Vancouver is known for its vast greenery, bustling cityscape and tourists alike. Recognized as a hub for multiculturalism, the city has been seen as a prime destination for opportunity by people around the world. However, things have changed significantly over the last several years. The cost of living in Vancouver has become unaffordable for most people, making us wonder—how did this gentrification begin?
Historical Presence
By the 1930s, Vancouver occupied business hubs of grain and lumber, large coasts, and the Canadian Pacific Railway. The city captured the attention of European settlers who came over to relish in the effective trade offerings Vancouver provided. Now, in 2025, Vancouver is more diverse than ever, more distinct than other cities in its tourism. The city’s daring scenery makes it a beautiful place to settle down, with all the mountains, seas and parks, which are accompanied by the historical scene once present here. However, old buildings and houses that had flourished in downtown neighbourhoods and local city areas are hard to spot now.
The Skytrain’s City Development
The Vancouver urban cityscape that once existed before the development of the SkyTrain remains in smaller condensed areas; tons of deleterious activities took place around the Granville Island area, being seen as a gross dump used for fishing and logging. After Expo 86, a world fair held in Vancouver in 1986 with a focus on transportation and communication, it was time for a change and a clean-up; the government presented a proposal to connect Vancouver by rail. The idea of improved transportation was being considered because of the city’s various railways and the desire to attract more residents to the city. It was incredibly innovative at the time, being a rapid transit system.
The SkyTrain’s implementation made it easier to connect with others around, creating a hub for global visitors to get familiar with parts of Vancouver. The construction in Surrey took almost 8 years for the SkyTrain to link into that part of BC. But with the constant evolution of the SkyTrain’s distance into other parts of the city, it was only a matter of time before more and more tourists, visitors and families would move to Vancouver, opting for more alternatives for living situations in the city.
To accommodate this growing population, big buildings and modern housing are being constructed while reducing the amount of sun from shining on your skin and taking away from the fresh landscapes you can seek out and view.
Urban Development Downtown
During the 1990s, there was continuous development of urban areas. Viewpoint Vancouver states that this was an ambitious process, affecting over 100,000 people in the city. At the time, Vancouver was viewed as a “city with neighbourhoods,” now it seems we are lacking in just that.
As someone who has grown up in Vancouver my whole life, I can see this history being stripped away. When I notice another construction crew tearing down an apartment complex I’ve familiarized myself with by walking home each day, I recall how downtown looked before all the giant apartments were constructed from the ground up, turning Vancouver into the modern cityscape it was never meant to be; How now the once empty SkyTrain is overcrowded, lines are longer, and prices are sky-high.
But it’s not just the fact that I’ve recognized which buildings are being torn down and how clean some parts of downtown now look, but realizing that, because of the gentrification, the city continues to face a housing crisis as they shove people out of the apartments they called home, making space for smaller balconies and even smaller rooms. The majority of complexes and houses being torn down are either because of old age, land being bought or new modern developments. These complexes were affordable at one point, housing low-income families, seniors or international renters.
The prices are now beginning to skyrocket, and the average amount of rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Vancouver is $2,531. With a price that high, it’s hard to consider how anyone, let alone students, are supposed to live independently now. I’ve spoken with a lot of students in my program and the average amount of rent they pay is typically over $900 per month with a roommate. Owning a house is not even an option for most young people in the city; renting is the way to go now. With a lack of affordable rental options, people are now opting to stay with their parents and avoid living on their own, since balancing school and having one job is barely enough to sustain students, especially with the rising food costs.
Housing Supply
A supposed limited supply of housing is causing rent to rise, but is that what’s really going on? The modernization of a once-bustling city for economics and business to a city now seen as a destination for tourists and expensive food spots might be responsible for the uptick in rent. Vancouver is more popular than it has ever been, though it has always been a city for sightseeing. People are now choosing to move here and settle down.
It’s the idea of a big city that calls to people, since it’s a closer option than a place like New York or Los Angeles. Tons of trendy shops reside downtown, making it perfect to attract influencers to influence you to come to this big city. These people are the ones who can afford homes and rental spaces, taking away from those less fortunate situated downtown.
Due to various conflicts around the world, Vancouver is incredibly accommodating to foreigners relocating here. As a daughter of immigrants residing in Vancouver now, all I’ve known is that Vancouver is immensely cultural. Many communities alongside the downtown area cater to other cultures, and that’s the best part about living here. That being said, it’s harder for international students to find affordable rental options, as the prices are higher than what Canadian citizens must pay. Trying to find housing before moving here is quite difficult, with the best option being to move in with relatives and search for rentals while staying with them.
Political affairs aside, it’s clear that housing and rentals are continuing to seep into greater gentrification than they used to be. The once urban landscape of the city is turning to dust, growing monoliths of buildings in the land where homes once resided. Vancouver’s new building developments are being made for more and more people to move here, leaving little room for those of us who have lived here long enough to call Vancouver our home. Gentrification is not something that is ever going to slow down. But that doesn’t mean we won’t be here to see the better for renters in the future, hoping for cheaper and more affordable options in the city. Those of us who remember the fleeting feeling of walking through a calm neighbourhood will eventually find a way to accommodate ourselves in this big city of Vancouver, British Columbia.
References
Planner, James, and Sandy. “Before the Draft Vancouver Plan of Today: The Cityplan of the 1990s.” Viewpoint Vancouver, April 11, 2022.
