Sometimes we forget to stop and appreciate just how good we have it here on the West Coast. Some of the most beautiful real estate in the world. This house is located in the Quilchena subarea of Vancouver West. The discovery of homes such as this, is one aspect I love about the profession. Even moreso, working with people that find the same joy in the process.
The BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) intends to introduce a mandatory "cooling off" period for real estate services in 2022. The first Canadian jurisdiction to enact legislation for all residential real estate sales.
One of the areas under consideration for redevelopment, is False Creek South—80% of which is owned by the City of Vancouver through its Property Endowment Fund, made up of co-op and non-market housing, leasehold stratas, and market rental homes. The remainder of the land is owned by other levels of government, the Squamish First Nation, or private owners. There hasn’t been any new construction of housing since False Creek South’s inception in the 1970s and 1980s.
Much of the land was leased by the City via 60-year leases, and with most of the leases expiring in the next 15 to 25 years, existing residents are rightfully experiencing significant stress after more than a decade of meetings with the City as per Councillor Colleen Hardwick. Hardwick recently filed a motion regarding the future of False Creek South, requesting that the City immediately proceed with lease extensions and renewals for all strata and co-op leaseholds in the neighborhood respectively.
Pictured above is an aerial view of Downtown Vancouver and West End in the 1970’s, facing south, with Burrard Street and Granville Street bridges, and law courts under construction.
What’s striking is not only how the density has significantly increased over the years, but the amount of greenery that has been added in neighborhoods like the West End—part of the Greenest City 2020 Action Plan. The city’s green buildings goal and targets require all buildings constructed from 2020 onward to be carbon neutral in operations—implementing the greenest building code in North America.
As of July 2010, all new building rezonings in Vancouver are required to meet the building industry’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold standard for environmental performance.
One of the more notable financing tools and incentives to green existing buildings, is the development of the Home Energy Loan Program, which provides homeowners with affordable financing for energy efficiency upgrades. The money saved on energy bills can significantly offset your loan payments.
I had the pleasure of going to a theatre again over the weekend—the first time since Covid hit. Park Theatre is one of Vancouver’s oldest, which opened in 1941, and passed through multiple owners since being acquired by Cineplex Entertainment.
What I loved is how they managed to preserve the charm of movie night. Still somewhat a hole in the wall, but surprisingly well-maintained through a $300,000 renovation made by its previous owner. It features an 18 x 36 foot screen, and a small concession stand that will transport you back to the golden age of cinemas.
Park Theatre is a landmark in Cambie Village, also known as the “Heart of Vancouver”, in one of the city’s primary heritage boulevards. It’s connected to main transit lines, including the 99 B-Line and the Canada Line Skytrain.
You feel a real sense of community in Cambie, with places for residents to live, work, shop, and play. The city’s Cambie Corridor Plan provides a framework to guide change and growth over the next 30 years, with plans to add over 30,000 new homes to double the population.
Coming soon to the coveted Coal Harbour neighborhood is a visually striking development offering a new paradigm of living. Fifteen Fifteen is located just across the street from another up-and-coming architectural masterpiece, Alberni by Kengo Kuma.
Designed by globally renowned architect, Ole Scheeren, Fifteen Fifteen is characterized by glass-enclosed cantilevers reaching out towards the Harbour, North Shore mountains, and city, drawing the natural setting into the privacy of personal space.
Marpole is one of Vancouver's oldest communities, split up into four sub-areas of Granville, Hudson, Oak, and Cambie. It's a bustling gateway from the south that visitors first encounter via the international airport (YVR). The neighborhood has an eclectic mix of shopping, entertainment, and housing in the form of apartment buildings under 5 storeys (50.1%), newer mixed-use buildings up to 12 storeys (9.1%), single-family (20%), and detached duplex (11.7%) according to 2016 census data.
Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking. – Marcus Aurelius Year of the Rat The Lunar New Year took place on January 25, 2020, and marked the beginning…
Pictured above is the green roof on the Trump International Hotel and Tower Vancouver. It appears no detail has been overlooked, which is to be expected when the market value of its residential units is $1,600+ Providing a view of something more…
A recent meetup brought together Vancouver’s Airbnb community, hosted by Aaron Zifkin (Regional Director – Americas Operations) and Alex Dagg (Public Policy Manager, Canada). The event was geared toward shedding some light on where the regulations stand when it comes to…
