With prices for Vancouver homes soaring to million dollar heights over the past decade, city officials are seeking creative options for affordable housing.
Vancouver's new head of planning and development Brian Jackson is trying to map a future that offers hope and affordable housing to a new generation.
"I'm hoping that somebody who's 25, who's graduated, doesn't automatically think that in order to buy a place they have to move to Calgary or Edmonton. I want to give those people hope," said Jackson.
But those young Vancouverites are being asked to embrace a new housing reality that doesn’t include a single family home on a large lot.
Instead, new multi-level townhouse developments are being planned for established communities like Grandview-Woodlands. But not everyone is happy about the change.
"There's no continuity with how it fits with the historical character, cultural, artistic character of the Mount Pleasant area," said Namir Mustafa, who lives in the neighbourhood.
Whether its densification or gentrification, change can be unsettling. But Brian Jackson says Vancouver residents must consider future generations.
"It's about your children and your grandchildren and your teacher and your doctor's assistant, who can't afford to live here anymore. So we really have to do something about that," said Jackson.
Jackson promises future development will be slow and respectful. If residents resist, like they did to the "thin streets" plan in Marpole that would have added a row of housing to corner lots, he says the city will listen.
"The people who live along Ash Street and have corner lots were very vociferous in their opposition to it in their neighbourhood. They bought a corner lot. They want a corner lot," he said.
Instead of another row of housing, city planners are now looking at turning some streets into parks in Marpole and Grandview-Woodlands. Jackson wants to assure Vancouverites that the vast majority of properties will not be affected by area plans.
Another housing concept that will be coming to Vancouver soon is called a lock-off suite. Jackson says it gives condo owners the chance to rent out extra space in their suite, like you would a basement suite. Tune into CTV News on Wednesday for more details on the unique concept.
