Further to this post below, the ever-visual Jens von Bergmann (@vb_jens) shows graphically what growth on the downtown peninsula looked like between the 1986 and 2016 censuses.
But perhaps even more startling than the thousand-percent growth on the peninsula is the drop in population density in a large part of Vancouver – as seen here:
The change-in-people per hectare from 1971 to 2016 is, as expected, predominantly on the west side. But also note the purple in the neighbourhoods from the Downtown East Side to Grandview.
This data is so contrary to the popular memes that it really isn’t part of the conversation about density and growth in the city. Often, when something doesn’t fit the narrative, it just doesn’t get acknowledged.
As well, both right and left use different rationales to achieve the same outcome: a near zero rate of change The former argues for maintaining character and heritage: the latter opposes the gentrification impact new development might bring Both argue that bigger issues must first be addressed.
And that’s why Colleen Hardwick and Jean Swanson have the closest voting records on rezonings for more housing.
Jens adds further comment:
In my mind it’s the disparity on where growth is allocated that is under-appreciated. And how not adding dwellings means we are losing population.
As people get richer, they tend to consume more housing: larger places, smaller households, more spare bedroom. That’s not a bad thing in principle, but if we don’t add housing to make up for it, it leads not just to a change in neighourhood demographics but even to an overall drop in population.
In some low-density areas (parts of the east side) we have managed to at least stem the loss by adding laneway homes and maybe some suites (hard to measure), but that hasn’t been enough in all neighbourhoods. The west side has not seen much uptake on laneways and suites (despite ample construction, mostly 1:1 replacements of SFH).
Grandview-Woodlands, Strathcona and the surrounding area has seen the fastest growth in family income in the city, and we have not added enough housing units to make up for that. So the result is predictably a drop in population. And also an overall shift in neighbourhood demographics that the entire east side has been experiencing.
oh! i was hoping there was going to be some cool thoughts in Jens’s voice! i.e. audio, you know a podcast 🙂 ! oh well, maybe the next time. maybe get jens onto the podcast?!?! just a thought.