If you asked me where the best neighbourhood for families is in Vancouver my answer may surprise you. Since the 1990’s The City of Vancouver has been requiring developers to build at least 25% of their units for families, meaning 2 bedrooms or bigger. The city has also required space be made available for things like parks, daycares, community centers, and other public facilities that families depend upon. What is the result of these regulations? Vancouver has almost 5 times as many kids living in downtown than Seattle alone, as per the last Census in 2011.

It is not just these regulations alone that have brought families into our downtown core. The city is also one of the most walkable in North America. You are able to easily walk to the grocery store, movie theater, doctor office, park, and other daily activities. The ability to have everything nearby is a major attraction to families that do not want to be tied to a vehicle to travel everywhere that is needed to complete their daily tasks. That said, our transit system is also fantastic. As someone who grew up in Edmonton, Alberta I absolutely love the way our transit system operates. Is it perfect? No. But it’s sure better than a number of other cities!

It is truly remarkable the increase in population of kids downtown over the years. As birthrates decline and life spans increase the average age is getting older, meaning on average fewer kids. Since the downtown core has become a magnet for families, kids are on the rise here and on the decline in other neighborhoods in Vancouver including the Eastside and South Vancouver. So of course this boom is not without its potential obstacles. Many families find it challenging to get kids into daycare or elementary school. The demand for housing has also pushed the cost of ownership for some families to the tipping point. Rent however have not increased at the dramatic rate of ownership, so many have decided to rent where they want to live rather than buy where they do not.

Having a combination of good family housing policies, a solid transit network, and many walkable neighbourhoods has made Vancouver’s downtown a hotspot for families. While it may look costly on the outside, when you consider being able to give up the cost of vehicles and truly enjoy the area and amenities created within such close proximity to you it can make it all worthwhile.