HomeDiagramsDatabaseMapsForum About
     

Go Back   SkyscraperPage Forum > Regional Sections > Canada


Reply

 
Thread Tools Display Modes
     
     
  #1  
Old Posted Apr 7, 2012, 8:30 PM
BIMBAM's Avatar
BIMBAM BIMBAM is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 545
The differences between American and Canadian cities actually are quite significant and explain this situation. I'll list the reasons.

1. Safer city centres that comes with low crime.
2. High Real estate prices. Condos are more economical when prices are high, and the US is coming out of real estate implosion.
3. Our city centres are vibrant, much less of them got turned into parking lots because we lacked the "White Flight" phenomenon during the late twentieth century.
4. Our public schools have a different funding structure so inner city schools are perfectly acceptable. Bad inner city schools int he US forces any family that can afford it to move to the suburbs.
5. High Canadian gas prices.
6. Great public transportation in the major city centres, but super congested, relatively smaller urban freeways which disincentivize people from sprawling further because they don't want the commute.
7. Greenbelts in Vancouver, Ottawa and Toronto (Ottawa's being the least effective).

Note that the Condos are being built in Canada's big cities, but smaller centres are continuing to sprawl with single family homes.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #2  
Old Posted Apr 7, 2012, 8:32 PM
Innsertnamehere's Avatar
Innsertnamehere Innsertnamehere is online now
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Hamilton
Posts: 11,527
Canada has always been a more left leaning-socialist country. Becuase of this, canadians are more willing to take public transit, and live in multi family dwellings, provided the dwellings were in the right location.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #3  
Old Posted Apr 7, 2012, 8:51 PM
Pavlov's Avatar
Pavlov Pavlov is offline
Khan
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Kingston, Ontario
Posts: 4,915
Quote:
Originally Posted by Urban2Core View Post
I read somewhere that multi-family homes (townhomes, apartments, condos, etc.) account for 70% of all new home construction in Canada, while only 30% of new home construction is single family homes

Conversely, new home construction in the US is 65% single family and 35% multi-family.

So why such a difference in construction on either side of the border? Our societies aren't that much different from one another. USA as a country has much higher population density than Canada. So shouldn't Canada be the one building more single family homes?
Your Canadian statistics are incorrect. This publication from the federal government predicts that 2012 will see construction start on 82,700 single family units and 107,300 multi-family units in Canada. So this year, the ratio will be more like 44% single family and 56% multi-family.
__________________
Confucius says:
With coarse rice to eat, with water to drink, and my bended arm for a pillow - I have still joy in the midst of these things. Riches and honors acquired by unrighteousness are to me as a floating cloud.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #4  
Old Posted Apr 7, 2012, 8:55 PM
caltrane74's Avatar
caltrane74 caltrane74 is offline
gettin' rich!
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Toronto
Posts: 34,167
Last year 28,000 condo (highrise units) were sold in Toronto.

That is just crazy..
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #5  
Old Posted Apr 7, 2012, 9:16 PM
flar's Avatar
flar flar is offline
..........
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Southwestern Ontario
Posts: 15,170
Most of the people buying semis and townhomes in the suburbs would buy single detached if they could afford to.
__________________
RECENT PHOTOS:
TORONTOSAN FRANCISCO ROCHESTER, NYHAMILTONGODERICH, ON WHEATLEY, ONCOBOURG, ONLAS VEGASLOS ANGELES
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #6  
Old Posted Apr 7, 2012, 9:31 PM
someone123's Avatar
someone123 someone123 is offline
hähnchenbrüstfiletstüc
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 33,677
Quote:
Originally Posted by BIMBAM View Post
Note that the Condos are being built in Canada's big cities, but smaller centres are continuing to sprawl with single family homes.
It depends on the city. Halifax was 63% multi-unit in 2010 according to the municipal website. The average for the past 10 years seems to be about 50/50. I would guess that there's a lot of variation between the different smaller cities in Canada.

I am only speculating but I think the cost difference is the most important, followed by differences in planning and then social and cultural issues. Houses and cars are amazingly cheap in many US cities. The US also has a lot of car-oriented infrastructure compared to Canada, and poorer transit on average.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #7  
Old Posted Apr 7, 2012, 11:44 PM
eternallyme eternallyme is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 5,243
I find that in Canada, the big metros have a more European mindset while the smaller cities and rural areas are no different than anything like that in the US...
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #8  
Old Posted Apr 8, 2012, 12:02 AM
Doug's Avatar
Doug Doug is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 10,047
Canada's condo stats are skewed by large numbers being purchased by non residents as investments, especially in Toronto and Vancouver.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #9  
Old Posted Apr 8, 2012, 3:35 AM
Nicko999's Avatar
Nicko999 Nicko999 is offline
Go Chiefs!
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Montreal
Posts: 19,006
Quote:
Originally Posted by Urban2Core View Post
I read somewhere that multi-family homes (townhomes, apartments, condos, etc.) account for 70% of all new home construction in Canada, while only 30% of new home construction is single family homes

Conversely, new home construction in the US is 65% single family and 35% multi-family.

So why such a difference in construction on either side of the border? Our societies aren't that much different from one another. USA as a country has much higher population density than Canada. So shouldn't Canada be the one building more single family homes?
But the US can use all of its land territory while Canada is limited to the southernmost areas because nobody wants to go live in the North.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #10  
Old Posted Apr 8, 2012, 5:14 PM
SHOFEAR's Avatar
SHOFEAR SHOFEAR is offline
DRINK
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: City Of Champions
Posts: 8,219
Quote:
Originally Posted by flar View Post
Most of the people buying semis and townhomes in the suburbs would buy single detached if they could afford to.
Bingo.

It's the subtleties of economic differences, not cultural ones.
__________________
Lana. Lana. Lana? LANA! Danger Zone
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #11  
Old Posted Apr 8, 2012, 10:06 PM
Waterlooson's Avatar
Waterlooson Waterlooson is offline
mañana is my busiest day
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Los Cabos&BC
Posts: 2,146
Quote:
Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere View Post
Canada has always been a more left leaning-socialist country.
That's not true... Prior to 1960 the reverse was true... Read "Fearful Symmetry" by Brian Crowley on this topic.... The US was more into the welfare state than Canada.
__________________
"The separatist option is not the bogeyman it used to be.... maybe I'd think of wanting to make Quebec a country." Justin Trudeau - making his father turn in his grave.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #12  
Old Posted Apr 8, 2012, 10:08 PM
Waterlooson's Avatar
Waterlooson Waterlooson is offline
mañana is my busiest day
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Los Cabos&BC
Posts: 2,146
Quote:
Originally Posted by BIMBAM View Post
The differences between American and Canadian cities actually are quite significant and explain this situation. I'll list the reasons.

1. Safer city centres that comes with low crime.
2. High Real estate prices. Condos are more economical when prices are high, and the US is coming out of real estate implosion.
3. Our city centres are vibrant, much less of them got turned into parking lots because we lacked the "White Flight" phenomenon during the late twentieth century.
4. Our public schools have a different funding structure so inner city schools are perfectly acceptable. Bad inner city schools int he US forces any family that can afford it to move to the suburbs.
5. High Canadian gas prices.
6. Great public transportation in the major city centres, but super congested, relatively smaller urban freeways which disincentivize people from sprawling further because they don't want the commute.
7. Greenbelts in Vancouver, Ottawa and Toronto (Ottawa's being the least effective).

Note that the Condos are being built in Canada's big cities, but smaller centres are continuing to sprawl with single family homes.
I think you are pretty much spot on.
__________________
"The separatist option is not the bogeyman it used to be.... maybe I'd think of wanting to make Quebec a country." Justin Trudeau - making his father turn in his grave.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #13  
Old Posted Apr 9, 2012, 4:54 PM
Coldrsx's Avatar
Coldrsx Coldrsx is offline
Community Guy
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Canmore, AB
Posts: 66,669
Cause we like all love each other more eh.

Many factors at play here, including some very good observations above. Lifestyle and societal influences are at play here more than in the US. Many babyboomers are opting for condos and buying houses or condos in PHX/FLO etc. As for us younger-ish folks, I think we feel much safer living centrally than in many US centres. Schools, as mentioned, are also quite an important factor.
__________________
"The destructive effects of automobiles are much less a cause than a symptom of our incompetence at city building" - Jane Jacobs 1961ish

Wake me up when I can see skyscrapers
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #14  
Old Posted Apr 9, 2012, 5:04 PM
NetMapel's Avatar
NetMapel NetMapel is offline
Hello World
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,521
because young people like to live close to work (downtown area) so they can cut down commute time. Plus, more time to hang out with friends and such after work because of that
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #15  
Old Posted Apr 9, 2012, 9:39 PM
kw5150's Avatar
kw5150 kw5150 is offline
Here and There
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Calgary
Posts: 5,807
Love these stats; very promising. Great cities do not happen without great density. I had to drive into the burbs the other day and I can tell ya.....they are lifeless. I dont know how anyone in their 20-30s with no kids would ever want to live in the middle of nowhere where you have to drive to everything.

Bring on the density!
__________________
Renfrew, Calgary, Alberta.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #16  
Old Posted Apr 9, 2012, 10:06 PM
Coldrsx's Avatar
Coldrsx Coldrsx is offline
Community Guy
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Canmore, AB
Posts: 66,669
'I dont know how anyone in their 20-30s with no kids would ever want to live in the middle of nowhere where you have to drive to everything.'

SS appliances, hardwood flooring, granite and 2000sqft

Perceived 'value' for money, simple as that. Ex.

Me:

770sqft downtown edmonton
5mins walk to work
95% of stuff i need within a 5 block radius
have a car but rarely use it, only keep it cause s2000s are fun to track
$285,000

Friend A

1200sqft condo in the burbs
30-40mins drive each way to work (both of them work downtown), $170/month parking
They have a macs about a 5min drive away/15min walk, everything else is a 'must drive', even if 5-10mins away.
They have 2 cars
$289,000
__________________
"The destructive effects of automobiles are much less a cause than a symptom of our incompetence at city building" - Jane Jacobs 1961ish

Wake me up when I can see skyscrapers
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #17  
Old Posted Apr 10, 2012, 6:07 AM
The Gibbroni The Gibbroni is offline
BANNED
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Montréal
Posts: 612
Love of condos or can't afford an alternative?
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #18  
Old Posted Apr 10, 2012, 8:06 AM
freeweed's Avatar
freeweed freeweed is offline
Home of Hyperchange
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Dynamic City, Alberta
Posts: 17,566
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Gibbroni View Post
Love of condos or can't afford an alternative?
Either are possible, depending on the person.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #19  
Old Posted Apr 10, 2012, 11:05 AM
Symz's Avatar
Symz Symz is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Windsor, On.
Posts: 1,861
It really depends on where you live. For example I know Windsor is not a metropolis, but commute times are reasonable and housing is cheap. So there is not a lot of love for condos in this city, or even this county for that matter. Condos usually attract older empty-nesters that don't want the hassle of maintaining a home anymore. Most people want a yard, their own drive-way, etc.

That's how life still goes around here.

I had thought about a condo, tried to convince my fiancee, but she steered me into a house which is fine. We don't live in the suburbs but an established part of the city with a little village type shopping district just 1 block away so we can walk to banks, Tim Horton's etc. No groceries though, still have to drive for that. So I have a 1100sq ft house on a 30' x 96' lot, driveway that fits 3-4 cars, semi-detached garage, 2 trees in the front, one's a big ol' maple. It's nice. We're also just an 8-10 minute walk from the waterfront and a beautiful park. Paid $138,000.

So I think it just depends on where you live. Condos in a big city I can totally understand. I couldn't stand commuting in a big city every day for the length of time that is required.

Last edited by Symz; Apr 10, 2012 at 10:49 PM.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #20  
Old Posted Apr 10, 2012, 2:08 PM
Pavlov's Avatar
Pavlov Pavlov is offline
Khan
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Kingston, Ontario
Posts: 4,915
Quote:
Originally Posted by Symz View Post
I had thought about a condo, tried to convince my fiancee, but she steered me into a house which is fine. We don't live in the suburbs but an established part of the city with a little village type shopping district just 1 block away so we can walk to banks, Tim Horton's etc. No groceries though, still have to drive for that. So I have a 11sq ft house on a 30' x 96' lot, driveway that fits 3-4 cars, semi-detached garage, 2 trees in the front, one's a big ol' maple. It's nice. We're also just an 8-10 minute walk from the waterfront and a beautiful park. Paid $138,000.
Wow. That is amazing.
__________________
Confucius says:
With coarse rice to eat, with water to drink, and my bended arm for a pillow - I have still joy in the midst of these things. Riches and honors acquired by unrighteousness are to me as a floating cloud.
Reply With Quote
     
     
This discussion thread continues

Use the page links to the lower-right to go to the next page for additional posts
 
 
Reply

Go Back   SkyscraperPage Forum > Regional Sections > Canada
Forum Jump


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 11:30 PM.

     
SkyscraperPage.com - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.