London’s Small Houses: “A ‘smaller’ trend is underway?”

[“Since the 1950s, a typical four-person family home has increased from 1,000 square feet to 2,500 square feet on average,” Oct.1, London Free Press]

There are many fine, small house in London, Ontario. Just because well-organized annual tours of fine homes generally feature the large, decked-out and overly expensive doesn’t mean they don’t exist.

Two things recently made me think there is a trend developing toward smaller homes (as well as smaller debt and smaller long-term maintenance costs):

First. Shellie Chowns, president of the London Home Builders’ Association, recently wrote an article entitled ‘Right-sized home not always biggest’ in which she says that “some (homebuyers) now consider responsible living practices as the social measuring stick of home ownership status,” versus square footage. (Oct. 1, London Free Press)

Second. The house below, found on Duchess Avenue, just east of Edward St. in Wortley Village, is nearing completion on a lot that was once occupied by a small house. It appears to be a duplex, or a small house waiting for a second-floor balcony to keep someone from falling several feet down and into the mud.


["Caution. Don't run outside from the second floor door!": photo GH]

If it’s a duplex, the sq. footage of each floor will be in the 700 - 900 range, which is a significant drop from the ‘bigger house’ trend of the last 60 years.

I like it. I like the ‘smaller’ trend.

Besides the smaller footprint and cost, there’s less grass to cut!

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Please click here for another look at London’s Small Houses.

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