Vancouver — Appendix J: West End RM Design Guidelines for Infill Housing

The wider laneways that are typical of the West End present a unique opportunity to develop ground-oriented family housing that will increase the diversity and availability of rental homes in the community while still maintaining integral right of way and utility functions. 

In line with the West End Community Plan, infill development will be encouraged on suitable sites to deliver residential buildings on the lanes. The process of infilling existing under-utilized frontages to the lane with additional buildings requires sensitive and creative design, with a focus not only on creating neighbourly relationships with adjacent development but also on the manner in which lanes are treated and their resultant public realm character. It is important that lanes are treated properly based on their intended role within the neighbourhood’s public realm as smaller and more intimate in scale pedestrian routes with less traffic, while at the same time ensuring that they still support the necessary service functions.

Vancouver — Livable Lanes: A Study of Laneway Infill Housing in Vancouver and Other Growing B.C. Communities

The term “laneway housing” or “carriage housing” refers to a detached form of infill housing that is ancillary to a principal dwelling and typically located in a rear yard and oriented towards the lane.

This research presents single-lot, laneway, infill housing as a key part of an overall residential intensification strategy that Canadian municipalities can use to help meet critical housing needs while meeting a range of other key sustainability objectives. Laneway infill housing can occur incrementally without requiring redevelopment or parcel assembly, which can be onerous in time and expense.

With a focus on Vancouver, this research establishes opportunities for expanding laneway housing and identifies a number of key barriers limiting or preventing its adoption. The results of the research are a set of specific recommendations and strategies that municipalities can use to overcome barriers to expanding this form of housing in residential neighbourhoods.

Vancouver/Williams Corridor Infill Strategy

The Vancouver / Williams Corridor in inner North / Northeast Portland is one of Portland’s oldest commercial districts – serving first as the downtown for the City of Albina, and later becoming the Main Street for Portland’s African-American community.

The Corridor is strategically located just north of Portland’s Central City, with proximity and ready access to key regional transportation routes, employment centers, meeting and entertainment venues, and shopping. As a result, the Vancouver / Williams area is now

A community planning effort led by the Vancouver / Williams Task Force has been underway for several years to capitalize on this new environment of opportunity for the Corridor. The goal has been to restore and enhance the historic vitality of the Corridor and nearby neighborhoods. Through the Task Force’s efforts, a shared community vision has emerged for the Corridor – one that is supported by area residents and businesses alike. At the heart of this vision is a strongly held communitywide belief – a desire that existing residents and businesses should benefit from new development as it occurs along the Vancouver / Williams Corridor.