The Tale of Three Cities

January 27, 2011 — Katharine

The Growing Cities Report by Toronto-based Neptis Foundation compared the growth of Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto, as reported in Calgary Herald, a Calgary-based newsletter.


Image Source neptis.org

The report focused on growth in in respect to the city’s plan and policy, and the similarities and differences of the three cities being compared.

Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto have all experienced growth in 1991-2001, but the cities differ in many ways:

  1. Each city if governed by a different configuration of provincial, regional and municipal institutions for land use   planning, policy and infrastructure provision.
  2. Each city has a different physical context (barriers to urban development). Calgary and Toronto have a small water body in the province, while Vancouver is not only by the sea, but also attached to the US border, making the Vancouver developing area more condensed.
  3. Each city has a different reputation in the planning community. Calgary and Toronto are criticized for their scarse developmental planning whereas Vancouver is considered an ideal in planning for sustainable development.

Primarily, Calgary’s development is outside urban areas the report calls greenfield development, and they’re mostly single-family homes. Contrastingly, Vancouver’s developments are mostly intensification, adding in already urbanized and populated areas. Instead of single-family homes, Vancouver favours highrises and condominiums to maximize the growth. The statistics show that Vancouver’s growth in urban land is less than the growth in population and housing, meaning that we are growing in people and available residential choices while we’re not using much more land. Calgary’s case is exactly the opposite. Toronto’s statistics is close to par.


Calgary-Photo Source esl-languages.com

Calgary’s urban fringe is a result of consumer preference for low-density housing, resulting in no particular areas or communities being developed. Whereas in Vancouver, we reognize a certain cities growing drastically in the past years, like Richmond, Burnaby and Coquitlam.

To read the full article, visit Calgary Herald‘s Website.

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Real Estate Stats Doesn’t Affect Vancouver’s Appeal

January 25, 2011 — Katharine

According to the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver, Vancouver’s real estate sales fell in 2010 drastically by 42% from 2009. The desire for buyers to own property in Vancouver decreases due to the low United States currency exchange rates. Buyers do not mind going south of border for a cheaper home with the same climates and similar geographic location.


Photo from peteraab.ca

However, Vancouver is still the most desirable city to live in…in the world! A city can have a number of traits that calls for a heavenly home, including political stability, culture, environment, climate, education, healthcare, geographic location, income, infrastructure, recreational activities, and last but not least, housing. Can we not agree that Vancouver has most of them if not ALL of them?!

Vancouver has a natural way to outshine surrounding cities. Not only do we have beautiful weather and friendly people, we also have amazing communities. The standard of living has attracted many different people to come to live from different countries, thus adding the numerous different colourful cultures to the city. The multiculturalism is now a dominent characteristic of Vancouver!

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The Specials and Their Big Come-Back!

January 18, 2011 — Katharine

It’s like the Michael Jackson of houses, who says old-school Specials can’t come back big and glam?

Vancouver Specials were introduced in the Vancouver area in the 1960′s when new Canadians favoured an efficient way to buy their new first home. Usually the Specials have features like a balcone across the front of the house on the second floor, low-pitched roofs, brick/stone finishes, kitchens on both levels, self-sustained bottom floor with seperate bedrooms. The floor plan is very similar in all the Specials, and they are very simple and practical, leading to popularity in the old days for the new Canadians can lower their costs to rent out the second floor.  In the 1990′s they were criticized as “monster homes” as they ruined the aesthetics of the neighbourhoods with its dull and unpretty look. Style and viewline were obvious not the Specials’ priority.


Vancouver Special – before Renovation

The boxiness and spaciousness marks the versatility of the Specials, and thus creative designers and homeowners saw them as a “perfect candidate for architectural makeovers”-Adele Weder, Globe and Mail, Sept 10, 2010.  Architect Stephanie Robb transformed her own home in the East end from a double-suite Special into a single-family modernized home, and won  a Lieutenant-Governer’s Award for Architecture.

Many people are interested in a makeover for their Specials due to its new recognition and popularity. The volume and simple floor plans allows the designers and homeowners a lot of creative space for renovation.


Same Special – after Renovation!

VictorEric has done one of these transformations. Some new and stylish features include an expanded kitchen with marble-top island, opening dining area with backdoor into the rear patio allowing a lot of light into the house, and fireplace at the ensuite tub to add modernism to home.

For the full project portfolio on Vancouver Special Renovation please go to link:http://victoreric.com/renovations/barjaktarovic

Showing appreciation for the new design and the conservation of old buildings, the Vancouver Heritage Foundation holds annual Vancouver Special Tours in town. This year the event takes place on Saturday September 24th. Details: http://www.vancouverheritagefoundation.org/projects/vancouver_special.html 

Go get them old-school Specials!

For more information and articles on the topic:
Article frm Metro News
Article on canada.com
Library of Images

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