Vancouver Affordability Crisis Highlights New Opportunities

Point Grey condos are a key part of my business, and a cornerstone of Vancouver Westside real estate. Detached homes worth millions of dollars make most of the headlines here, but the region’s major multifamily developers have built hundreds of multifamily units at UBC. UBC condos, in fact, represent the single biggest concentration of apartments in Vancouver Westside, and a large portion of its new housing stock.

A lack of housing stock

An informal audience survey during the Urban Development Institute’s annual forecast lunch found that a third of developers feel Vancouver needs more appropriately zoned land. According to Concert Properties Ltd., the lack of zoned land is a big impediment to boosting the region’s affordable housing stock.

I recently reviewed Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.’s statistics for Westside properties. While a healthy number of apartments exist in many areas, most of them are rentals rather than condos. Townhouse properties are also rare, accounting for less than 3% of properties in Dunbar, Kitsilano and Point Grey.

Meeting the demand

Yet demand for townhouses is strong. In 2016, these three neighbourhoods saw 126 townhouses sold, or 10% of all local sales. This gave townhouses a market share triple their share of the local housing stock. Why?

Townhouses also offer greater privacy than multifamily properties at half the price of a detached property. Despite less yard, the interior space is often just right for a family. Moreover, families that wanted a detached home opt for a more affordable townhouse and are willing to pay a little bit more. (This is good news for sellers.)

One successful townhouse development – although it was controversial at the time – is Sasamat Gardens, an infill-project that transformed a vacant city block into hub of activity.

Creating opportunities

Could the same thing happen elsewhere on the Westside?

One hopes so. A greater diversity of housing types means greater choice for buyers.

Dunbar townhouses are rare despite strong demand, but opportunities exist to build more. Densification doesn’t need to mean four-storey apartment blocks, let alone towers. Sometimes it simply means doubling up on a lot so that more people fit in, and more choices are available for those looking to buy.