pier foundations or pads. As development will take a few years to complete, we will review the interest in THOWs, to decide if a portion of the community will be made available. A big issue will be code compliance of THOWs construction.
Allan Holman
I like what you are intending to do. However the design and layout of the property leaves men dead cold. It’s worse than an average trailer park. Houses are way too close together – no privacy. I would not consider this proposal unless I could get a moving truck next to my house and for that matter a fire truck. I would want at least two parking spaces – my car and a guest’s or a doctor’s. having one parking lot for an area that big with so many houses does not make sense. I gather that the ring road would be used for bus service but it is not designed for individual owner’s cars. Keep me posted with thanks.
Founder
Thanks for commenting Allan. We realize that this housing model isn’t for everyone, just as detached homes, townhouses, condominiums, and apartments to name a few, aren’t for everyone and that’s OK. There is more than 1 parking lot and based on the constructive suggestions made by others, we’re looking at including more, closer to more of the neighbourhoods, but not everyone may place the same importance on parking as others. As mentioned this is a preliminary concept so changes will be made before the build begins. Potentially larger lots could be available at double the cost or more, but they would no longer be considered affordable housing.
Ian Ross
Is this community to be located in the field beside Yogi’s Garage on Dieppe Avenue? Nice open location.
Gloria Troyer
Hi I live in Guelph. The thought of a tiny home sounds appealing. I am disabled so I need to factor that into living in any complex. Several seniors are moving from my current apt. building due to the lack of coverage for cars in the winter. I know of 2 people who broke their hips last winter slipping on the snow and are moving from here re this. Will there be an onsite management?
Founder
Thanks for commenting, Gloria.
We are planning to have parking close to the homes, and your comment about covered parking for the winter will be brought up for consideration. It makes good sense.
Yes there will be some onsite management and will work to keep paths and access clear year round.
Hart Hill
Can you estimate realistic start and completion dates for the first project?
Founder
Unfortunately, its too soon to set any realistic dates. If you have subscribed to our news, you’ll know as soon as dates become available.
Hart Hill
Almost every day I read about homelessness in Toronto and other big cities. Is there a hidden homelessness problem in Elliot Lake and if so, can you provide some statistics. If the TINY HOME ASSCIATION builds the 96-unit community in Elliot Lake where will the occupants come from?
Founder
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Hart.
Unfortunately we are not equipped to help those that need supportive services, and we leave that to the agencies that do. Our tiny home citizen demographic is focused on minimum-wage earners and those on fixed incomes that are struggling to find housing they can afford. Whether the server where you pickup a coffee, the cashier at the grocery store, the young construction worker that had to move back home when renovicted, the graduate that’s starting at the bottom in their career, or the senior that wants to down-size on a limited income. Many agencies have lists of people with good jobs, and decent pensions that are struggling today. These are the local people we are looking to help.
Hart Hill
How is the project going in Elliot Lake?
Founder
The project continues to move along, although slowly. CMHC has made a number of changes to their affordable housing funding streams, and we are navigating through them to see how we can proceed.
A next step will be to gather support of the Elliot Lake community for those struggling financially.
Ian
I’m wondering if it would be helpful for you to establish a list of people on your website who are seriously interested in living in a TINY HOME. This might encourage the various builders to get moving on establishing TINY HOME communities.
Email addresses would be hidden but available to builders with your consent.
Lloyd Transom
I live in Elliot Lake and I want to support this project 100%. Would a petition to the city and/or council get the ball rolling forward again?
Founder
Thanks for the note of support Lloyd.
To date the city and council have been supportive of the project. The delay has been our ability to access funding for the development. Initially we expected to access Seed funding through CMHC, but they shut down the program. Next we looked into Innovation Funding, but were told that program wasn’t funding additional tiny home projects (not sure where the ones they previously selected to fund were located as we haven’t heard any news). Next we hoped to access Infrastructure Ontario funding in partnership with the city, but were informed that affordable housing was managed under ADSAB.ca so we would have to seek a partnership with them to apply for funding.
As most housing to date has been built by for-profit companies and individuals, accessing funding as a not-for-profit has been a bigger challenge than anticipated. Everyone talks about the need for affordable housing, but navigating the process is complex. We could have started the Elliot Lake development already, using investor funding, but it wouldn’t have been forever affordable, nor the community we envision. We will be launching a number of funding initiatives in 2024, that we expect will allow us to begin development this year. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed.