Three years ago, Vancouver came close to introducing an affordable-housing project aimed at middle-income workers.

City councillors looked at dividing the Olympic Village three ways: one-third for social housing, one-third for middle-income workers and one-third for people with high incomes.

But, by the time details were finalized in 2006, the plan had changed drastically to 20 per cent social housing, 10 per cent rental suites and 70 per cent luxury condos, now selling for up to $6 million.

Cameron Gray, Vancouver's housing centre director, says city council decided there simply wasn't enough money to fund middle-income housing.

And with a growing homeless crisis, social housing must be the priority, he said.

With the sale of the Athletes Village land in southeast False Creek to a developer, the city bought 12 sites elsewhere for social housing.

Vision Vancouver Coun. Raymond Louie says the original plan was "a lost opportunity."

"We knew this challenge for our middle class was coming," he says.

John Irwin, a geography professor at Simon Fraser University, says it would have set a precedent for Metro Vancouver.

"It would only have helped a fraction of people, but with Vancouver considered a leader sometimes, it could have potentially been replicated over time in the Lower Mainland."

TERM 'AFFORDABLE' HAS MANY MEANINGS

The term "affordable" is one that can mean different things.

The Metro Vancouver regional government defines it as "housing that should not cost more than 30 per cent of a household's gross income, regardless of whether they are living in market or non-market housing."

SmartGrowth B.C. defines it as a home with a purchase price that is affordable to those in the lowest 60 per cent of income distribution, as defined by Statistics Canada.

Affordable in this context means monthly mortgage costs should not exceed the average monthly rent for the region.

© The Vancouver Province 2008