census 2011

[red-paladin]

However, blocks of single family housing does get bought up for redevelopment in Vancouver and elsewhere, WC Central Park being just one example. So I understand that it's not as easy as buying an old warehouse, and I understand there are community plans and NIMBYs, but I don't know why development can happen nearly anywhere else, but not there.

[jlousa]

There were owners that had multiple homes there, making it easier to acquire. Also a land acquistion company went in and assemblied the lots over the course of a decade+. That is a lot of money tied up for a long time, very few developers would ever do that so that's where land assembliers come in, but they expect to be compensated for their work and will only do that where the upside is quite large.
The other issue with acquiring sfh's is dealing with misinformed owners, when buying com/ind land the owners know the game and what the property is worth, buying sfh's you have some people that know but most that don't understand CACs/land lift and expect the moon making it impossible.

[cabotp]

Originally Posted by jlousa

There were owners that had multiple homes there, making it easier to acquire. Also a land acquistion company went in and assemblied the lots over the course of a decade+. That is a lot of money tied up for a long time, very few developers would ever do that so that's where land assembliers come in, but they expect to be compensated for their work and will only do that where the upside is quite large.
The other issue with acquiring sfh's is dealing with misinformed owners, when buying com/ind land the owners know the game and what the property is worth, buying sfh's you have some people that know but most that don't understand CACs/land lift and expect the moon making it impossible.

I was wondering how they purchased those lots for the Wall Centre. Most developers or land acquistion companies would not be willing to sit around on bought land and waiting for other home owners to buy. Which is why I feel that a areas like 29th ave and nanaimo haven't developed as we would wish.

Although I do wonder if the city were to simply rezone would that get home owners to sell. Or better yet does rezoning force a homeowner to sell?

[logan5]

Originally Posted by cabotp

Although I do wonder if the city were to simply rezone would that get home owners to sell. Or better yet does rezoning force a homeowner to sell?

That's what I'm wondering.

And with single family homes, could you not build an apartment building on 3 lots, which would seem easy to assemble. Or drawing from the Norquay Village plan where 2 lots can be converted into 9 stacked townhouse units.

The area between Kingsway and the Skytrain line would be a good area to develop high density, for the stretch running from Nanaimo to Joyce stations. Norquay Village is a start I suppose, but it doesn't appear to be enough considering the high price of ownership in Vancouver.