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Transit-oriented communities are often called the future for Metro Vancouver, with condo towers and townhouses clustered around stores and amenities like theatres along major public transit lines.

The seeming success of these properties, especially along SkyTrain lines, has been evident as development after development is declared “sold out” by developers.

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But figures from the latest census are raising questions about that appearance of success, according to some researchers.

The percentage of units that are empty or could be considered underused is over 20 per cent in areas around Joyce-Collingwood, Marine Drive and Metrotown stations, according to Andy Yan, director of Simon Fraser University’s City Program. The Joyce and Marine Gateway areas both posted 24 per cent; Metrotown was at 22 per cent.

This makes them much higher than the nine per cent in the same census numbers for the Olympic Village area or the 8.2 per cent average for the City of Vancouver.