High Rise Granny Flats Help Families Afford New Condos

Income from rental suites incorporated to a new condominium project in Vancouver offer mortgage help to families and affordable housing for young singles and seniors.

1 minute read

October 23, 2006, 11:00 AM PDT

By Christian Madera @http://www.twitter.com/cpmadera


"It's been a long-time practice to build rental basement suites in houses, but suites in condos are a new idea."

Michael Geller, President of the UniverCity project at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, heard from disgruntled students who said that the new condos would only be affordable to high income residents. In response, the developer incorporated three-bedroom condos, with one of the bedrooms designed as a self-contained suite -- either to be rented out, or occupied by another family member who wanted some independence.

"Each 22.3-square-metre room has its own entrance off the main corridor, with a bed, bathroom and kitchen."

"Geller said the model could work around the Lower Mainland of B.C., where housing prices are among the highest in the country. 'The idea could apply everywhere,' he said. 'Lots of people would buy a three-bedroom apartment, if maybe they could rent out that third bedroom for a while, until such time as their household is big enough.'"

"SFU students, who had been living around the campus in basement suites, snapped up the units."

Sunday, October 22, 2006 in Canada.com

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight