1st-time Brandon homeowner says little homes could be a big thing in Manitoba
'Pocket neighbourhood' aims to make home ownership affordable in Manitoba's 2nd-biggest city
Hidden away in Brandon sits a tiny neighbourhood of little houses that take up just over a block in Manitoba's second-biggest city.
Dubbed 235 Glen Ave., the development has 21 houses, all under 920 square feet.
Eliza Idpan and her partner, Caselyn Badilla, were among the first families to move into the development in 2023.
Idpan says it's much like any other neighbourhood — just a little bit smaller. Small homes like her two-bedroom are the way of the future for affordable first-time home ownership, she says.
"It's really comfort and peace of mind rolled into one," said Idpan. "It really is cost-friendly for new homeowners, young couples, beginners or even retiring people."
Their 612-square-foot home cost $178,000, while the average Brandon house price in 2023 was just over $310,000, according to statistics from Brandon-area Realtors.
Idpan said she also doesn't worry about anything breaking or falling apart, because everything is new and under warranty, which means she can save up for any big expenses.
She and her partner aren't bothered by the tight quarters, after living in one-bedroom apartments. They've comfortably fit themselves, two dogs, two guinea pigs, a cat, multiple fish aquariums and many plants in their place, she said.
Affordable housing
Idpan's family rented a one-bedroom apartment for $1,500 a month, plus utilities, when they first moved to Brandon from Thompson. She estimates after factoring in rent and utilities, they're saving around $200 to $400 in their new home.
Cindy Choy is the developer 235 Glen Ave., which is part of Glendale Homes Park — a mobile home park in the city. The little village spans about a city block, with storage sheds, yards and easily accessible parking lots for homeowners.
She calls it a "pocket neighbourhood" — one where people live close together and can make friends with neighbours, but still have the privacy of their own place.
"People, I think, are looking for connectivity where they live, and so a pocket neighbourhood is set up to try and bring you closer," Choy said.
The aim with the neighbourhood was to create affordable housing that's environmentally friendly, she said. Development began after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, which influenced how it was envisioned.
"We wanted to develop the pocket neighbourhood so people are still able to stay safe in their homes, but connect better with their neighbours," said Choy.
The neighbourhood includes four home models, ranging from 500-square-foot one-bedroom houses to two-bedroom houses between 612 and 920 square feet. People buy the home and rent the land for around $325 a month.
Accelerating growth
Meanwhile, the city wants to see all types of housing grow in the community, says Amanda Dupuis, Brandon's community housing and wellness programmer.
The city has tapped into the federal housing accelerator fund to encourage developers to build more units that can get people into their first homes.
"Affordable housing is really important.…When you have a gap anywhere in the [housing] continuum, including in the market housing, it tends to keep people where they are," Dupuis said.
While 235 Glen Ave. development began before Brandon applied for the federal housing funding, the local planning district did plant the seed of a pocket neighbourhood and encourage the development of smaller, affordable homes, Choy said.
She's now in talks to expand the pocket neighbourhoods idea into rural Manitoba. The small houses are built in Altona, and intended to be easily moved to any community.
The little homes are a piece of the puzzle in filling house gaps, she said.
"It's an affordable option for home ownership," Choy said. "We really think there's a space for people to own their homes and use that as a stepping stone to start building wealth."
Idpan agrees that Brandon could use little homes and pocket neighbourhoods to address its housing affordability crunch. She's encouraging co-workers, friends and family to consider her neighbourhood.
Her in-laws recently moved in next door after seeing how much her family loves their home, she said.
"This is actually very affordable … and the maintenance of the house, the utilities of the house, the efficiency of the house, I can't explain how good it is."
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