Affordable Housing in West Vancouver means under $1 Million

In West Vancouver, it means a home costing less than a million dollars.

Housing in the tony suburb has become more expensive than in any other municipality in the Lower Mainland.

The cheapest house for sale currently has an asking price of $689,000 and of the 268 houses on the market, only 40 are listed at less than $900,000.

That's great for people who already live there and have seen the equity in their homes skyrocket in recent years.

But it's bad news for young families that want to move in.

And the district's two candidates for mayor say they're determined to do something about it.

"My kids literally can't afford to live here," said incumbent mayor Ron Wood. "One's living on the Island and another is living in Portland."

Coun. Pam Goldsmith-Jones, who is running against Wood for mayor, agreed that affordability is an issue.

"The concern is that house prices have just gotten so prohibitively expensive," she said.

"We don't have a spot for people starting out."

Aside from the super-wealthy, the only people who can afford to live in a house in West Vancouver now are those who bought in decades ago, when homes were cheaper.

As a result, West Vancouver's population is aging much faster than the population of the rest of the region.

One in five West Vancouver residents is now over the age of 65 and the median age is 47 -- almost a decade higher than the regional average of 37.4.

The only municipality with an older population is White Rock, with a median age of 50.9.

"I think any healthy community requires a balance," Wood said.

"You have to keep the schools open, you have to keep the recreational facilities open."

Both Wood and Goldsmith-Jones say they support redeveloping Ambleside Village to create moderately priced housing units above retail stores.

"It's a great way to live right in the heart of the community and a great way to provide more activity in Ambleside," Goldsmith-Jones said.

And both candidates also say they're willing to consider looking at regularizing the district's many secondary suites.

Such suites are currently illegal, but both Wood and Goldsmith-Jones said they would be willing to look at changing that.

Both candidates agree there isn't much difference between them on the housing issue, or most other key issues facing the district.

But they each claim they have the better chance of getting things done.

(prepared by Chad Skeleton/Vancouver Sun)