Homeowners tepid to city suite grants
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Updated: August 12, 2009 9:57 AM
Homeowners aren’t lining up to build secondary suites despite new money offered to offset the cost.
On March 31, Victoria started offering grants of up to $5,000 to encourage people to build new suites in their homes.
During the first four months of the program, 10 people applied.
The uptake is roughly on par with statistics from 2008, before the grant was available. Over those 12 months, 31 people applied to install secondary suites.
“I’m sorry that there aren’t more because we desperately need secondary suites to come online,” said Coun. Chris Coleman. “You have to ask is the grant large enough to be an incentive, or are we not communicating the grant broadly enough.”
City council approved up to $250,000 in grants. Applicants can apply to have 25 per cent of their renovation costs covered by the grant, up to a total of $5,000.
Coleman said he wanted to make more money available to homeowners. He would also like council to consider legalizing suites in ancillary buildings such as garages.
“I understand you don’t want people filling up all their backyards with new buildings, but there are lots of examples of old garages that have been converted into fabulous places,” he said.
Victoria city planners are studying the feasibility of the idea and will present their findings to council.
rholmen@saanichnews.com
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