The future for Vancouver!

Well I have come to the end of my two day experience at the Buildex event at the new Vancouver Convention Center. My legs are killing me from being stood around viewing the latest in interior design, construction and property development and chatting to various people. But it was worth it. 


There are certainly some amazing design and construction options out there to the point of being "sexy". I saw the coolest shower fitting in black graphite finish with a digital display to program your own individual showering experience. Very nice and I would love to have that. But on to more serious stuff!


This morning I attended one of the many seminars, this one titled "Real Estate in Vancouver - The New Decade". The panel featured:

Moderator: Cameron Muir, Chief Economist, BC Real Estate Association

Speakers: Ron Bagan, Managing Director, Vancouver Brokerage, Colliers. Michael Deighton, Vice President, CB Richard Ellis' Jennifer Podmore Russell, Deloitte, Richard Wozny, MA, MSc, Principal, Site Economics Ltd.

It was very interesting to hear their individual take on both commercial and residential development and the challenges that Vancouver faces with an increasing population, restricted land space, expensive land values and re zoning issues with the city. It seems that the future for real estate lies in urban density that incorporates commercial and domestic interests in one place and close to public transit including Sky train and buses. 


As property prices continue to rise and more people are being pushed out of the centers, the suburbs along transit corridors are the new focus for affordable  developments that provide decent affordable housing with easy access to transit. Malls like Brentwood Town Center are being earmarked for re development to allow for multi functional living and retail space to provide the solution for density and affordable living options. And that is just some of the highlights. More to come soon.