Density Creates Childcare Options

"Upscale condo realtor Nahid Aghamolla told the Georgia Straight that buyers at exclusive complexes such as Atelier-where a two-bedroom, 873-square-foot home is selling for $749,000-aren't interested in childcare.

"Nobody cares about these things," she said, noting that most buyers don't have children. "Nobody asks for childcare. They ask for the gym. If they don't have one, they want to know where the closest ones are. Or restaurants and bars. But they never ask about childcare."

For the rest of the city, however, child-care wait lists of up to 1,500 children mean centres such as Atelier's are in demand. In fact, over the next two years, rezoning and density bonusing-such as what's happened at Atelier-is about to make a major mark on the child-care scene."