Quote:
Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut
Several census estimates... and/or a bit of number-crunching I did when I was bored.
It's true that the States uses an unorthodox means of drawing boundaries, so with the metro population, I'm using "Greater (City Name)" or "Metropolitan Area;" my guess, "Combined Statistical Area" is the equivalent of Lions Bay to Hope.
N.A. CITY DENSITY
1) New York City, 10,890/sq km
2) San Francisco, 7,170/sq km
3) Mexico City, 6,000/sq km
4) Vancouver, 5,493/sq km
5) Boston, 5,368/sq km
6) Chicago, 4,600/sq km
(Toronto's at 4,149, somewhere below Chicago)
N.A. METRO DENSITY
1) Mexico City 2,469/sq km
2) Montreal, 890/sq km
3) Vancouver, 855/sq km
4) Toronto, 849/sq km
But don't just take my word for it, feel free to search for better numbers, or ones that I missed.
Note that San Fran is a more vibrant city with higher wages. Right now, we're busy attracting the "code monkey" kind of tech worker.
But I'm mostly referring to startups - even Google and Facebook began with nothing. And we sure as hell won't get any future Googles or Facebooks with these land costs.
|
Wow, Vancouver has a really really low population density when compared to other places, even more so for a place constrained by geography and national/jurisdictional boundaries. With so many people wanting to live here, coupled with the very restrictive development policies of this City, it's no wonder that housing prices are going through the roof!
Boosting supply will definitely help with the affordability here. If CoV can zone more areas for affordable rental buildings, we will definitely be able to see more people able to live in this City. For instance, the City can partner with a developer to build 4 blocks of 50 story apartments in places like the empty parking lot next to Mc Donalds at Olympic Village. That alone can easily supply 1600 long term flats for people to rent. Make these units affordable so that people can save up to finally own their own place. The neighbourhood does not have to be a boring "commie block" type. It can be well designed with shops and markets, perhaps a theatre like what we have at the Marine Gateway, etc.
Instead, our vision for the future is the very low density modular housing. What a joke!
We really have a backward visionless City government, and there's no argument to it.