Very happy to have variance approval for this wonderful 3 storey apartment building for my client @pamelablais.bsky.social This Office Ou designed project is the first to receive approval for a single stair alternative solution. That approval allowed space to add an additional unit.

www.youtube.com/live/shr_3Ok... sorry, thought I time stamped it but apparently didn't.

Suburban Sprawl may seem cheap, but even the costs we CAN count are far too high, and we ALL pay them. HT Smart Prosperity Institute #UrbanTruth institute.smartprosperity.ca/library/publ...

The contrast between this young person's comments and the comments of the landed gentry could not be more start. She speedtalks through a greatest hits of what Toronto urbanists have been advocating for for a while now. www.youtube.com/watch?v=shr_...

secure.toronto.ca/council/agen... Really good mayor's motion to PHC today to help improve the committee of adjustment. I don't think significant changes are needed, current system works really well the vast majority of the time. But tweaks can be made to make it even better.

Thanks to everyone that came to Sunday's edition of "Making Room: a Citizen Developer's Guide" Some great discussions and ideas sparked by @realliamgill.bsky.social's journey developing a small apartment without prior development experience. Joined by @plannersean.bsky.social for the fireside chat.

Looking forward to this book launch tonight (which features a few of my photographs) www.mqup.ca/Books/T/Toro...

GREAT NEWS! @plannersean.bsky.social is joining our discussion this Wednesday evening. He has over 25 years of experience in planning, specializing in multiplexes and backyard units even before the CIty of Toronto legalized them. (He can answer a question or two about disc golf too...)

The Citizen's Developer Guide launches on February 18th, but you can register for the FREE download here: www.moreneighbours.ca/news/dev-guide

9 years ago this week I started a project. Can't share it yet, but eventually. www.honestedsdemolition.com

Love these new Dylan Cease discs coming to the Toronto Open in March. www.instagram.com/p/DUlyk4HkYp...

Unfortunately, the variances for this were refused because it violates the sanctity of Toronto’s neighbourhood character, section 4.1.5 of the Official Plan, and that one guy who hates fun.

The half time show showed the importance of walkable mixed use neighbourhoods. House, bodega, nail salon, Ricky Martin… all in walkable distance.

Waiting for the 15 post thread from @dieworkwear.bsky.social about this suit

Local disc golfer did great at the Olympics

CBC Gem has so much Olympic coverage. It’s fantastic.

Don Valley Brick Works 18 years ago youtu.be/SxOVaeSOM0E?...

youtu.be/5PfK8duRayo?... 19 years I was contacted by a student who wanted to make a class project video about urban exploration (which I was big into). My self and an Urbex team mate brought them into Hamilton’s Lister Block and the Brock Works. A little cringe, but hey some cool shots.

It looks like a really great plan, and it has nothing remotely similar to the “existing neighbourhood character” fetishizing that Toronto’s does in 4.1.5

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... Tucked into the proposed zoning changes to try and prevent iceberg homes in Toronto is a change that’s going to make it harder to have a backyard pool city-wide. Very much feels like, again, a solution in search of a problem.

Toronto Parks has been operating as if deadlines and budgets are irrelevant. Suddenly there’s a shortage. www.thestar.com/news/gta/dou...

“The development that, 120 years ago, so galled its neighbours is now regarded as a heritage building of such importance that its tenants had hoped to maintain it as-is for years to come.” apple.news/AN4r8MGvtR1W...

Send me your Toronto housing familiar paralegals that help tenants.

“Rath immediately became defensive at the mention of the movement’s coziness with the United States.” @pressprogress.ca pressprogress.ca/alberta-sepa...

If you know of anyone renting a studio or other small apartment that is chihuahua friendly for $1000ish please let me know. My friend in Parkdale is getting renovicted in February. She is a great tenant. Even if it is being redeveloped and it’s only a temporary situation.

Ok are you still paying too much for cell service? Now is your chance. 50% off all Public Mobile plans for 24 months. Insanely good prices. (Click for full size) If you want to use my referral code, cool (dunno if it helps on price) 4KTZ6Z

New from me at TVO, on recent news from the province on the housing file (and why all of it is, literally and provably, years too late) amp.tvo.org/article/analysis-is-2026-the-year-ontario-will-finally-get-to-work-taking-on-the-housing-crisis

Clearly the sign isn’t big enough.

We have a consultation problem. I write about a Toronto rec centre that will have taken 14 years to plan, cost at least three times the original budget - and be a bad building. www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...

Well played, Discover Muskoka, with your “Come to the Cottage” billboards.

Toronto today

That stupid Craven Road garden suite thing from last fall is coming back next week. www.thestar.com/real-estate/...

I am hiring an Assistant Planner to join our Planning Department. A great position for someone passionate about downtown and revitalization in Buffalo, NY! www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=5...

Nice new Toronto 6plex by my client, Desi Living. Coming soon a laneway suite in the back.

Photo 1: ok, kinda typical modernist new build Photo 2: wait… what Photo 3: what the ever loving fuck www.zillow.com/homedetails/...

Obligatory

You say you want more walkable communities, but remember when grandma got ran over by those fuckin’ reindeer she was walking home. If she was driving she would still be alive

That being said, Etobicoke, North York, and Scarborough *still* have lower densities than what they thought they should aim to achieve by 1980.

It's still the 50s so if you read the rest of that section they are aiming for what I consider low densities and they want to drop the density of downtown and the west end.

From the Metro Toronto Planning Board's 1959 draft Official Plan (voted down by Metro Council). You could not say something this obvious in Toronto's Official Plan anymore.

Didn’t listen to me and switch cell phone carrier before? Ok fine. Boxing Week sales are starting to appear. Switch, already. Don’t care to which company, just switch. Happy with your plan? Switch. (And use my referral code. The one and only time I’ll mention it: 8JSWQK )

Sometimes the memes write themselves

SKULL OF THOMAS AQUINAS: TAKE A LEFT NOW PRIEST: No, the GPS says we have to keep going— SKULL: I KNOW A SHORTCUT PRIEST: Do you remember the last ti— SKULL: FOR THOSE WITH FAITH, NO EVIDENCE IS NECESSARY; FOR THOSE WITHOUT IT, NO EVIDENCE WILL SUFFICE

Last week it was 10 units on Oakwood, and today I am happy to have gotten my client approval at CoA for a 6plex on a very unusual triangle-shaped lot in East York. 3x4 bedroom units above 3x1 bedroom units.

Last week it was 10 units on Oakwood, and today I am happy to have gotten my client approval at CoA for a 6plex on a very unusual triangle-shaped lot in East York. 3x4 bedroom units above 3x1 1 bedroom units.

Friend sends a photo of a spider that he found in his basement, “do you know what kind this is?” I don’t know shit about spiders. Clearly, AI to the rescue. Ask ChatGPT and Gemini and both were very confident in their reply, gave detailed reasons, and were both totally wrong (and different).

The pedestrian bridge that connected Eaton Centre to Hudson’s Bay is open again. Gives an interesting view to the Ontario Line construction project.