Vancouver’s east-west divide: To the east, suites, laneway houses. To the west, detached homes

As British Columbians struggle with a worsening housing crisis, and as governments debate solutions, new figures reveal Vancouver is very lopsided when it comes to building affordable new homes for families.

An analysis of building permits issued by Vancouver city hall for select residential-zoned lots between Jan. 1, 2017, and July 18, 2023, shows east Vancouver is carrying by far the biggest burden in producing affordable homes in low-density neighbourhoods.

On the west side, though, large detached homes for just one family are still thriving.

“There is an east-west divide,” said Andy Yan, director of SFU’s City Program and an adjunct professor of urban studies.

“On the west side, the fact is these are people who can afford building new homes without that secondary unit. And do you just accept it as the inherent economic and social inequalities in housing in Vancouver? Or do you actually adjust it because of principles of housing fairness and diversity that should be happening in all neighbourhoods?”