Growing concern over Regina’s infill houses

There will soon be a brand new house next to Angela Ell’s century-old home, but she’s worried it won’t fit in with the rest of the neighbourhood.

“Massive, it’s just massive, and it doesn’t fit, and they’re tearing down the World War Two houses,” Ell said. “It’s about the character… It’s about the history.”

Reg Linder said his Lakeview neighbourhood is also losing its character as infill homes spring up around the block.

“Mainly it’s all little bungalows in this area, and then you get these things sticking up out of the ground and it just doesn’t look right,” he said.

“If they insist on having to buy up 50-foot lots and putting two houses on them, make them fit in with the neighbourhood.”

Both Linder and Ell said they’re not against infill housing, but they want to see a city bylaw that would require developers to fit their architecture with the area.

“We want the city to bring in proper guidelines for infill housing that talks about shadowing and views and compatibility with the neighbourhood,” Ell said.

“Some people like that new look, and they like the Harbour Landing look and that’s fine. It has its place. It has its place. In these old neighbourhoods, it doesn’t have its place,” she said.

Zarkor developer Shaheen Zareh said it’s difficult to please everybody, but new homes help to increase the value of the neighbourhood.

“The property that’s there, currently, in my opinion, in most cases should be condemned,” Zareh said. “So would you want a house that’s boarded up next to you, or would you want a brand new property being built beside you?”

“The biggest thing about infill housing is it gives an opportunity for homeowners to have a property close to downtown, close to the core, to have a new home that otherwise they wouldn’t have an opportunity to own,” he said.

Zareh also said his company will change its plans based on neighbours’ feedback.

“Since 2009, we’ve done 150 homes. The worst thing that has ever happened is we’ve had to over-excavate on somebody’s neighbour’s lawn, which we replaced the lawn. We try to be good neighbours,” he said.

Ell said she isn’t expecting her property value to go up, and she recently spent money bracing her basement because of the ongoing construction next door.

“I’m worried about the cracked walls. I’m worried about the foundation, and I’m worried that it’s just going to affect the structure of my house dramatically,” she said.

“I’m already into this with lawyers, with engineers, with bracing my basement. I’m already into this probably over $2,500 dollars.”

The City of Regina was not available for comment.