New car-free townhouse development to be built on Vancouver Island

Pedaling around on a bike instead of taking a car is not uncommon on Vancouver Island, and one group is taking the next step by creating a car-free housing development.

The District of Saanich city council has recently approved a new, more affordable townhouse development just outside of downtown Victoria.

The developer, Urban Thrive, says the complex will consist of nine units and be built on land about a 12 minute bike-ride from the city centre.

“We are right outside downtown, we’re near major employers, right next to like recreation centres and big parks,” company owner Julian West explained.

West says the demand for the project is there, adding the waitlist is already filling up.

“This is a totally under-served market, especially for certain demographics like families and seniors… who don’t own vehicles,” he said.

The group says that by taking out car parking, it can help keep the building costs down, making the location more affordable.

“These are areas that are typically, like a single detached house is more than $1.3 million. It’s just so out of reach for most households,” West explained.

“Add up insurance, gas, depreciation, maintenance and car payments and one thing is clear – owning a car is expensive,” the group said on its website. “Without the need to accommodate car parking, we can put more homes on the same amount of land. This means we can spread out costs and provide homes at a lower price, without compromising quality or livability. It’s basic math and it works.”

Instead of taking up space with cars, West says there will be plenty of room for families to store alternate modes of transportation.

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“We’re way over and above for what’s actually required so that every family can have like a big cargo bike, and like kids bikes, and pedal bikes, and [electric] bikes, just tons of capacity for people who actually live this way and that’s their primary mode of transportation,” he said.

He adds that for times when people need to get around in car, car shares can be a great and practical option.

“So if…you’re carrying something heavy, you borrow a truck. If you’re going out of town and it’s just you, maybe a sedan will work. If I’m going out of town for a couple of days with my family, I’ll take a van,” he said.

West says that the group believes it is the first of its kind in North America. Although the project has been approved, it won’t be finished for at least two years.