Case Study: How This Alta Vista Retiree Built a "Retirement-Ready" Suite Without Leaving His Property

The Problem: Too Much House, Not Enough Freedom

Meet John and Susan (names changed for privacy), a retired couple in Alta Vista who found themselves in a situation many retirees face. They loved their home. They loved their neighborhood. They loved the memories they'd built over decades in their bungalow.

But here's what they didn't love: the endless maintenance.

"I'm 67 years old," John told us during our first consultation. "I'm done pretending I enjoy raking leaves and fixing things that break every other week."

Their 1,400 square foot bungalow sat on a generous lot. Beautiful property. But they were barely using half the space. The guest bedrooms sat empty most of the year. The basement had become a storage graveyard. And every weekend that should have been spent traveling or with grandkids was instead spent on yard work and home repairs.

Like many retirees, they'd been told the solution was simple: sell the house, downsize to a condo, and enjoy the freedom.

But Susan wasn't convinced. "This is our home. We're not ready to leave our neighborhood, our neighbors, our life here. There had to be another way."

The Discovery: Your Property Is Your Biggest Untapped Asset

When John and Susan came to us, they weren't even aware of Ottawa's new zoning changes. They just knew they needed help figuring out their next chapter.

During our initial assessment, we explained how Bill 23 and Ottawa's New Official Plan had completely changed what was possible on their property. Their R-zone bungalow could now be transformed into a multi-unit property—without variances, without lengthy approvals, and without destroying the character of their neighborhood.

"Wait," Susan said. "You're telling me we can stay here AND solve our problems?"

Exactly.

The Solution: Gentle Intensification Done Right

Here's what we designed for John and Susan:

The Exterior: We added a 700 square foot addition to the back of their existing bungalow. From the street, you'd barely notice the change. We kept the roofline intentionally low and updated the exterior to match the existing architecture perfectly.

This is what the city calls "gentle intensification"—increasing density without towering boxes that disrupt neighborhood character. The neighbors? They thought it was just a renovation.

The Interior: We created three complete, self-contained living units:

• Basement unit: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
• Main level unit: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
• Top level unit: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms

Each unit features:

• Bright, open living spaces
• Large windows for natural light
• Modern, functional kitchens
• Full bathrooms
• Separate entrances for privacy

Despite being more compact than a traditional single-family layout, these units feel spacious and comfortable. We focused on smart design—vaulted ceilings where possible, efficient layouts, quality finishes.

The Financials: How The Numbers Actually Worked

Let's break down the investment:

Initial Property Value: $600,000
Construction Costs: $600,000
Soft Costs (permits, planning, etc.): $100,000
Total Investment: $1,300,000

Property Value After Completion: $1,500,000 - $1,800,000
Equity Gain: $200,000 - $500,000
Annual Rental Income: $80,000

John and Susan chose to live in the main level unit—their perfect retirement bungalow. They rent out the basement and top level units.

That $80,000 in annual rental income? It covers their property taxes, insurance, maintenance, and still leaves plenty for travel, hobbies, and grandkids.

The Timeline: Faster Than You'd Think

From initial consultation to move-in day: 8 months

Here's how it broke down:

• Weeks 1-2: Initial consultation, site assessment, zoning review
• Weeks 3-6: Design development, 3D renderings, budget finalization
• Weeks 7-10: Permit applications and approvals
• Weeks 11-12: Material selections and final planning
• Months 4-7: Construction
• Month 8: Final inspections and move-in

Because this project fell under Bill 23's streamlined approval process (no site plan control required for projects under 10 units), we avoided the typical 12-18 month approval nightmare.

The Unexpected Benefits

John and Susan expected financial security. What they didn't expect were these bonuses:

1. Family Flexibility
"Our daughter just went through a divorce," Susan shared six months after completion. "She needed a place to stay with our grandson. Instead of scrambling, we just moved her into the top unit. She's paying reduced rent, we're helping family, and everyone has privacy."

2. Reduced Stress
"I used to wake up thinking about what needed fixing," John said. "Now the units are new, everything works, and if something breaks in a rental unit, it's a business expense. My stress level dropped completely."

3. Future-Proofing
"We're in our late 60s now," John explained. "If we need more care in 10-15 years, we can rent out our unit too and move somewhere else. Or bring in a caregiver. The flexibility is incredible."

The Challenges: What They Wish They'd Known

John and Susan were honest about the learning curve:

Challenge #1: Living Through Construction
They moved in with their daughter during the 4-month construction phase. "It was disruptive," Susan admitted. "But it was temporary, and absolutely worth it."

Challenge #2: Becoming Landlords
"We'd never been landlords before," John said. "There's a learning curve with tenant screening, leases, maintenance requests. But OGC connected us with a property management company that handles most of it."

"The financing piece was the scariest part," Susan said. "But our mortgage broker walked us through it, showed us the numbers, and we realized we could absolutely afford it."

Who Is This Right For?

Based on John and Susan's experience, this approach works best if you:

✅ Own your home outright or have significant equity
✅ Are 5-10 years from retirement (or already retired)
✅ Want to stay in your neighborhood
✅ Have a property that's too big for your current needs
✅ Are open to being a landlord (or hiring property management)
✅ Want retirement income that isn't dependent on stock markets
✅ Are tired of home maintenance on a large property

It's NOT ideal if you:

❌ Want to travel full-time immediately (though property management solves this)
❌ Hate the idea of tenants on your property
❌ Don't have access to capital or financing
❌ Are planning to move out of Ottawa soon

Could This Work For Your Property?

Every property is different. Zoning, lot size, neighborhood designation, and your personal goals all factor into whether this approach makes sense.

That's why we offer a free zoning review and feasibility report. We'll:

✅ Analyze your property's zoning potential
✅ Show you what's possible under current bylaws
✅ Provide preliminary budget estimates
✅ Walk through financing options
✅ Answer all your questions with zero pressure

Ready to explore your options?

Contact Ottawa General Contractors:
📞 (613) 225-9991
🌐 ottawageneralcontractors.com
📧 info@ottawageneralcontractors.com

Or get your free zoning report at: ottawazoning.com

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