In this entry I would like to explore the housing situation in the Renfrew-Collingwood area. The R-C vision identifies housing as one of its highlights and has worked with the community to develop a plan for a livable and sustainable future. Residents who live in the R-C area have considered the types of housing they would like future developments to include.
The types housing that have been identified as desirable are duplexes, cottages, sixplexes, row houses and low-rise apartments. Residents have also expressed a desire to maintain existing single dwelling homes and rental units and protect the integrity of character homes. Today there is capacity for only a few types of additional housing units in the community. Very few additional single family lots are available. Under existing zoning, some apartments can be built in the Joyce Station area or above stores in the commercial areas, primarily on Kingsway. In addition, the existing zoning allows additional rental suites in the single family areas of the community. In total, the capacity under existing zoning stands at over 2,300 more housing units, with about two thirds in apartments and one third in additional rental suites
City Planners predict that by 2021 Renfrew-Collingwood’s existing residents will have created the demand for almost 3,500 (27%) more households. Today’s children will grow-up and have their own families; some couples will separate and become two households. Some will move away, but others will want to stay in Renfrew-Collingwood. Besides the increased housing demand from existing residents as they age, people will also move to Vancouver from elsewhere and some will settle in the community. But new housing can have a large impact on the livability of the area.
After several polls and community planning sessions, residents did not want additional people to reduce the level of service existing residents enjoy with parks and other community facilities. I can identify with this. There is a nice but small park in my neighborhood which used to be a nice place to sit and read or walk my puppy. About 2 weeks ago 2 new low-rise apartments opened and since then the park is absolutely crazy. There are people there until late into the night and I cannot sleep with my window open anymore. I am also noticing a dramatic increase in traffic which I am sure will have future impacts. In fact residents identified concerns about potential parking and traffic impacts arising from additional units. As a result, each proposal for a new housing type has been made conditional not only on an increase in community facilities and programs needed to serve any population growth generated by the new housing type but also on an assurance that parking and\traffic impacts would be addressed. It will be interesting to see this develop as more units are added. Thus far I have not see additional facilities or traffic issues addressed but it is an issue I would like to explore further.

You can check out the full housing development plan which includes a breakdown of housing types, desirable areas to develop and the results of votes taken by community and their ideas at

http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/commsvcs/planning/cityplan/Visions/rc/pdf/newhousing.pdf