More garage suites planned for Regina
Harbour Landing proposal would be 2nd of its kind in city
Regina's Harbour Landing neighbourhood could be getting 20 garage suites under a proposal going to the city's planning commission Wednesday.
The city calls them "laneway suites" and if approved it'll be the second time they'll be tried under a pilot program.
Earlier this year, the city gave its approval for 11 homes that have garages with rentable living space above in the Greens on Gardiner neighbourhood in the southeast.
Now, a developer is looking at building another 20 new homes that will have garage suites — 14 on James Hill Road and another six on McCaughey Street in Harbour Landing, a newer development on the western edge of the city.
The city is grappling with a chronic housing shortage, with an apartment vacancy rate below two per cent. It thinks allowing people to rent out space above their garages might be part of the solution.
It hopes if the pilot projects are successful, there could be a bigger expansion of garage suites elsewhere in the city.
City officials say they're keen to see the Harbour Landing pilot proceed, but not everyone is on board.
James Hill road is near a proposed school site, something that worries the Regina Public School Board.
It's worried about parking and vehicle congestion if the plan is approved.
The proposal will have to receive final approval from city council before it can proceed.