60-40: Vancouver City Council to debate Downtown Eastside’s ratio of social and market housing

Vancouver City Council is considering reevaluating the "60-40" housing ratio in the Downtown Eastside Area Plan due to a lack of affordable housing supply. Only two projects have been built in the area over the past decade, and Councillor Rebecca Bligh believes that rising construction costs and interest rates may make the current ratio unworkable. Bligh has proposed exploring new strategies and policies to increase housing supply, including accelerating the replacement of single-room occupancy (SRO) buildings and considering below-market commercial spaces. Critics argue that the "60-40" formula has contributed to urban decay and stagnation in the area.