Shotwell | 04 Unit Conversion
Welland
Original Layout: 2-Unit Duplex
Final Layout: 4 × 1-Bedroom Units (~<50m² each)
Total Floor Area: ~2,000 sq. ft.
Project Overview:
Acquired back in 2021, before triplexes and fourplexes became widely adopted in small-market towns, this project began with a vision: convert an existing 2,000 sq. ft. legal duplex into a fully legalized 4-unit building.
Our design team led the transformation by developing a smart 4-unit layout of 1-bedroom apartments, each strategically designed to remain under 50m² (538 sq. ft.). This unlocked a major bylaw advantage in the City of Welland—reduced parking requirements from 1.0 to 0.3 spaces per unit, allowing us to legally accommodate 4 units with just 2 parking spaces.
Scope & Strategy:
Reconfigured interior to accommodate 4 legal 1-bedroom units with independent kitchens, baths, HVAC, and egress
Leveraged Welland’s bylaw allowing reduced parking ratios for smaller units to avoid costly site rework
Coordinated all required life safety upgrades including fire separations, sound attenuation, and ventilation
Managed construction over a 5-month renovation period, transitioning the property from duplex to income-generating 4-plex
Assisted the investor with refinance strategy post-reno to extract equity and secure long-term cash flow
Challenges Solved:
Fit 4 legal units within 2,000 sq. ft. while remaining below the 50m² threshold
Navigated parking requirements creatively through zoning interpretation
Delivered strong ROI with no exterior expansion or rezoning
Investor Benefits:
Created 4 legal units from a 2-unit structure using creative design and strategic zoning interpretation
Reduced capital outlay on site upgrades by utilizing parking reduction clause
Fully renovated, cash-flowing 4-plex with positive monthly returns and long-term equity lift
Current Status:
Construction complete. Units fully tenanted. Refinance executed—now delivering stable positive cash flow.