[lytfyre]

I think another notable difference is that Vancouver Specials are nominally single family detached homes, but the design does lend itself to turning the main floor into a decently sized, above ground rental suite. All without requiring the kind of major renovations that cause city inspections.

[cf100clunk]

Agreed, and a permutation of what you describe is the conversion of side-by-side duplex Vancouver Specials, particulary in Burnaby, into four-plexes by doing the same upstairs-downstairs split.