Some of Saskatoon’s oldest neighborhoods have homes that date back to the late 1800s.
But many of these homes have new neighbors who look very different.
Century-old homes with large porches and unique features are mixed with homes with modern finishes, boxy looks and large windows.
One local historian worries this is becoming an exaggeration.
“I think it’s going to create a very, very bland, uninteresting neighborhood. Because these houses are different enough, and because they’ve been here long enough, they tell the history of the neighborhood,” said Dianne Wilson, a member of the Saskatoon Heritage Society.
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Wilson said the new infill homes take away from the character of the old neighborhood.
“I don’t like infill because generally, if the building is economical, it’s like a cereal box with little holes in it for windows. And if they try to make it fancier, the proportions won’t be right.”
However, there are also those who say that introducing different ages and styles will have a good impact on the area.
“I don’t think having a little diversity in the age of homes in a neighborhood is a bad thing. Some of the homes are in pretty bad shape,” said Andrew Wallace, architect with Wallace Kruger Architects.
Wallace said people want to live in attractive neighborhoods but keeping an old home up to standard can be very expensive and requires a lot of work, so some people choose to replace the home.
And not all new homes have an ultra-modern look.
“People’s tastes are different. Some people prefer modern houses, there are also those who prefer cultural heritage houses. There are also those who, in my opinion, prefer modern houses that look like cultural heritage houses,” said Wallace.
Wallace said some cities have architectural controls in historic neighborhoods that make all infill homes have a style similar to the time period in the existing area.
However, as more housing is built, the challenge is balancing the history that gives those neighborhoods their character, and allowing for new styles to help them develop further.
Watch the video above to find out more about why old houses are being replaced and the differing opinions behind it.
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