Co-living trend coming to Zibi development

A growing American company focusing on the dorm-like "co-living" trend is planning an expansion into Canada with a highrise at the Zibi site on the Ottawa River.

New York City-based Common has set up co-living spaces in six major American cities, with plans for seven more. The company is also eyeing Toronto.

Its developments usually feature small, private living quarters and shared bathrooms, kitchens and lounges, with other common amenities such as gyms and pools.

In theory, the arrangement helps tenants lower their rent.

• Co-living apartments offer a sense of community for on-the-go millennials
• 'A win-win situation for singles': Co-housing idea taking off in Winnipeg

The Zibi building on the Ottawa side of the river would rise roughly 20 storeys and have 252 beds, and would include some private apartments. Construction could begin in 2020 and the first tenants could move in as early as 2022, according to Common.

The precise mix of units will be figured out as floor plans are finalized over the next few months, a Common spokesperson said in an email.

Rent would start at $1,225 a month for a co-living bedroom and $2,065 a month for a traditional unit, Common said. That includes WiFi, hydro, heat and water.

In a November 2018 report, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation put the average rent for a bachelor apartment in Ottawa at $881, and a one-bedroom at $1,088, but given Zibi's desirable location, rents there are generally expected to be higher.

Medium-term stays

An Ottawa architect who isn't involved with the project said the model is a good fit for people who want to live in shared spaces, as well as people who are looking for a short-term rental.

"They don't see a need to pay a huge amount of rent for a lot of square footage they're not going to use, but they also don't want to live in a hotel or couch-surf," Toon Dreessen, president of Architects DCA, told CBC Radio's Ottawa Morning.

"It's one thing to Airbnb, stay at a friend's house or with family for a week or two, but you want a sense of permanence."

Seniors looking for a mix of community and independence have turned to this model in places such as Sooke, B.C., Dreessen said.

The first residents started moving into the $1.5-billion, 15-hectare Zibi development in the fall. As many as 5,000 people are expected to call Zibi home by the time it's finished around 2030.

The developer says the project strives to be environmentally friendly and respectful of the sacred Algonquin land it's built on, but some Indigenous groups and their supporters have protested Zibi and challenged the development in court.