Douglas Todd: B.C. homebuyers yearn to feel grounded, literally

https://vancouversun.com/opinion/columnisshots/douglas-todd-bc-homebuyers-yearn-to-feel-grounded-literally

New homebuyers don’t want condos in the sky. A survey shows most buyers are couples, often with children, who have pets and cars and want a front door that opens onto a bit of land.

The reality, however, is that most Canadian adults, especially those under age 39, haven’t had many options to buy a nice house with a small yard, perhaps in which their children could play.

A 79-page report by Elaine Cowley and Ryan Berlin, titled Homes of Tomorrow, reveals a majority of buyers, most of whom are couples, yearn for ground-oriented homes, preferably with a front door, parking and some outdoor space. 87% per cent of British Columbians who either bought a home in the past three years or plan to buy in the next three years are end-users who will actually live in the homes. Most don’t want condos in the sky.

The demand for ground-oriented living remains a powerful force in the market, with over half of all end-user buyers identifying townhomes as their preferred choice.

Most Canadian housing developers and many politicians have focused for 30 years on immigration and investment policies geared towards foreign buyers, who generally sought condos in high-density towers to generate revenue.

The plan of the MST Development Corporation, a partnership of the Musqueam Indian Band, Squamish Nation, Tsleil-Waututh Nation, and the Aquilini Corporation, is clearly geared towards condos in high-density, up to 49-storey tall, high-rise towers.

The alternative plan of the Jericho Coalition results in a much higher number of ground- or close-to-ground homes in their 4-8-storey courtyard buildings (shown below). Also, the semi-private green space in the courtyards, the green rooftops accessible to the buildings’ tenants, and the surrounding parkland make this proposed high-density development highly livable and family-friendly. It doesn’t contain any rowhouses, but the homes in this low- to mid-rise community are certainly super attractive.