Real Estate

The latest RBC affordability index report indicates what we already know: Vancouver still remains the least affordable housing market in the country. The trend of condo and urban living will continue not only because it’s more affordable, but the younger generation is only now seeing the perils of suburban living.

We first reported about another new office tower proposed for Vancouver, known simply as 320 Granville for now. It’s still in the design approval process, however, if approved, will stand at 32 storeys tall and contain 380,000 square feet of office space. 

We did a double take on this when we saw it, but as it turns out – they didn’t leave out any zeros, it was no typo. This 1989-built 613 sq. ft. condo with one bedroom, one bathroom, and one parking space on North Templeton Drive in East Vancouver is selling for just $99,000. Could this possibly be the cheapest apartment in the City of Vancouver?

Arts patronage has a long history with real estate developers, and many large developments are mandated by the city to pay for public art installations. But a small developer without any city-ordained mandate is taking the idea of arts patronage in a new and different direction.

In November of 2012, the Empire Granville 7 Cinema closed its doors for good. At the time it was not known what would become of the old theatre, but now we know that it will become three individual retail units.

The arts and cultural community is facing a very significant blow with the sale of The Centre for the Performing Arts to Westside Church. The 1,800-seat theatre located across the street from Vancouver Public Library’s Central Branch has been the home of many events, concerts, musicals, and festivals. All bookings August onwards have been canceled with the evangelical church taking ownership, sending event organizers scrambling to find a new venue. This also includes the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF), which had planned on screening three films a day at the theatre throughout its 16-day run this fall.

It is not well known considering how it is tucked into a rural corner of Metro Vancouver – out of sight and mind from much of the region’s population. Last year, Tsawwassen First Nation overwhelmingly approved major deals to build two large shopping centres on band land near the Tsawwassen B.C. Ferries terminal. One of these malls will be similar to the size of Burnaby’s Metropolis at Metrotown.

With urban amenities nearby and adjacent to Mosquito Creek and the Trans Canada Trail, Adera’s Remix in North Vancouver is designed for a sustainable West Coast lifestyle. Remix, a collection of 60 urban apartment homes atop a vibrant social hub and located along the newly revitalized Marine Drive district, includes a unique blend of retail shops, public outdoor space and natural elements.

Small living spaces seems to be the trend these days as housing costs continue to hover around the unaffordable range. The smallest condos in Canada are currently being built in Surrey and Vancouver is also home to some micro lofts but even those are out of some peoples price ragne. Hence,  renting is a viable option and just to provide some insight as to how far your dollar will go in some places, here is a Craigslist ad for a micro Gastown “penthouse” for rent.