What Vancouver’s new multiplex report means for housing

Good morning,

The city says Storm Brewing has to remove its iconic graffiti art. Luckily it appears Coun. Sarah Kirby-Yung has taken notice and says she’s looking into it.

Let’s be honest — doesn’t the city have more pressing issues to deal with, like say, a housing crisis? The last thing Vancouver should be going after is art which makes the city a more beautiful place to live in.

Anyway, apologies for the morning rant, but stuff like this can be very frustrating. Let’s focus on solving real problems facing the city.

Today we’ve got:

• 🏠 A look at a new city proposal to build more multiplexes

• 💰 The gap between minimum wage and rental prices

• 📉 And the decline in downtown visits

Onwards!

PS — A minor grammatical error in Wednesday's newsletter, it should’ve read park board, not parks board. A big thanks to a former park board commissioner who pointed it out!

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WEATHER

Friday: 26 🌡️ 16 | 🌤️

Saturday: 27 🌡️ 16 | 🌤️

Sunday: 25 🌡️ 14 | 🌤️

Monday: 23 🌡️ 14 | 🌧️

POVERTY

The minimum wage needs to double to make rent affordible

What happened: A new report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives says that there are exactly 0 percent of neighbourhoods in the city that are affordable for someone working on a minimum wage, according to Urbanized.

• The actual minimum wage to afford to live in Vancouver is $32 an hour. The report uses the term rental wage to describe the actual wages needed to afford housing, taking into account a 40-hour work week and not spending more than 30 percent of income on housing.

The problem: Raising wages isn’t necessarily enough to solve the problem. The report notes private landlords capture a larger portion of wage increases through rent higher rents, so a wage increase won’t necessarily improve affordability.

How we compare: Vancouver is slightly better than Toronto, but that’s not saying much, with a one-bedroom rental wage being $32.36 per hour, compared to $33.62 in Toronto. But Vancouver moves back into first place for a two-bedroom unit, at $42.60. B.C. has the highest (not surprising!) at $27.54 per hour needed for a one bedroom.

What it means: Vancouver risks, and is already seeing according to the Vancouver Sun, a drain of people from the city to the more affordable suburbs and neighbouring communities. You cannot build a world-class city, or fill critical jobs if people can’t afford to live there. Fewer workers mean higher wages, which drives up costs for everyone. Also, how is a single parent supposed to afford a two-bedroom apartment?

VANCOUVER BY THE NUMBERS

🏠 1,800: The number of pre-sale home inventory in June, the largest in over a year. [Urbanized]

HOUSING

More multiplexes?

Housing news can always be a bit depressing. I know because I’m the one trying to choose what stories to write about! But mixed with all the bad news in housing this week, we do have some potential early good signs for the city.

What happened: City staff released their MultiPlex Report on making it easier for property owners to build more homes on their land.

Getting into it: The report is dense, but the key recommendation is to allow multiple dwellings/multiplexes on single-family zoned properties. This includes incentives for certain types of housing such as rentals, reducing the size of allowable single-detached homes, increasing the size of laneway houses and reducing zoning regulations.

The problem: As pointed out by Grids Vancouver, there’s one big problem — anything that isn’t a duplex could still require a development permit, a process that could add months onto the process. Though this is better than requiring residents to complete a full redevelopment permit, is this something a family will be willing to do, or is actually necessary?

What it means: As you can see from this handy zoning map, most of the property in Vancouver is set for one-family dwellings. Yes, in the midst of a housing crisis, this is still the case… The properties also have multiple designations. The new plan would simply the nine different residential zones into one that would allow different types of housing.

In other housing news

Housing starts up: After a massive decline in housing starts — the number of houses that have begun construction — CMHC says June was the largest month-over-month increase in annual housing starts, according to Business in Vancouver. In Vancouver, housing starts were up 49 percent. This is good news after a steady decline since January.

The housing plight: A story in CBC is raising attention to the plight of moderate-income individuals who are unable to find housing. The woman makes $67,000 a year, but after her apartment burnt down, she’s struggled to find a place for herself and her daughter.

Mortgage mayhem: In Vancouver, 20 percent of mortgage holders are spending at least half their household income on housing, according to the Globe and Mail. For renters, it’s 18 percent. Nationally, the number is 7.3 percent, so… that’s not good!

THE AGENDA

🪧 The labour union representing B.C. port workers rescinded their strike notice. This means the port labour disruption could be ending soon, as the Federal Labour Minister indicated there could be a vote to ratify the agreement. Previously the tentative deal was voted down by union leadership. [CTV]

🏢 The former Point Grey Safeway at West 10th Avenue and Sasamat Street is set to look much different, with the development company submitting a revised proposal, with four buildings, two of which are 19 and 17 storeys. [Urbanized]

🚨 One person is in the hospital after a stabbing on Wednesday night at Robson and Granville. No arrests have been made. [CTV]

⛴️ Bad news for the ocean and bad news for travellers. A suspected oil leak on the Coastal Celebration means there could be many fewer sailings while the ship is fixed. [Urbanized]

👮 A “deficient investigation” by police from a mother whose daughter died at an affordable housing complex has resulted in B.C.’s police complaint commissioner calling on the Vancouver Police Board for a review, specifically on the policy for dealing with sudden death calls. [Vancouver is Awesome]

⚖️ The Donnelly Group is saved! Well, not entirely, but the company has received approval by its creditors on how to compensate them, which will allow the company to get on a better financial path. [Business in Vancouver]

⚽ Costs to host the 2026 World Cup in Vancouver are expected to rise significantly, but it may be a while before we have the exact number [Vancouver Sun]

DOWNTOWN

Recovery? Not so much for the downtown core

What happened: Downtown Vancouver is still dealing with a poor recovery from the pandemic, as data from the University of Toronto's School of Cities shows fewer people are going downtown, which may require a rethink of the downtown core, according to CTV.

• The study measured cell phone activity in downtown cores, comparing it before and after the pandemic.

Vancouver sits at number 54 out of 63 cities, with only 46 percent recovery. But at least we fare better than Toronto, which sits at 58 with 42 percent recovery.

Lookout’s thoughts: This data shouldn’t be that surprising. The Granville Entertainment District has fallen into disrepair, with businesses and other places closing, coupled with a higher business vacancy due to people working from home.

• Yes, but: Vancouver’s neighbourhoods like Strathcona, Kitsilano and Commerical are thriving. If you attended Khatsahlano Street Party, then you’ve seen it firsthand.

Digging deeper: One interesting tidbit is cities dealing with housing crises appear to be fairing worst, with San Francisco, Toronto, Seattle and Vancouver all fairing poorly.

Looking ahead: Mayor Ken Sim has identified making Vancouver a fun place as a core part of his agenda. The Granville Entertainment District revitalization plan is just one example of how the city is rethinking the downtown core.

VIDEO OF THE DAY

WEEKEND GUIDE

Create! Art Zone | Strathcona Park | Saturday, 11 am | Drop-in art activities, demos, a shop, food trucks and a beer garden. A perfect family fun event | Free, plus cost of beer garden

Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Days Festival 2023 | Ambleside Beach, West Vancouver | Saturday, 12 pm | Celebrate 100 years since the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh villages amalgamated, with music performances, food trucks, an artisan market and traditional Indigenous performances | Free

Honda Celebration of Lights | English Bay | Saturday, 10 pm | Enjoy the popular massive fireworks show, but be sure to get there early | Free

Jurrasic Park in Concert | Vancouver Symphony | Today and Saturday, 7 pm | Come see Jurassic Park with a full symphony orchestra playing the music | Tickets start at $43

Whitecaps vs Club León | BC Place | Today, 7:30 pm | The Leagues Cup begins with a game against the Mexican team | Tickets start at $30

Fish and Sips | Vancouver Aquarium | Friday, 7 pm | Ever wanted to drink at the Aquarium? Well now’s your chance with this adult-only event with drinks and food | Tickets $55

Bentall Centre’s Neighbourhood Patio pop-up | Bentall Centre | Today, 3 pm-7 pm | Grab a table and enjoy music and food | RSVP

Surrey Fusion Festival | Holland Park, Surrey | Saturday and Sunday, 11 am | Live entertainment, local performers, with a focus on dance and different food cultures. It’s a huge event worth visiting | Free

Coming soon

Harmony Arts Fest | Throughout West Vancouver | August 4-13 | A celebration of music and visual arts, with kids' art workshops and family-friendly activities | Free

MEME OF THE DAY

A funny one refers to the truck that hit an overpass on southbound Highway 99 in Delta, an increasingly common problem and one the province plans to crack down on. [CTV]

FOOD

Reviews

One of the most authentic Thai places in Vancouver is also very affordable. Chad Thai is located at 2010 E Hastings St. in Burnaby and is definitely a hidden gem. [Daily Hive]

If you’re craving some fried chicken, then Riley’s Buttermilk Crispy Chicken is definitely worth tasting.

Openings

The popular Spanish-influenced restaurant Bar Oso is back open, which specializes in small plates and tapas. [Scout]

Toloache Mexican Kitchen replaced La Taqueria at 586 Horby St. and has soft opened, with lunch and eventually breakfast. Yum! [Daily Hive]

A seafood and cocktail bar called Bar Bravo at 4194 Fraser St. is set to replace Ubuntu Canteen. No date has been set but it’s slated to open soon. [Vancouver is Awesome]

News you can use

If you like wine, check out This is Wine School’s Natural Wine Class where you learn all about the popular wine trend. [Scout]

Lee’s Donuts continues to expand with a new location at 199 Water St. in Gastown. No date has been announced yet. [Vancouver is Awesome]

HISTORY

This photo is from 1950 at King Edward and Main. Does anyone else really want to go here?

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Would you embark on a Dungeons and Dragons-style quest from an ad on Craiglist in Vancouver? These people did.

• The Nanaimo-Vancouver fast ferry will launch in mid-August. [Nanaimo Now]

• There’s a public art sculpture from Squamish First Nation artists at Park Royal. [Vancouver is Awesome]

• Well, this is handy. Someone has made an app to see easily see when someone cancels at a BC Park, which should make it easier to book. [Reddit]

GAME TIME

Congrats to Ruth who correctly guessed the VancouverGuesser intersection near Granville.

Today’s Vancouver Wordle is a longer word, but should be easy if you read the newsletter. Play it now.