ThereB次元官网网址檚 a housing shortage in the region. A less than 0.5 per cent rental vacancy rating is enough proof of that, and at this point it would be futile to argue.

WeB次元官网网址檝e all heard the stories about bidding wars not just in the real estate market but also for rental accommodations and how some families are being forced to settle for whatever they can get, not necessarily whatB次元官网网址檚 the right fit. Others are being forced to move away because they simply cannot find anything. ItB次元官网网址檚 heartbreaking and a problem that wonB次元官网网址檛 be righted in the immediate foreseeable future.

But one of the solutions to this problem is simple, build more housing, thereB次元官网网址檚 clearly a demand thatB次元官网网址檚 not going away. If you look at the rate of new developments on the West Shore are being occupied, you cannot argue that more would be welcomed.

Some of our West Shore municipalities are looking for alternative options to help with the crisis in the meantime. Langford, for example, is exploring the idea of allowing two rental suites in larger homes to help young adults save up for a down payment.

Additional units will help lower sky rocketing costs and help the market stabilize. It would also mean many families wonB次元官网网址檛 have to worry about where theyB次元官网网址檙e going to live in six months or a year.

But that means more development and more density. While many in the industry have pointed to the West Shore as they place to build, mostly because other municipalities just donB次元官网网址檛 have the same amount of room to grow, it means West Shore residents will have to make sacrifices.

ItB次元官网网址檚 a hard reality to face for many, especially those that have called the West Shore their home for their entire lives. ItB次元官网网址檚 also hard for those that have utilized what were once vacant green spaces.

WeB次元官网网址檙e not saying that all development is good and that the West Shore should be paved over. WeB次元官网网址檙e simply saying that more needs to be done to meet the demand and that means adding height where appropriate, focusing on establishing more centralized downtown cores and improving transportation options to get people moving all over Greater Victoria.

If we want our region to continue to grow and flourish weB次元官网网址檙e going to have to make some compromises and one of those is building for the future. In the meantime, weB次元官网网址檒l all have to deal with the growing pains.