A ‘Special’ Solution to the Housing Crisis: Uytae Lee's Stories About Here

[@AboutHere]

Thanks again for having me on CBC!

[@dawidlaszuk]

This should be bumped so to see other About Here stories

[@jayfreechavez0000]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@elijaha773]

Thank you for making another one of Uytae's great videos public for people outside of Canada!

[@Goldsavergamer]

Growing up, my mom called our house a “Vancouver special “ I really thought she was lying and just wanted us to feel unique… haha she was right…

[@james.atkins88]

Because so many people overpaid for homes even while loan rates were low, I believe there will be a housing catastrophe because these people are in debt. If housing costs continue to drop and, for whatever reason, they can no longer afford the property and it goes into foreclosure, they have no equity since, even if they try to sell, they will not make any money. I believe that many individuals will experience this, especially given the impending mass layoffs and rapidly rising living expenses.

[@Believer292]

I advise you to invest in stocks to balance out your real estate, Even the worst recessions offer wonderful buying opportunities in the markets if you're cautious. Volatility can also result in excellent short-term buy and sell opportunities. This is not financial advice, but buy now because cash is definitely not king right now!

[@andrew.alonzo]

I have maintained contact with a financial analyst since the inception of my business. In today's dynamic market, the challenge lies in determining the opportune moment to purchase or sell when investing in trending stocks, a task that may seem straightforward but can prove to be quite challenging. With a portfolio that has increased by over $650k in a relatively short span of one year, I have delegated the responsibility of selecting entry and exit orders to my advisor.

[@rebecca_burns14]

@@andrew.alonzo I need a guide so i can salvage my port-folio due to the massive dips and come up with better strategies. How can one reach this advisor?

[@andrew.alonzo]

@@rebecca_burns14 I'm not one to give investment advice, because I believe everybody's situation is unique. However, I work with “Julia Ann Finnicum” and all I can say is that she's really good at what she does.

[@hunter-bourke21]

@@andrew.alonzo After locating her, I composed an email and arranged a phone conversation. I'm optimistic that she will reply, and my goal is to conclude 2023 on a financially successful note.

[@somethingsomething404]

I love how urban planning is becoming something people actually care about Follow “About Here” for more videos from Uytae lee

[@seth_sesu]

Agree. I studied planning in 2010. At that time it was such an obscure topic. But it's done so poorly in North America that it had to become a serious issue at some point.

[@KiRaShiKReaTiVe]

> I love how urban planning is becoming something people actually care about Many parts of Europe realized the need to pay attention to urban planning back when North America's Freeway / Highway systems were slowly making their way into the European landscape. I just hope North America smartens up their civil planning *before* those who haven't already bought property are forced to move to another country entirely.

[@louisliu5638]

@@seth_sesu Arthur Erickson in his seminal Architect speech...in 1965....said "We don't want to do what the Americans are doing in their cities: totally car focused and housing demanding commuting in cars. 1965. We went UP, not OUT. And it has paid off. Now? WE all in N. America have OTHER problems.

[@JakeMGolle]

Sort of out of necessity, wouldn't you say?

[@Schlabbeflicker]

If anything, most of the issues popping up today result from OVERPLANNING and security atrophy. >housing too expensive because planners made zoning overly-restrictive, permitting expensive/slow/unpredictable >car-centric because planners demanded minimum lot sizes, parking additions, governments built un-tolled roads by using property taxes >public transit and city living suffers because cities tolerate criminals/open drug use; people no longer feel safe or want to raise children in cities with $$$ tiny apartments and rampant crime The only difference today is that the planners are looking at their five-year plans and concluding they need a NEW set of five-year plans, not that THEY are the problem in the first place.

[@Schlabbeflicker]

Literally all of these problems are caused by zoning and permitting rules. Building the same, repetitive building is infinitely better than having people sleep on the streets. If zoning and permitting were cheaper and faster, people would have more money to build unique buildings in the first place.

[@irynaomel7920]

So people who have power are not interested in solving housing problem. That is why Kelowna special is cancelled.

[@brightlight3520]

Time for a petition....or a revolution?

[@baxter_canada_dry8182]

@@brightlight3520 revolution babehhhhhh

[@louisliu5638]

@@irynaomel7920 Kelowna and area has some surprising "other" housing issues. Many streets do not even have SIDEWALKS, which AMAZED me as it was (and is) th ehome to so many politically connected lawyers, old Socreds, the Bennett family political dynasty. You'd THIMK Kelowna would have sidewalks gold paved with platinum street lighting.

[@JayForsure]

I own a house and I am AGAINST changing the zoning rules. Because it will devalue my house that's been steadily rising over time. I don't want any apartments or sky scrapers in my backyard. That's why I go to every one of my city meeting to say NO to changing zoning rules.

[@thrillho86]

The Vancouver special is so iconic. Thanks for giving us some context for it's place in our history!

[@jasonriddell]

I lived in a DUPLEX Vancouver special that had 4 units in it 2 up 2 down in Burnaby south of Metrotown

[@louisliu5638]

@@jasonriddell they were "const. specials" and I leased one when I came to Canada in 1978. They were very badly built by contractors who often DIDN'T INSULATE the lower half, so we used it for storage. Hydro was etrocious, even back then.

[@huyphamngoc4803]

Uytae's content is one of the best in my urban design, housing binge. It's so informative with great storytelling! Also CBC Vancouver has been uploading some great stories.

[@kevinwelsh7490]

you are right, the emphasis is telling an ironic story, not accuracy on complexity

[@DownieLive]

Can't wait to see what the next special has in store for us.

[@10mudpuppy]

Type into youtube "Hong Kong Cage People" that's what's coming

[@jellybeansi]

@@10mudpuppy If we keep Vancouver proper the only place developers can build multi-family homes, surrounded by miles and miles of single-family homes, then yeah, obviously Vancouver will need to keep compacting and densifying to the point of insanity. That's why zoning outside central Van needs to change ASAP. It's obscene to see a bunch of high rises clustered into a tiny area, then single-family homes right next to them.

[@crystalmeier6579]

Whomever this young man was giving this narration, well done! I've rarely heard a presentation given with such clarity and precise inflection. Also, whomever wrote this presentation did a great job!

[@twifosp]

His name is Uytae Lee and produces his own content. Hence the passion for the subject.

[@jabbaweezy]

yeah he's good

[@shetlandbudgie2611]

Agreed

[@Joseph-zd7kg]

He is Asian that's why. White men take notes

[@shetlandbudgie2611]

@@Joseph-zd7kg and also learn how to jump.

[@Ernest0220]

American style zoning is a major reason why housing is so expensive, yet at the same time, amenities and services are so far away from everyone's home. But it also ensure property value to increase overtime (by limiting the supply) so many home owners don't want it to be changed.

[@martyzeenyc1210]

Why doesn't Vancouver host a competition for a dozen templates of "Vancouver Specials" so that they don't look all the same but adhere to the same specifications (lot size, square footage, and levels, etc)? I believe this will stifle most critics and provide quick housing to newcomers.

[@brightlight3520]

Having a unique house is a luxury we should accept isnt always the best choice for the planet or our society

[@bradcomis1066]

This is exactly what should happen! The city could select the best six perhaps and then people could choose from those. That would likely reduce the nimby backlash.

[@ggavin9934]

That would make too much sense.

[@kevinwelsh7490]

You should run the school of architecture. you obviously know how to solve everything

[@Schaph]

Or host the competition to select one design every few years. Each winner would have market monopoly for a few years to benefit from economy of scale, but with not enough time to drastically change the city's aesthetic. It can be like car makers with their new models: this house is a 2028 special, that house is a 2032 special, etc. (Taken to a larger scale nation wide: this house is a 2036 Vancouver special, that house is a 2040 Montreal special, etc.)

[@JaySinghIsImmature]

This journalist is a brilliant presenter. I don't watch TV and have never seen him before. Super informative, easy to understand, excellent graphics.

[@kelvinjohnson4]

In order to buy cheaply, I'm waiting for a housing crisis after selling a few houses in 2020. I've been considering buying stocks as a fallback. Do you have any advice on when is the greatest time to make a purchase? On one hand, I continue to see and read about traders making more than $$$k per week. On the other hand, I constantly hear that the market is crazy and in the midst of a dead cat bounce. What causes this?

[@williamsbrown4026]

look at it this way, while some folks are waiting to make minimal profits when stocks recover, some others folks already know where to look and what to do to make hefty gains in these times, so yea, it all boils down to knowledge to risk mltigation.

[@LionTowercoporation]

It is true that the US stock market had been on its longest bull run ever, thus the widespread panic and frenzy is reasonable given that we are not used to such unstable markets. However, as you pointed out, there are possibilities accessible if you know where to search; in the past 10 months, I've made over 4560k, and it wasn't a difficult plan of action. Because I understood I needed a solid and reliable strategy to navigate better in these times, I hired a portfolio counsel.

[@UshnicYuvnikof]

@@LionTowercoporation I tried researching new strategies to benefit in the current market because my portfolio has been in the sewer for the entire year, but whatever I tried to do just missed the point. Would you mind letting us know who your investment advisor is by name?

[@LionTowercoporation]

Do your due diligence and opt for one that has tactics to help your portfolio continue consistent and steady growth. "Colleen Janie Towe" is accountable for the success of my portfolio, and I believe she has the qualifications and expertise to accomplish your objectives.

[@UshnicYuvnikof]

@@LionTowercoporation Thanks for your assistance . I will search on her site online and do my due diligence. If She seem proficient. I write her an email and scheduled a phone call.

[@zabmcauley5647]

Having multiple options of quick approval housing would increase the longevity of the designs. More options also allow for different sizes of builds, especially important for infill that is a net gain for income for the city. More upfront work, and more payoff in the future.

[@lolalee5118]

Since moving to Canada, I’ve lived in basement suites. It’s not a fun experience. There’s almost always pressure to use less utilities. I had one landlord frequently go into my kitchen although he lived upstairs to make sure everything was tidy. One landlord tried to hike my rent by 300 dollars because she mistakenly believed another person had moved in with me. None of these antics are legal but usually the upstairs landlord is too amaturish to know this. There’s also a general sense of being watched. It could be that my experience is particular but I think renters perspectives are almost always missing from these kinds of think pieces.

[@davidjohnson8655]

Oh honey, welcome to Canada, nothing is legal, just worship the King and pray.

[@Seanw-ij7yx]

u listed problems that are most likely figments of your imagination. landlords have real problems that are based in the real world.

[@lolalee5118]

@@Seanw-ij7yx Yes, you would think people would have better things to do with their time.

[@smallstudiodesign]

This kid is the best at explaining so much in our city and how it was shaped

[@SomeNerd361]

The answer to the "too many and too bland" problem is so blindingly simple that it actually has me fear for society since it's not being talked about (not even by Uytae) ...Have more the one "Special"... that's it. Let the builder/homeowner choose which model of "Special" to go with that meets their needs.

[@johneggenberger3757]

Thank you. These videos are important for people to understand the housing crisis. Builders, foreigners, realtors, investors, homeowners, renters, etc.. are not the problem. We need to address zoning and permitting reform badly and get rid of these neighbourhood special interest groups who are selfishly preventing development.

[@MaxTSanches]

I grew up in a new subdivision in White Rock in the 1960s and there were six house designs. They would flip the design - a left side door or a right side door. They would change the roof design - about four different ones. And they didn't allow the same design within three houses of each other. The houses looked OK, and it was interersting when you went into a house and realized that it was 'your house' but in reverse. :) My mother-in-law had a Vancouver Special - a nice little house with lots more space than you would expect. :)

[@chadc7500]

Good to see Uytae back at talking about housing and urban planning in the Vancouver. building more of the “missing middle” fast and affordable can be a good thing for Vancouver

[@robadr13]

One of the interesting twists on the history of Special has been the surge in popularity of 'mid-century design', and the ability of this very simple form to work with that aesthetic. Some judicious application of quality cladding materials, and better windows and landscaping, have transformed many of these ugly ducklings into homes that are now seen as attractive by many. A video on some of the best transformations would be fun to see.

[@1957DLT]

Another reason Vancouver Specials became so popular was their size fit 33 ft. wide lot size. That's why they look so tight in a row. Construction companies yelled "cha-ching!" and developments went up everywhere in East Vancouver, where I lived...in one of them. They were not pretty, but I recall a childhood neighborhood filled with multicultural middle class families.

[@daletidy.]

So well produced! I’m definitely keen for a new Vancouver special!

[@eldeluxo]

It's called a "stacked townhouse" which you'll find around the Toronto area. Horrible confined apartments, with as many units they can cram in.

[@terenceyuen4424]

The problem is not the design but it's finding and buying affordable land to build on.

[@1982blvd]

As always, excellent work Uytae.

[@Thecarbonhero]

Legit good production from CBC. The people who created this should be proud.

[@olexandr1997]

As Ukrainian immigrant I’d rather spent my childhood in Vancouver Special than in depressed Brezhnevka building with fackud up balconies, small rooms and ugly facades. Appreciate what you have.

[@anneonnamouse5496]

Architecture can do a lot for one's mood ... In one direction or the other

[@danrai69]

you have to do a a "part 2". Punjabi people from Vancouver's Eastside near Ross street moved to Surrey in late 1980s. The doubled the size of the Vancouver Special and it became the Surrey Mega House. if you look close enough you can see the Vancouver Special in the design. Tons of great examples of this behind the Guru Nanak Sikh Temple in Surrey

[@uninvincibleete]

I Googled and couldn't find anything, do you have some specific address examples I could search?

[@glennhankins6927]

In the late 1980's, $100,000 would get you a nice home in Surrey. Today you pay $ 1.4 million for an old house in Surrey. Depressing.

[@magnoliaflower3310]

Those houses are giant. The ground level has at least two suites. Each suite is enough room for a small family.

[@louisliu5638]

@@magnoliaflower3310 Punjabi families remain extended: the one I built in Coquitlam on four levels had five grandparents, and I lost count of the kids. That's how they KEEP their money. We should LEARN from that. Along with three jobs until they're forty, then retire early.

[@terenceyuen4424]

Do a story on the Surrey mega mansions with a dozen families living in them 😅

[@tpersoage]

This is quality CBC content, nice to see for a change.

[@bluebeastgamer3005]

All my brothers and sisters are all living in each Vancouver special houses 😊

[@captainblando]

Ya..thats what Vancouver needs...is MORE people ....

[@jungroan]

been waiting decades for someone to formally storytell this 😊

[@melen6917]

God bless the Vancouver special!

[@headintheclouds6935]

My house just made it into this vid lol

[@veeli1106]

I was hoping mine wouldn’t! lol

[@davidcollin8875]

Uytae you are so informative and comprehensive. Hope you will get your own channel one day.

[@janetm2969]

I think that east van co-op design should become the new Vancouver Special! ❤

[@seth_sesu]

The priority should be getting people in homes, not maximizing property value or community character - those come second. The homeless population of North America has exploded over the last 20 years and somehow NIMBYs and city councils have not gotten the memo...

[@FrankHuynh]

Liking these series from Uytae Lee

[@StorytellingHeadshots]

Heh heh, before the video started I saw the thumbnail about ‘housing’ and thought, “ Hey! This must be filmed in Vancouver, “cause that’s not just a house… that’s a “Vancouver special”! Nostalgic for me because I used to live in YVR and miss it so much. Vangroovy will always be home!

[@hillfortherstudios2757]

You knocked it out of the park so far you hit one of the Vancouver specials across the street! This is truly an excellent piece!

[@kevinwelsh7490]

this report is totally lame

[@wendytube007]

Could you imagine getting planning and having it built within three weeks! What a Time to be alive!

[@uninvincibleete]

The Kelowna Quad is so cute! Would be great for Vancouver to allow the purchase of neighbouring Vancouver Specials to be turned into the mutual-driveway developments that are so popular in the States. If we abandoned the super antiquated alley style and instead used that as buildable land, we'd be able to get even more units in the same amount of land.

[@srpacific]

Alleys are also used for firefighting access and utilities

[@Gameboob]

I don't think land is the problem though. It's the zoning of that land. We just need to be allowed to build higher. But governments everywhere in North America are restricting that. Preferring two story detached homes over anything else. Besides, as the host mentioned, city regulators have the final say in what can get built so if their homeowners themselves they stand to lose if too many units get built and values of homes go down.

[@uninvincibleete]

@@Gameboob I agree, that would go a long way to helping the problem! Uytae actually has a great video about this (missing middle housing)

[@uninvincibleete]

​@@srpacific Actually, the main reason cities (or more accurately, wealthy neighbourhoods in cities) have alleys is often very NIMBY. It keeps "undesirable" activities like trash collection out of sight and away from 'curb appeal'. Since alleys demand larger lots (extra large lots in Vancouver due to their also-NIMBY laws about how far the house must be from the curb) it serves to keep costs of units higher, thus preventing """"undesireable elements"""" out of wealthy neighbourhoods. You're right about utilities, but it's the wrong conclusion. Vancouver didn't build alleyways to help utilities, it put utilities in back because it had alleyways. Most cities in the world have them in the street (which again, detracts from 'curb appeal') or built underground. The history and reasoning behind Vancouver's alleys would actually be a fascinating future video topic haha. There's more info here if you're interested, it compares cities in Quebec to Vancouver: urbankchoze.blogspot.com/2014/04/alleyways-obsolete-or-good-idea-to.html

[@MyFavouriteStation]

We love them because, nostalgia :) I miss the houses covered in broken glass. We used to pick the pieces off as kids!

[@bena.282]

Great short documentary. Coquitlam also has pre-approved triplex and fourplex plans but the approved neighbourhoods remain limited. Another problem to highlight is financing for new middle-housing construction. Right now, middle-housing construction stalls during high-interest periods. Pent up demand accumulates, and when the buyers finally return, there is little supply to satisfy the demand thus causing prices to rise over a short period. We need a financing mechanism that encourages a steady supply of middle-housing irrespective of interest rates. Otherwise, we will repeat price spikes like 2015-2017 and 2020-2022 again and again.

[@GtooU]

I love your videos, they are so informative and always gives us another view point on subjects we often are 'tunnel visioned' about. Thank you for the Vancouver Special - the comedy here is if you are lucky enough to own a VS you are sitting on a goldmine, not because the structure is worth anything more than nostalgia, but because the land value is astronomically valued. Unfortunately Michelle Yu is in the process of purchasing as many VS's as possible as Land Assembly which in turn is causing another housing issue.

[@blackbelt2000]

a really good way to help the housing crisis is prevent foreign entities from buying your properties. They sit empty because foreigners don't live in them only as investments or store their wealth.

[@balanceric]

This randomly popped up in my feed, and I'm glad it did. Excellent video. Uytae is very good. Wow, I can't believe I just watched 9 minutes about housing and it was awesome! Cheers

[@randybaldwin8199]

Your comments about the vancouver special sparked memories. What we,they.,need to do now is to multiply that by atleast 4×.

[@sentinel1208]

Please keep these coming CBC Vancouver! Excellent series

[@erinalexander9797]

My friend rents in a home in Calgary that is similar to the Vancouver special. It was retrofitted to have 4 apartment units in it, 2 on the top and 2 on the bottom. It’s a really nice apartment & it would be interesting to see more houses like that be converted to apartments with 1-2 bedroom suites in it.

[@gunthertobias3909]

I know those in calgary / large , well done and generally in good areas near large parks. Also know that Vancouver special . Toronto has a take on this also. I know this - we need housing cost to coast yo coast!

[@maryrankin9869]

I whole heartedly agree. We need a new affordable special and there are enough planners out there to make a nice one!

[@davefair2969]

Housing really is something in Vancouver, I'm fortunate to be a house owner and have that one taken care of. I've watched it take 6 years to plan and build 2-6 story buildings nearby where I live in East Vancouver, I think a total of a couple of hundred units. With 500 thousand new immigrants coming into Canada each year it's easy to see that building at that pace will create all kinds of problems. And it will be a huge bottle neck with no easy solution unless there is some kind of drastic change to how long it takes to build. So for the past few years the city of Vancouver have been working on their city wide plan. Years in the making and still not finished, then years after that before anything gets built and occupied. In the meantime another 500k new people coming in each year ( I realise many are already here as students etc.. but it's still 500k arriving at some point in time). Anyone who takes 10 minutes to think it through can see how ridiculous it all is. It will have taken the city almost a whole generation to make a plan and actually build some buildings that will only be playing catch up anyway. I feel for immigrants who are coming to Canada thinking it's a great life here.

[@WestCoastTug]

Uytae, your content is great! I know your passion is sharing and telling these stories of Vancouver but you really need to consider running for mayor.

[@somethingsomething404]

Definitely need more Kelowna specials

[@brightlight3520]

"Wait! Stop! We are building TOO MUCH housing!" - modern civic planning karens

[@ianhomerpura8937]

@@brightlight3520 that's exactly what these rich [redacted] fear. More housing means their land values won't go up as much. It's rich people who treat their homes as assets artificially appreciating in value that are the problem, and they want to keep it that way.

[@robertcartwright4374]

Another great video Lee! I well remember participating in the distaste for the Vancouver Special. People like a good pile-on, don't they? And then later they realize their critique was one-sided, and really just another instance of mob mentality.

[@glennhankins6927]

Kind of like the media and liberal drones hatred for DJT.......later realizing he was the greatest President in U.S. history.

[@checory]

Tear down a $1.6mil 5/6 bed 4 bath 50+ year old vancouver special with a 30'/33' wide lot, build a duplex, and you'll probably end up with two duplexes each having a 3 bedroom 2.5 bathroom selling for $1.9mil each (combined total of $3.8million). tearing them all down, combining the land, and building row houses does the same thing (plenty of examples on the king edward ave corridor). Another thing is plenty of strata units are selling below assessed price and below asking price in the current market. So by preserving the Vancouver Special and extending the service life of the structure is the affordable way to go. If you want a quadplex or buildings with lots of units, the west side has plenty of much lots with larger footprints suitable for it.

[@masterblasterofdisaster]

Vancouver specials have a special place in my heart.

[@laisinggong]

Thank you for putting this video together! Informative and inspiring!

[@archforge]

A very well done article, quite entertainment and very informative. Keep up the great work.

[@hornedlobster]

Now this is journalism.

[@shavake]

This is something that hits home for me. Great job Uytae!!

[@dontgetlost4078]

Do you know which building type is very beloved today but was hated when it was built all around a city? Well, the Vancouver Special is, but that's already talked about. I mean one that long since became an absolute staple of good American urbanism and character? The answer, is the New York brownstones. In "The Invention of Brownstone Brooklyn" by Suleiman and Osman, when the brownstones were built, they were dismissed as "products of the mechanical age, modern and artificial, poorly built and subject to decay, with a dehumanizing monotony". The Vancouver Special was a victim of the same complaints (I'm not too sure about the "poorly built and subject to decay part...) and it looks like people are now starting to accept them... just like New Yorkers eventually accepted the brownstone. Tastes in people change, and it is time that tells whether new neighborhoods or refurbished ones end up with a character or not.

[@chindodawg]

Loved my time in a Vancouver Special

[@jackwatson7323]

First time watching Uytae Lee. I really enjoyed Uytae's delivery.

[@CeritaFandaVancouver]

It's quite enlightening and these special houses meet a great purpose and roomy too.

[@seth3461]

Amazing content and quality of reporting, research, production and editing! 10/10

[@Gluteus.Maximus]

Can we just get rid of front yards and build in them? The building set back rules waste so much space and no one even uses their front yard

[@anneonnamouse5496]

I'd rather have a nice front yard with all kinds of vegetation than a bunch of people

[@bucketboy4937]

The thing about Vancouver is there is virtually no land left to build on. People say the problem has always been affordability. Making more “affordable” homes is impossible because everyone wants to live in Vancouver. It’s an amazing city with beautiful views and many activities as well as fantastic food compared to other Canadian cities. This means demand will go up as soon as prices drop, further creating a more competitive market for this tiny city. And ultimately higher and higher prices.

[@pizzaearthpancakesandother2549]

Vancouveronians are friggin GENIUSES

[@ChrisZulinov]

The best content cbc is making right now!

[@janwateva]

I’ve had questions around the history of Vancouver specials for so long!! Great video

[@robertz7294]

These homes remind me of slab houses that were built after WWII for returning soldiers etc., although they are larger. I had never heard of the 'Vancouver Special' until now. Cheers.

[@louisliu5638]

they're duplexes and fourplexes, and you DON'T WANT the Hydro bill on these elephants.

[@robertz7294]

@@louisliu5638 I see, maybe if there's more than one family, they could afford the hydro...

[@victoriaman117]

"Why cant these poor's just be happy in their tents, away from my neighborhood"- Vancouver

[@JimmyJames-om2uw]

Incredible video for the have nots, thank you.

[@baronjutter]

The best mass housing has always been simple but attractive buildings that, and this is the key, are flexible. Like mass row-housing when first built are identical, but over the decades and generations all adapt and change to become more distinct. The base building was built in a way that they were flexible, allowed minor additions and changes. One person adds a big bay window on the 2nd floor, someone else makes a retail bump out on the small front yard, someone else changes up the cladding. At the 50 years later you can see they all have the same bones but their own distinct charm.

[@SikanderIqbal]

A new "Canada Special," yes please!

[@segueintothis]

My apologies for the rambling. This brings back memories, not particularly good ones. I used to rent the ground unit in one of those. The interior had not been modernized (fake wood panelling walls, stucco ceiling, ugly carpeting everywhere except the kitchen, old cupboards...). On the bright side there was a gas fireplace, that sometimes worked, and other times didn't. The house breaker box was in my bedroom and made a constant humming noise. The inner plumping was made up of copper and aluminum components, which started leaking through the ceiling in a few areas due to corrosion. There was carpeting in the bathroom???! The plumbing started leaking there too and the carpet started rotting and the walls falling apart. Fortunately, the bathroom was redone, but on the cheap, and the leaking issue was not addressed because it started leaking again some time after. The owner who lived upstairs, stored open containers of paint thinner and gasoline in the garage, which permeated in my unit. This has nothing to do with the house itself of course, just reminiscing about my 10 years there. One time I parked my car at the rear and forgot to put the handbrake. It rolled down the parkway and smashed into the neighbour's garage door across the alley. Oh and the neighbourhood...One Friday night, at around 5:30pm, my girlfriend at the time was on her way from what used to be a B.C. liquor store on Victoria Drive and she got jumped by two thugs right on 47th. She screamed out for help but nobody came. Horrible place to live, but the rent was cheap (at least at that time) and the unit fairly spacious for one person. The day I walked by what used to be a pizza slice joint next door to the McDonald's, at Victoria and 41st, and saw bullet holes in the window was the day I decided it was time to move. Despite making a pretty decent salary, owning a property in and around Vancouver was just as cost prohibitive as it is today, unless I was willing to live in a shoe box, which I wasn't. In retrospect though I should have bit the bullet. That shoe box would likely be worth today five times the initial price tag. Ah well, maybe in the next game of life.

[@Brick-Life]

The Vancouver Specials look so cool. A simple renovation would make them very nice!

[@aadam909]

In Boston we have “three deckers”. For decades these served as an affordable way to buy a home. Typically the owner lived in one unit and rented out the other two. Then we just stopped building them.

[@tamngo4354]

Very informative and interesting ! Thanks

[@Danieldot2K]

7:15 the people that complain about the new builds or the "Vancouver special" are current home owners who don't like change. First time home buyers don't care, they just want a place to live. it's two different ideas come from two different people. We don't all want the same thing

[@bentencho]

If people think there are too many people and not enough space in Vancouver.... just remember that the entire Lower Mainland is 3 times the size of Greater Tokyo, a city of almost 40 million. Also... housing in Vancouver is also significantly more expensive than Tokyo too.

[@katharineshepherd253]

That was wonderful. Thank you 🙏🏼

[@danf8047]

Love Uytae's series! keep 'em coming

[@ArtaxForever]

I see Uytae, I click

[@LAMNguyen-sd8mo]

Good job hosting hope to see you in more.

[@dashagueletina7655]

The Toronto Special that was built across the first ring of Toronto suburbs is a six-plex. We also have a long history of worker's housing buildings during the workers' rights era, a lot of which didn't survive the renewal era of demolitions. Dense housing is good housing and makes cities what they are.

[@cvcexcomm]

Vancouver has now allowed pretty much any duplex build on any lot that is standard or larger. The duplex is essentially the new "special". Visually, it looks like a traditional single family home but divided into two units side-by-side.

[@joeybroda9167]

I love the idea of standardized designs with fast approvals for residential areas. One thing I don't get is why so many cities are married to two-story housing? In Montreal the standard for walk-ups is usually three stories and in Winnipeg you can find houses that are three stories as well. If we want more density and still want people to have space for families why not allow for a third story?

[@glenkirk3883]

Great video. In the early 80's in Calgary they built houses under a thing called AHOP in Forest Lawn and Marlborough. I believe that they were 85% duplexes. These neighborhoods housed somewhere around 50,00 new residents.

[@sahilp70248]

Uytae, your next video should discuss the Vancouver "laneway" home and how it is helping single-family zoning densify without too much hassle.

[@jessekaufman5653]

New YVR special on the way BOOYAH!!!

[@salikkhan6803]

Great choice in video Uytae! and golden information for general public

[@namkebanyanklariti]

Bravo! Subash!

[@marcia2095]

Loved the way you presented the story !

[@nikkion2140]

This is great. I love the "Vancouver Special". How do we manage to let the bureaucrats of city planning department get in a way?

[@kanthas]

i always wondered why it was called the vancouver special... now i know! ty

[@esparda07]

As usual, NIBMY-ism kills progress. Also, Uytae is doing an awesome job!

[@lionelhutz5137]

Gotta love those greedy boomers 😊

[@dunsbroccoli2588]

Or just make it illegal to use housing as a financial instrument, you know like the actual problem. We have real estate, we just rather use it for the profit derived from equity than using it as a structure that shelters human beings.

[@ToyMakerprops]

Still it doesn't stop renovictions and people Not renting out their houses to drive the rental market up...no compassion when greed and money or on the table. A record numbers of people giving away their pets because no pets allowed rule. a system full of loop holes that benefit multiple home owners . This is the new meaning of Vancouver Special.