Vancouver's Next Big Thing: Multiplexes on Your Side Street!

Get ready, Vancouver! The future of housing is here, and it's all about multiplexes. We're not just talking about your usual single-detached homes anymore. A leading Vancouver developer has a clear message: if we want to cater to a broader range of homebuyers, multiplexes are the way to go.

In 2024, Vancouver is set to reshape its low-density residential streets. These areas, traditionally filled with detached houses, have seen skyrocketing housing prices and dwindling populations. It's a trend that's caught the attention of governments and city planners alike.

Last fall, Vancouver made a game-changing move by approving new zoning for "missing middle" housing. This allows for more diverse housing options like multiplexes – buildings with up to six homes on a single lot. The response? Builders are all in! In just the first month, the city received 19 development applications for these multiplexes, translating to a potential 84 new strata homes.

Replacing single-family houses with these multiplexes means more homes in the same space – think triplexes or even a second building at the back of a lot. This isn't just a Vancouver thing, either. Other B.C. cities like Victoria, Kelowna, and Kimberley are on board, and with new policies from the B.C. government, we could see this change in every city with a population over 5,000.

Architect Michael Lu from Lineform Architecture, who's behind four of these new projects, is all for it. He's designed detached houses and duplexes before, but this shift to multiplexes offers a more certain and streamlined process. Plus, it's about bringing life back to these neighbourhoods. Lu notes that his own low-density area in Burnaby is "pretty quiet," with few kids or Halloween trick-or-treaters. More density could mean more vibrancy and community spirit.

So, Vancouverites, keep your eyes peeled. Multiplexes might just be the new norm on your side street!