Vancouver mayor’s motion for middle-income housing

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim will bring forward a new motion Wednesday meant to “unlock” more middle-income housing.

If the motion is passed, city staff will expand the mandate of the new Vancouver Housing Development Office to include middle-income housing, as well as non-market and affordable housing, on city-owned properties.

“The shortage of middle-income housing fundamentally threatens the city’s overall sustainability and livability and hinders economic growth and makes it difficult to attract and retain the talent the city needs to prosper and to provide for the needs of all Vancouverites,” the motion reads.

Data released by Rentals.ca and Urbanation shows that the average cost of a one-bedroom unit in the city in October was $2,872, while the average asking price for a two-bedroom was $3,777. The average cost nationally for a one-bedroom in October was $1,906, up 14 per cent from the same month in 2022, while the average asking price for a two-bedroom was $2,255 nationally, up 11.8 per cent annually.

The motion also asks staff to explore possible partnerships with First Nations, the private sector, and other levels of government and non-profits.

-With files from The Canadian Press

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to include the correct Vancouver rental averages for October.