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| There is a need and desire for more townhouses in Vancouver, like these charming units I saw in Fredericton, New Brunswick |
Last
week, marketing research firm Insights West presented its latest poll results
on the Vancouver political scene. There were not a lot of surprises, other than
public awareness for one of the mayoral candidates. Sixty-six per cent said
they did not know who independent candidate Colin Shandler
was. I would have thought the number would be closer to 100 per cent.
As to the
most important issues facing Vancouver right now, housing topped the list at 39
per cent, followed by transportation (16 per cent), poverty (12 per cent) and
economic development (nine per cent).
I expect
we will hear a great deal about housing affordability over the next three
months. With this in mind, here are some things I would suggest be done to
reduce housing costs and improve affordability.
• There
will always be a desire for single family housing in our city. However, many
people would prefer smaller, more affordable houses on smaller lots. In some
neighbourhoods, the city should allow 50-foot wide lots to be subdivided into
two 25-foot lots. Secondary suites could be permitted on these skinny lots, but
not laneway houses.
•
Basement suites provide some of the city’s most affordable housing. However,
they are usually not permitted in duplexes or rowhouses. Zoning bylaws should
permit basement suites in these more affordable forms of housing. The city
should also allow a second basement suite in larger single family houses if
there is no laneway house.
• Laneway
housing is becoming increasingly acceptable. However, these houses must be
rental and the rents are not cheap. To create more affordable ground-oriented
ownership housing, the city should allow some laneway houses to be sold,
starting with those on corner lots 50 feet or wider.
• I was
born in England where semi-detached and terraced rowhouses are among the most
affordable housing forms. But not so in Vancouver. Neighbourhood plans should
be revised to encourage these forms of housing across the city.
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| This 6 suite apartment building in Calgary would fit in nicely in many Vancouver neighbourhoods |
• Small,
low-rise walk-up buildings provide Vancouver’s most affordable rental
apartments. However they are no longer built since building codes require
elevators and two sets of stairs from each floor. But not so in Calgary or
Sydney, Australia. Since we rarely read about people burning to death in these
cities, and new buildings are sprinklered and constructed with less flammable
materials, we should revise codes to again encourage small, affordable
apartment buildings. Accessible suites could be on the ground floor.
• The
cost of underground parking can be significant, especially for smaller suites.
Given societal concerns over traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions,
the city should reconsider having minimum parking requirements. Instead it
should establish maximum resident parking requirements. To address
neighbourhood concerns, visitor parking requirements should be increased beyond
what they are today.
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| Most of the older West End rental buildings would not withstand an earthquake. It's better to start renovating them now! |
• Many
older rental apartment buildings are in need of substantial upgrading. However,
it is expensive to bring these buildings up to modern day codes. Moreover,
tenants may need to be relocated and rents will increase. Since most landlords
do not want to risk seeing their photos on the front page of community
newspapers, too often they defer these major upgrades.
To offset
renovation costs and increase rental housing supply, apartment owners should be
encouraged to construct additional suites on roofs, above parking areas, or on
underutilized land around their buildings wherever feasible. While neighbours
will complain, if we do not start upgrading these buildings now, many will not
last into the future, especially after an earthquake.
Recently,
in an effort to improve housing affordability, the City of Vancouver announced
the creation of the Vancouver Affordable Housing Agency (VAHA). This is not the
first time the city has created a separate housing entity. It had one in the
1970s. Whether it will be more effective this time remains to be seen. The city
recently issued a call for a board of directors. If you are interested in
applying, the deadline is Sept. 22. I may join you.
There are
many more things that need to be done to reduce housing costs in Vancouver.
Over the next three months, I hope we will hear good ideas from the various
political parties as to what they will do if elected since housing
affordability is likely to remain the city’s number one issue for many years to
come.
©
Vancouver Courier
- See
more at:
http://www.vancourier.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-affordable-housing-concerns-here-to-stay-1.1329908#sthash.ti4yQHFi.dpuf
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