West sa国际传媒 is getting bigger, older, and younger, all at the same time.聽
It could also be heading toward a future where single-family homes make up much less of the housing stock than is currently the case.聽
Population forecasts suggest West sa国际传媒 will gain an additional 12,000 residents over the next two decades, city councillors heard Tuesday.聽
The citysa国际传媒 median age dropped slightly, from 45.2 to 44, between 2016 and 2021. But the number of people 55 and over increased from 11,700 to 13,100 in the same timeframe. It now represents the single largest component of the population, city staff say.聽
To accommodate the expected influx of new residents, the provincial government recently directed West sa国际传媒 to reach a target of 2,266 net new homes by July 31, 2029.聽
Rather than build large new subdivisions on the outskirts of the city, West sa国际传媒sa国际传媒 preferred approach, as with many other municipalities, is to encourage the construction of homes within existing neighbourhoods.聽
This could be accomplished either by the demolition of existing homes and the construction of new ones or, more desirably from the citysa国际传媒 perspective, increasing the number of dwellings on standard-size city lots.聽
This approach, known as infill housing, has several advantages over urban sprawl, planners say. These include
- less need to build new infrastructure such as roads, water and sewer lines, and parks
- having people live closer to existing shops and services
- encouraging greater use of public transit, sidewalks, and multi-purpose pathways.聽
In the development of the citysa国际传媒 infill housing strategy, a total of 272 people, out of the citysa国际传媒 population of approximately 38,000, gave their input.聽
鈥淭here is strong support for compact growth to avoid the need to expand the city outwards,鈥 reads part of a report presented to city councillors. 鈥淗owever, there is concern over how infill housing will integrate into existing neighbourhoods.鈥
Survey respondents expressed concern about the taller or larger residential buildings than is commonly found now in existing neighbourhoods, the report states. Generally, there was support for fourplexes to be built near bus routes and shops, but not in existing neighbourhoods made up primarily of single-family homes.聽
Currently, 72 per cent of West sa国际传媒sa国际传媒 housing stock is made up of single-family homes, with just 12 per cent apartments, nine per cent duplexes, and seven percent townhomes.聽
The goal for 2040, the report states, should be 52 per cent single-family homes, 27 per cent apartments, 15 per cent duplexes, and six per cent townhomes.聽
Neighbourhoods projected to have the greatest potential for redevelopment in the coming years are said to include Lakeview Heights, Glenrosa, and Westbank Centre. The lowest potential is said to exist in Shannon Lake, West sa国际传媒 Estates and Rose Valley, and Smith Creek.聽
