Newspaper and Magazine Articles

THE VANCOUVER SUN - BUSINESS
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1997

Asians propel Vancouver, Futurist claims

Vancouverites are the luckiest people in the world because they are the first to feel the Asian wave rolling around the world, says the city's most famous futurist, Frank Ogden.

Within three years, 50 percent of the world population will be Asian and of the 20 largest cities on Earth at that time, not one will be in Canada, the United States or Europe.

"Asians will no longer stay in Asia anymore than Europeans stayed in Europe," Ogden told delegates to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp's annual outlook conference Thursday.

"Vancouver is the first city already in the 21st century. It is no longer a place. It is a process.

Ogden, 77, says the city's residents are now walking faster on the streets to match the pace set by the city's burgeoning Asian population.

Hard-working and energetic newcomers are also fostering greater adaptability to technological change.

In the future, he says a well-wired home with high speed access to the Internet will count for more than proximity to schools because learning will be done when and where desired.

Properties that have better bandwidth will have an extra appeal factor. Look at it like waterfront property in cyberspace."

For tax purposes, entrepreneurs will live in offices with a bedroom attached instead of having homes with an office.

Wins appeal against feds

After winning an appeal with Revenue Canada, Ogden says he can deduct 80 percent of his 850-sq-ft. houseboat on Coal Harbour he uses for his consulting business.

"There is nothing illegal in having a washroom and a kitchen in your office. The office of the future could be 600 sq. ft., including facilities with living quarters taking just 200 sq. ft., possibly in a ski lodge-type loft."

Ogden, who bills himself as Dr. Tomorrow, also predicted population growth in the Lower Mainland will open the door to the car condo, a two-or-three-bay combination garage and living quarters, in 10 or 20 years.

"Populations may become so dense in some areas that large suites for humans may be subdivided into even smaller places.

"Maybe then car condos can easily be converted into tiny apartments for people who cannot afford tomorrow's even higher prices for what then may be considered normal apartments."

Car condos are already popular in Hong Kong where one three-car tandem bay went for $3.98 million, Ogden explained.