A contentious issue when it comes to density in Metro Vancouver (and specifically the COV) is that when it comes to density everyone points out that there is no mid-rise strategy or missing middle housing; and that highrises are expensive to build which drives the prices of housing up.
This thread is simply about discussing mid-rise architecture that you would want to see being built and where.
For purposes of this thread a mid-rise is anything 4-12 floors. And the
missing middle housing is anything 2-3 floors. I wasn't able to find a definition of a mid-rise according to the municipal government so I am going with these definitions. If anyone has a link to a mid-rise definition used by the municipal government, please feel free to correct me
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Also I am not going to be specifying whether I think these designs should be condos, rentals, or social housing complexes as that would totally depend on the neighbourhood. The idea is to introduce density into low-dense areas.
Without further ado, let's talk about the mid-rise/missing middle solutions that we would like to see. I have some "local" examples to share.
Mid-Rise Housing Designs
These purdy looking mid-rises are 4-5 floors tall with retail on the first floor. I really like this kind of architecture (and I am inviting someone to give me the proper name for it) because it feels like a mountain lodge and that it can be introduced into some hardcore SFH neighbourhoods to add a lot more density while enhancing the neighbourhood feel. I'm thinking that a bunch of these should go around Nanaimo station with maybe a townhouse set up on the ground level.
As much as I love Vancouver as a cosmopolitan city, I feel that we should balance our architecture between contemporary styles and styles like this. Oh, by the way, these are in Squamish.
Moving onto something slightly taller, we have this mid-rise that reaches 8 floors. I took this picture myself and I took it from this angle because it was the only angle where we could count up all of the floors and I also wanted to showcase that this kind of architectural style is simple to employ: essentially its style is just defined by the windows and its roof, juxtaposing it from the Cosmopolitan box style mid-rises we see popping up all over Vancouver (don't get me wrong, I'm not hating on the modern boxes). I know that it is a questionable angle but the first floor can be townhouses or retail.
I could see these taller midrises (8-12 floors) being constructed alongside streetes like W. 4th avenue or as the standard transitional density between Skytrain stations along Broadway, Cambie street, as the minimal density on Commercial Drive, or any other major arterial that doesn't have a Skytrain station. Otherwise these taller midrises could also go nicely around Nanaimo Station, 29th Avenue Station, and 22nd Street Station (which have all gotten away murder IMO).
If this looks familiar, it just might be because it is a photo of a resort in Whistler. I think that at the time, I didn't want the front entrance because it looked too resort-y and it would detract from my point that different architectural styles can be simply achieved.
Missing Middle Housing Designs
Moving on from the Mountain-style midrises, I found this one which I think is really SFH friendly. IMO half of the reason why people oppose increased density is because the style of the complex clashes too much with the SFH's. I took this picture from Mount Pleasant around Guelph Park.
I could see this style of complex fitting into SFH heavy streets like East 10th Avenue or in various places within the Arbutus Ridge that are adjacent to major arterials.
I got a special one just for Shaughnessy
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I took this picture last summer in Victoria as I thought that this rowhouse complex was a beautiful way to introduce a little more density into Nimbylands. I'm thinking that it could be nice on streets adjacent to West. 10th and West 4th in Kitsilano.
So yeah, post pictures of mid-rise and missing middle styles that you would like to see developed in Metro Vancouver. I am going to do my best to find more examples of taller (8-12fl) local mid-rises. I know that I haven't touched on other sub-topics of midrises such as the opportunity to use materials for construction (like treated wood, etc) so there is lots to talk about regarding a density solution that doesn't include towers
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