Vancouver Laneway Housing
With high real estate prices and an ever-growing population, the city of Vancouver has recently been looking for ways to provide increased housing within the municipality while having as little impact on the local environment as possible. Now the city is moving ahead with a plan to do just that, one that involves the development of a new type of housing -- laneway housing.
By converting back-alley garages into small homes, the laneway housing plan will provide more housing options within the city without the requirement of additional space. More specifically, homeowners with a lot that is at least 33 wide will be allowed to build a 1 1/2 storey home in their back garden. Vancouver laneway houses can be a maximum of 750 square feet and must be at least 16 feet away from the back of the main house. The estimated cost of building an average laneway house is $150,000.
Although a small number of laneway houses have already been permitted in Toronto and Montreal, this will be the first time that such an option will be open to a large number of single-family lot owners in Vancouver. While allowing for increased population density within the municipality, Vancouver's laneway housing plan is also expected to provide renters in the city with more affordable options. And in Vancouver, where there is a significant lack of affordable accommodation, many people see that as a very positive aspect of laneway housing.
Others are looking forward to the development of laneway houses because they see the option as a solution to a variety of financial and living arrangement problems. For example, retirees or those approaching retirement who have recently lost significant savings during the recession view the laneway housing plan as providing them with affordable independent living options. Many families with children who are ready to move out on their own or with elderly parents also see laneway housing as a way of providing affordable, independent living close to the rest of the family.
However, not all Vancouver residents are looking forward to laneway houses appearing in their neighbourhoods. Many fear that their quality of life will be compromised as the increased population density brings more traffic, more noise and makes residential parking a nightmare. While city councillors are aware of these concerns, they believe that the local quality of life will not be adversely affected and that the plan will be a success in the long run.
At any rate, the project is ready to move ahead and, undoubtedly, the way Vancouver's laneway housing endeavour ultimately turns out will be a subject of interest for many Canadian and American cities looking for ways to solve their own space and affordability problems.
By converting back-alley garages into small homes, the laneway housing plan will provide more housing options within the city without the requirement of additional space. More specifically, homeowners with a lot that is at least 33 wide will be allowed to build a 1 1/2 storey home in their back garden. Vancouver laneway houses can be a maximum of 750 square feet and must be at least 16 feet away from the back of the main house. The estimated cost of building an average laneway house is $150,000.
Although a small number of laneway houses have already been permitted in Toronto and Montreal, this will be the first time that such an option will be open to a large number of single-family lot owners in Vancouver. While allowing for increased population density within the municipality, Vancouver's laneway housing plan is also expected to provide renters in the city with more affordable options. And in Vancouver, where there is a significant lack of affordable accommodation, many people see that as a very positive aspect of laneway housing.
Others are looking forward to the development of laneway houses because they see the option as a solution to a variety of financial and living arrangement problems. For example, retirees or those approaching retirement who have recently lost significant savings during the recession view the laneway housing plan as providing them with affordable independent living options. Many families with children who are ready to move out on their own or with elderly parents also see laneway housing as a way of providing affordable, independent living close to the rest of the family.
However, not all Vancouver residents are looking forward to laneway houses appearing in their neighbourhoods. Many fear that their quality of life will be compromised as the increased population density brings more traffic, more noise and makes residential parking a nightmare. While city councillors are aware of these concerns, they believe that the local quality of life will not be adversely affected and that the plan will be a success in the long run.
At any rate, the project is ready to move ahead and, undoubtedly, the way Vancouver's laneway housing endeavour ultimately turns out will be a subject of interest for many Canadian and American cities looking for ways to solve their own space and affordability problems.
posted by VancouverResidence
