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Autumn Round Up at PDS

Region-Specific Plans

With the direct-to-municipality project funding by the Federal Housing Accelerator Fund we are seeing a number of calls for region-specific plans in response to the housing crisis. From CMHC's recent country-wide RFP for a catalogue of regionally specific housing designs, to the efforts of individual municipalities, governments are seeking to unlock development in the missing middle and to provide more options to develop infill housing.

Removing red-tape, reducing timelines, and offering developers designs at no cost are all part of this strategy to increase the number of units of housing being built in both urban and rural areas in Canada. We are pleased to be currently developing one such response with Cape Breton Regional Municipality after having been selected along with our partners at UPLAND Planning + Design Studio to provide pre-approved plans specific to the region. More on our plans for CBRM below!

The COVID-19 boom that saw wait times for construction starts with contractors stretch into the years has largely subsided and we've returned to a more typical and predictable ebb and flow to the annual construction season. Many builders are currently looking for spring projects to fill their rosters which makes the fall an ideal time to start with a pre-designed home plan for your build. With a shorter timeline to permit-ready drawings than a custom home, there's more than enough time for design, pricing and permitting before the spring construction season begins. You can contact us now if you're planning to break ground on a new project next spring!

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Interest rates are trending downwards with many banks and analysts predicting they will continue to fall into 2025. With at least 8 Bank of Canada interest rate decisions between now and the end of 2025 there could be a big difference in take-home mortgage rates by the end of next year's construction season. For homeowners, this means it can be useful to get the architectural design and site planning underway now to take advantage of a return to lower interest rates after the past few of years of increases and uncertainty.

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We have some new stock plans available to provide more options to homeowners in a market with elevated construction costs. These are smaller plans that do more with less square footage - catch a preview below! Additionally, our affiliated builder Sommer Brothers Construction has recently completed their build of our Derby Point plan. See some photos of their project below and a link to their thorough and informative documentation of the build!

Lastly, we welcome McLeod Creek Timber Frame Company to our list of Alberta builder affiliates. Be sure to have a look at our complete list of affiliated builders on our website to see who might be available in your area.

Pre-Approved Housing Designs for CBRM

Housing Survey Results Inform Development of Regional Designs

Working with our partners at UPLAND Planning + Design Studio we have completed a housing survey for residents and property owners in CBRM. With more than 400 respondents, we were able to get some insight into many of the key issues driving design. Our team now has the results and is continuing work with the municipality on the various designs which will be available for use for developments in CBRM in 2025.

g material). A good choice for DIY home-builders, this foundation works with basement or crawlspace designs. The trade-off here is longevity, since pressure-treated wood will decompose sooner than concrete or steel.

2024 Stock Plan Preview

We're adding new plans to our growing catalogue!

If you want to know more about working with one of these new plans before they're available on our website, you can get in contact with our team to have your questions answered. We offer a free 30-minute call to discuss your project.

700 SF Rock Elm

Small is mighty! Our new Rock Elm design could be equally suited as a small starter home, a cottage on a lake, an in-law accessory dwelling unit, or garden suite rental. It packs in the functionality of a 2 bedroom home with only a 350 SF footprint which keeps foundation and roofing costs to a minimum.

Rock Elm Ground Floor Plan

Rock Elm Second Floor Plan

1400 SF Barra Head

The Barra Head is our answer to rising costs! Similar in layout to our popular North Glen design, we lose the fourth bedroom on the ground-floor in favour of a smaller and more efficient 3 bedroom / 2 bathroom plan. Coming in 500 SF smaller than the North Glen, the Barra Head is enough space for a whole family at a much lower construction cost than many larger plans with the same number of beds and baths.

Barra Head Ground Floor Plan

Barra Head Second Floor Plan

1408 SF Eagle Island

Using a skillion roof design, the Eagle Island is a compact plan that feels expansive inside with clerestory windows and cathedral ceilings throughout. The added windows along the centre of the plan also make it easy to orient this design to a range of sites to make best use of passive solar gains during cold winter months. Aging in place is prioritized in this 3 bedroom / 2 bathroom bungalow with attached garage and screen porch.

Eagle Island Ground Floor Plan

1728 SF Big Brook

A modern farmhouse style plan that is looking for a site with a view. Large square windows give this design a traditional farmhouse style look and feel with a modern twist. With a layout prioritizing aging-in-place and that locates the primary bedroom on the ground floor, this home works for homeowners either already planning for the long-term, or those currently living with mobility issues but still in need of the extra space for family and friends upstairs.

Big Brook Ground Floor Plan

Big Brook Second Floor Plan

2592 SF Kyte's Hill

Many urban sites are too narrow for our standard pre-designed plans and require a basement suite to make best use of the small sites that are available and high cost of building on them. The Kyte's Hill is a two-storey 2.5 bedroom / 2 bathroom townhouse with a 1 bedroom rental suite in the basement accessed from the side door. At only 18' wide, this plan fits on all but the narrowest of urban lots and displays a large shed roof to the south for solar panels.

Kyte's Hill Basement Suite Plan

Kyte's Hill Ground Floor Plan

Kyte's Hill Second Floor Plan

Derby Point Build by Sommer Brothers Construction

An insightful look at a new build - every step of the way!

We worked with Sommer Brothers Construction to provide architectural plans for their spec build of this Derby Point stock design. We provided updates to the plans based on their specific project goals, pre-fabricated construction approach, and the desired architectural style and aesthetic. They did a fantastic job documenting their build and their Instagram page provides a unique opportunity to walk through the whole construction process for a high-perfformance home from start to finish!

The entire build in step-by-step informative videos is on their IG page so you can go and see the whole build unfold by clicking here to go back and see where it all started!

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