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You are managing a housing puzzle with multiple moving pieces. Aging parents who need to be nearby. A young adult saving money by living at home. Your own need for space, privacy, and a home that does not require constant upkeep. You need a layout that works today and can adapt as your family's needs evolve over the next decade.
Dawson + Sawyer builds townhomes and condos across Surrey that offer the floor plan flexibility, accessibility features, and community design to serve multiple generations well. This guide gives you the framework to evaluate what you need, what questions to ask, and which communities are worth visiting.
A multigenerational home is a single residence where two or more adult generations of the same family live together: most commonly aging parents, their adult children, and sometimes grandchildren under one roof. It is different from a typical family home in one key way: each generation needs a degree of privacy and independence, not just a shared roof and a spare bedroom.
In practice, this can take a few forms. It might be one household where grandparents, parents, and adult children share a single townhome but maintain separate private zones , a main-floor bedroom and bathroom for a parent who should not be managing stairs, and a sound-separated bedroom with its own workspace for an adult child. It might be a parent moving in to help with childcare while the family covers housing costs. Or it might be two separate units purchased in the same building or community, keeping each generation fully independent while staying close enough to share meals, transportation, and day-to-day support.
A new townhome in Surrey offers something a large single-family house often cannot: modern construction with built-in accessibility considerations, a maintenance-free strata structure, and layouts designed for distinct private spaces within a shared home. The monthly strata fee handles shared exterior responsibilities so the household is not managing a roster of contractors for gutters, landscaping, and building repairs.
For aging parents, modern construction typically offers wider hallways, step-in shower options, accessible entry points, and elevator access in mid-rise buildings. For young adults who need space for remote work or study but also some independence, a 3-bedroom layout with a flex room offers the separation that makes shared living sustainable over the long term.
When it comes to accessibility for aging parents, the details matter considerably. The key questions are whether there is elevator access to the unit, the width of hallways and doorways in the specific floor plan, whether the shower is a step-in or has a threshold curb, whether there is a main-floor bedroom and full bathroom so that stairs are not required for daily living, and how far the parking stall is from the building entrance. Grab bar backing plates roughed into bathroom walls are a practical feature to ask about specifically, as retrofitting them later requires opening walls.
For young adults needing some independence within the home, look for a layout with a bedroom that has reasonable sound separation from other rooms, a bathroom that does not require passing through shared spaces, and a dedicated area for desk work. The flex room or den that many 3-bedroom townhome layouts include can serve this purpose well.
For the household as a whole, storage is often underestimated. Multiple generations in one home accumulate belongings. Confirm in-suite storage availability, locker options, and bike storage. For parking, multigenerational households commonly need two to three vehicles accommodated, so confirm the stall allocation for your unit and whether additional stalls are available for purchase.
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For some multigenerational families, the cleanest solution is purchasing two units in the same building or community — one for the parents and one for the primary household. This maintains privacy and independence for each generation while keeping family close. Two separate Contracts of Purchase are required, one for each unit, and each purchase is independent. Confirm unit availability and proximity options with the Dawson + Sawyer sales team if this is part of your plan, as it depends entirely on what is available at the time.
For families with aging parents, Surrey's healthcare access is a genuine practical advantage. Surrey Memorial Hospital is one of BC's busiest acute care facilities. Peace Arch Hospital serves South Surrey and White Rock. Multiple medical clinics, physiotherapy practices, and specialist offices are located throughout Guildford and Newton, including several within walking distance of Guildford Town Centre. Senior day programs and community health services are well distributed across the city, and the SkyTrain line connects residents to the broader healthcare network across Metro Vancouver.
Queens offers condo options in the Bear Creek neighbourhood for families considering adjacent unit purchases or a condo alongside a townhome for different generations.
Queens Townhomes offers family-sized townhome layouts with private outdoor space. Bear Creek Park is directly adjacent, providing accessible walking paths for residents with varying mobility levels. Proximity to Newton Recreation Centre offers senior programming alongside children's activities.
Guildford The Greatest 2 is an elevator-accessible mid-rise building close to Guildford Town Centre's medical clinics, pharmacy, optometrist, and grocery stores. This is a combination that serves aging parents well for daily independence.
Fleetwood Village 2 provides elevator-accessible condo living directly on the SkyTrain line, which is beneficial for young adults who commute to Vancouver.
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Can I buy two adjacent units in the same building for a multigenerational setup?
This is possible subject to availability. Two separate Contracts of Purchase are required, one per unit, and each is an independent purchase. There is no policy preventing family members from owning in the same building. Confirm current availability and unit proximity with the Dawson + Sawyer sales team at the time of inquiry, as inventory changes as sales progress.
Are there floor plans with main-floor bedrooms and bathrooms in the townhomes?
Some townhome layouts include a main-floor flex room that can function as a bedroom alongside a ground-floor powder room or full bathroom. Specific configurations vary by floor plan. Request floor plans from the sales team and identify layouts where an elderly parent's bedroom and bathroom do not require stair access.
How many parking stalls are available per townhome unit?
Most Dawson + Sawyer townhome units include two parking stalls. If three stalls are required, confirm whether additional stalls are available for purchase or lease. Ask specifically about stall proximity to the building entrance and elevator, as this matters considerably for residents with limited mobility.
Do the mid-rise condo buildings have elevators?
Yes. Fleetwood Village 2, Guildford The Greatest 2, and the Queens condo building are mid-rise buildings with elevator access throughout. Townhomes are multi-level and do not include internal elevators. For elderly family members with mobility challenges, a condo unit in an elevator-equipped building is generally more practical than a multi-story townhome.
What visitor parking is available for caregivers or medical transport?
Visitor parking varies by building. Confirm the number of visitor stalls, whether they have time limits, and whether a stall could accommodate regular caregiver visits. If accessible visitor stalls are specifically required, ask about this directly.
Are any units designed to be fully wheelchair accessible?
New BC construction must meet BC Building Code accessibility requirements including a barrier-free path of travel to suites in multi-family buildings. However, full wheelchair accessibility with 36-inch doorways, roll-in showers, and turning radius clearances is not standard in every unit. Request the floor plan and specifications, and ask the sales team whether any units have enhanced accessibility features.
Are there community spaces suitable for family gatherings?
Community spaces vary by project. Some buildings include courtyard areas and green spaces suitable for outdoor family gatherings. Indoor party or event rooms are not standard in all Dawson + Sawyer communities.
What healthcare facilities are closest to each active community?
Surrey Memorial Hospital is located in North Surrey, approximately 10 to 20 minutes by car from most active communities. Peace Arch Hospital serves South Surrey and White Rock. Multiple medical clinics and specialist offices are located in Guildford Town Centre, within walking distance of Guildford The Greatest 2, and along 152nd Street near the Bear Creek communities.