What Vancouver neighbourhood has the lowest retail rental vacancy rate?

Good morning, 

In typical Vancouver fashion, the weather calls for rain. All week. But at least it’s not Ottawa, where my colleague Robert has informed me it will feel like -40 this week.

We’ve got updates on missing middle housing, big changes for doctors and patients, and whether Vancouer is hell on earth. 

Let’s get to it. 

— Geoff Sharpe

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Weather Report

Friday: 8 🌡️ 6 | 🌧

Saturday: 9 🌡️ 6 | 🌧

Sunday: 9 🌡️ 6 | 🌧

Monday: 9 🌡️ 7 | 🌧

VANCOUVER NUMBERS

🧑‍⚕️ 899: The number of people who received “care” from a woman posing as a perioperative nurse at B.C. Women’s Hospital, according to the Provincial Health Services Authority. [CBC News]

🛏️ $900: How much it will cost you each month to rent in a bed in the middle of someone’s living room in the West End. [Vancouver is Awesome]

🏠 55%: The amount by which Vancouver home sales decreased, compared to last year. [The Canadian Press]

CITY HALL

Commence the housing consultations

What happened: As mentioned in a previous issue of the Lookout, the City of Vancouver is now seeking input on a proposal to allow more “middle housing” (multiplexes up to six units on one lot) throughout the city.

Why now? This comes out of a council update last week on work being done to support new “middle” housing options. Council directed city staff to continue their research, which has now reached the public consultation phase. 

What this could mean: Allowing up to six residences per lot will seem like a big change for residents of low-density neighbourhoods, and no big deal to residents of megatowers or larger complexes downtown. 

• The City is also considering policy options like reducing the maximum square footage of new single family homes built on one lot, which could encourage the building of more multiplexes over mansions in lower density areas.

What people are saying: City planners told council that the current method of megatowners in a core area surrounded by low-density ‘inner suburbs’ is an inefficient use of land. 

• How inefficient? 15% of housing in Vancouver uses half of the available land in the city.

Some urban planners believe the zoning for middle density projects already exists, and the City’s planning division is ragging the puck. 

Have your say: The City is hosting a series of public consultations this month. In-person consultations will be held throughout February, and an online survey can be completed until early March. 

Analysis: When you consider that 50% of Vancouver is low density housing, which most households cannot afford, allowing multiplexes seems like an obvious answer to alleviating some housing woes. This all assumes that newly constructed housing is affordable and accessible, which is never guaranteed. 

• There’s a severe housing shortage in Vancouver, so the results of any change to “middle housing” regulations may just be a drop in the bucket. City Hall’s timeline takes about a year to get a report to council, before an additional public hearing, so any changes wouldn’t be implemented for a while.

BUSINESS

Rental retail recalibration

What’s up: Real estate company Colliers says that there has been an increase in retail vacancy in downtown Vancouver, according to the Globe and Mail. Vacancies are up nearly double since their last mid-year report as the retail sector responds to high-interest rates, inflation, and office workers continuing to work from home.

• The average urban retail vacancy rate is now 4% in downtown Vancouver - up from 2.5% six months ago.

• The average suburban retail vacancy rate dropped from 2.3% to 1% over the same time frame.

• Areas of downtown with higher residential density like Yaletown, Cambie Village, and Davie Village continued to see lower retail vacancy rates. 

What’s down: Traditional downtown high streets like Robson, Alberni, and Water Street saw significant retail vacancy rates, with a 15.4% rate on Robson from Thurlow to Bute. 

• Even with some office workers returning downtown a few days a week, downtown restaurants, stores, and personal service providers are reporting lower demand.

Analysis: It shouldn’t be a surprise that areas of the city that are primarily used for office towers, without significant residential development, are seeing higher rates of retail vacancy, while those with a mix between business and residential use are seeing their retail vacancy rates remain low. 

• Despite this, Colliers says there will always be a desire to have businesses in the downtown core, and is projecting a long-term positive outlook for the retail sector. 

QUICK HITS

🔌 Translink welcomed the first of 15 battery-electrified buses to its fleet this week. Each bus will save the city $40,000 in gasoline costs each year and can travel 150 km on a single charge. [Translink]

😷 Former Alberta Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Deena Hinshaw, who saw Alberta through the COVID-19 pandemic, has been hired on a temporary contract by the B.C. Government as deputy provincial health officer. [CBC News]

💉 Hell on earth? That’s what Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre called the Downtown Eastside. Mayor Ken Sim responded, denouncing the comments and saying he opposed any politician using “vulnerable residents to advance a political agenda.” [Globe and mail]

💰 Groceries may be about to get even more expensive, as holiday price freezes implemented by Loblaws expired at the end of January. [CBC News]

🏒 Vancouver Canuck Ilya Mikheyev underwent a successful knee surgery on Thursday and will begin rehabilitation soon, according to the team. [TSN]

💊 The RCMP seized a large amount of fentanyl and other drugs from what they believe to be a business front for drug trafficking in Surrey. [Vancouver Sun]

HEALTH

New fee structure might make it easier to see a family doctor

What happened: The provincial government introduced a new payment model for family physicians on Wednesday, according to Vancouver is Awesome. It will be an alternative to the traditional fee-for-service structure in B.C. that ✨ might ✨result in a more pleasant experience for doctors and patients alike.

• Roughly one quarter of B.C. family doctors have signed up for the new model, with the province expecting many more to sign on over the coming months.

What’s changed: Under the traditional system, physicians are compensated a flat rate of around $30 per patient, regardless of the complexity of the case or the number of issues the patient needs to discuss.

• This is why some clinics have policies like ‘one issue per appointment’ and some patients feel rushed or have to remind the doctor about their medical history, according to CBC. 

The new system considers time spent with a patient, the complexity of the issue(s) discussed, and includes compensation for ‘indirect patient work’ like reviewing lab results, updating patient files, and other administrative work.

What this means for patients: Provincial Minister of Health Adrian Dix called this change the “most significant reform to primary care in my lifetime in the history of the public health-care system,” according to Global News.  

• Supporters claim it will more fairly compensate doctors and result in changes that will allow patients to spend more time with their doctors discussing more complex issues. 

The province is also banking on the idea that higher compensation for doctors should help to attract and retain talent in B.C., resulting in more British Columbians having access to a family doctor.

What this means for doctors: Compensation has been a pain point for doctors for years, with many arguing that the financial costs of running a clinic are not covered by the traditional compensation model. Countless news stories exist interviewing family doctors who have quit or retired early and said this was a major reason why they chose a different career. 

• Under the new funding model, family physicians will see an increase in compensation from approximately $250,000 to around $385,000 per year.

• The limit on the number of patients has also been removed, according to Global News.

Some important context, though: Typically, family physicians use 30-40% of their compensation to pay clinic overhead costs like rent, administrative salaries, and other costs of operating a business, according to the Vancouver Sun.

EVENTS

Family

Seussical the Musical, Saturday and Sunday at the Michael J. Fox Theatre: Alignment entertainment presents a musical spin on some of Dr. Seuss’ classics. Tickets starting at $33.50

Tween Task Party, tomorrow afternoon: The North Vancouver Library invites kids in grades 4 to 7 to an activity promoting creative literacy, problem solving, innovative thinking, community building, and FUN! Registration is required, but participation is free.

Dinosaur Days, tomorrow afternoon: Dino days are on at the Cloverdale Recreation Centre in Surrey. 6-12 year olds can learn about the fascinating world of dinosaurs and enjoy themed activities including a dinosaur dig. 

Encanto at the Renfrew Branch of the VPL, this afternoon. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Food

Dine Out Vancouver concludes this weekend, so eat now or forever hold your peas (sorry). I know food is Jamie’s domain, but I had great meal last week at Addah in Chinatown. I highly recommend checking it out.

Sports and Nature

NatureClub at UBC’s Beaty Biodiversity Museum - Birds, Reptiles and Amphibians, tomorrow from 10:30am-1pm. Registration is free for members of the UBC community, includes all-day admission to the Beaty museum, and starts at $30 per non-UBC-affiliated adult.

The Running Room’s Hypothermic Half Marathon 2023 on Sunday at Stanley Park: It’s not too late to register for the half marathon or 10k. Registration is $80 and open until Feb 3.

Saturdays with Love, tomorrow at 8:30 at the base of Grouse Mountain: Participation is free but registration is recommended. Arc’teryx will have a gear library on-site.

Fraser Valley Open Cornhole Tournament, tomorrow from 10am - 5pm at Shannon Hall in Surrey. Anyone can play, anyone can win, and winners will receive cash prizes.

The Vancouver International Boat Show, this weekend at BC Place and Granville Island: For those who love to boat and those who love to look at boats. Tickets start at $18.

Arts and Culture

Friday Evenings at the Vancouver Art Gallery, today from 5-8pm: Offers a complimentary drink with admission, which is free for members. 

Dan Mangan tonight at the Fox Cabaret. Tickets to see Juno winning Vancouverite Dan Mangan are sold out but may be available on ticket-selling websites or at the door. 

Vancouver Film School Open House, tomorrow from 10am-1pm: Tour VFS’s facilities and learn more about full- and part-time study programs. Free!

Black History Month at VIFF: Screenings of Descendant, and Saint Omer start this weekend, with other classics and new releases celebrating Black film artists, Black thinkers and activists available throughout February. A 3-ticket pack for BHM films starts at $27 for members and $33 for general admission.

The Vancouver Coins, Stamps & Collectables Show, tomorrow at the Nikkei Centre: 40 tables of coins, stamps, and collectables for you to buy, sell and trade. Free coins for kids. $3 per person, kids under 16 are free.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• The cobalts back, a ship-themed bar and braised beef cheek - here are 10 foord-related things our food editor Jamie loved this month. [Vancity Lookout]

• Be on the lookout for a German Shepherd named Kylie went missing near Spanish Banks. [Reddit]

• A Welsh man returned a 42 year-old t-shirt to the UBC bookstore and got a replacement shirt for free. That’s one hell of a return policy. [Vancouver is Awesome]

• Check out these vintage postcards of Vancouver. [Richmond News]

• City of Vancouver issued an update to information on open warming centres, due to warmer-than-expected temperatures this weekend. [City of Vancouver]

• Metro Vancouver Regional District is asking UBC’s RCMP detachment for more  policing resources at Wreck Beach, despite emergency calls to the nude beach in 2022 being the lowest in recent history. [CTV]

• The only collector of doorknobs in Vancouver has a collection of 450. [Vancouver Sun]

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TWEET OF THE WEEK

Sometimes the wheels on the bus go slide, slide, slide, particularly on a snowy morning on a sharp turn in Coquitlam. It’s not technically Vancouver, but we all know the same thing happens here when it snows. 

GAME TIME

Think you can guess this week’s Vancouver Wordle? It's based on a summer word... Play now. 

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Reddit user Badger-Bernard is taking some truly spectacular photos over on Reddit. Anyone else really wanting to ski this weekend?