Big news in development world. The Squamish Nation and OP Trust (Ontario pension) now the only partners in the Senakw development, after OP Trust takes on the 30 per cent Westbank Corp (Ian Gillespie) share for Phases 1/2, Squamish 100 per cent developer for Phases 3/4

Sounds like there are a few councillors in the region planning mayoral bids as they sense their current mayors are vulnerable. Linda Annis in Surrey set to challenge Brenda Locke, Daniel Fontaine in New West with Patrick Johnstone, Kash Heed in Richmond against Malcolm Brodie

The city has agreed with opponents to the controversial supportive housing project to allow the approved rezoning of 2022 to be quashed www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/briti...

In B.C., promise of temporary modular housing was short-lived solution to #homelessness crisis. Turns out the units are expensive to disassemble, store, ship, upgrade to code, and re-assemble, by @fabulavancouver.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... via @theglobeandmail.com

So ~$3.8m per lot. Assuming 1.8m regular market price, this is ~2x land value to consolidate for a couple towers (probably 6 fsr? 6x current allowed density). Have just been thinking about the pros/cons of consolidation vs single lot densification…

Big Pundit Brain Thought Of The Day: Sean Orr is Vancouver’s first politician to win an election with Instagram as their main media/advertising tool. He had a constant stream of personable, punchy videos, many of which got shared hundreds of times, helping create a highly motivated core to vote.

With 18/27 polls reporting, Orr/COPE and Maloney/OneCity galloping way ahead of the pack. Reilly/Green a distant third and Hardwick/TEAM behind her.

I heard from three sources earlier this evening that Mayor Ken Sim basically conceded the two open seats were lost to ABC in communications with party insiders.

Staff at Marpole-Oakridge told some seniors trying to skip the regular line that seniors can’t get priority access because “half the line is seniors”. They only let seniors with obvious mobility issues to skip the regular line.

If you’re a senior, pregnant, have a disability, you can get priority access for voting. If you don’t see the sign for it, ask a staffer. #vanpoli

There appear to be long line-ups at many of today’s polling places. To help your fellow citizens, can you post about the state of the line where you are and, in particular, let people know if your centre line-up seems to be under 30 min

Looking for any Canadians who own rec or other U.S. property nearby. Obviously wondering impact of current state of things, but also would like to talk about the attraction of rec property south of the border, any challenges there have been over the years. Text or call at BC area code 812.6205

For anyone who can't make advance voting today and unable to vote April 5, you can ask for a mail-in ballot UP TO NOON TODAY. Then you can pick it up at city hall any time 8:30 to 5 Wednesday or Thursday and up to noon Friday. Can be dropped at elxn office 305 West 8th any time

Substantial line-up already at city hall, the last day and only place for advance voting in the Vancouver by-election. A real mix of ages here. Would love to quiz everyone in line but I think that won’t fly

It looked like there was a pretty serious accident at Commercial and Second on Saturday afternoon -- a pedestrian down in the crosswalk and an SUV stopped just beyond it, plus half a dozen police cars, ambulances, etc. -- but I didn't see any police info on it. Anyone know anything?

As ever, a great thread and great resource. I’d also add: 1. More entrances to the street means fewer long blank walls to the street. Even if the same total number of people are coming and going, they’re more distributed. 2. A knowable number of neighbours, for family safety.

I took a long look at what the province's new seismic requirements mean for residential builders. (Some of the tech details made my head hurt.) storeys.com/seismic-prot...

Just to make it clear: I have many gripes with the planning/housing in so many parts of the region, not just the Broadway Plan. The weird Mordor-like tower clusters in shopping-mall lots. Vast tracts of single-detached homes in retail deserts. (I'd start drinking if lived there.)

Two pieces of recent news (expansion of bike spaces in Paris, positive reviews about congestion pricing in New York) have reminded me of how important it is for successful city policy to get visible wins for the public. Something the Broadway Plan isn't doing and why that matters

Does anyone here know what's happening with the lululemon headquarters in the flats that was approved 2020 and was said to be going ahead 2022 but nothing seems to have been started?

I have a poll going in the other place re Broadway plan and city development, if anyone wants to participate. Sorry, couldn’t find a way to post here

Interesting difference between Twitter and BlueSky in the response to my critique of the Broadway Plan. On BlueSky, heavily negative about my take, with many YIMBY types (and chief city planner) arguing with many points. Twitter tilts more to people agreeing with me.

Global News has obtained leaked audio of an ABC candidate running in the Vancouver byelection speaking about his running mate. globalnews.ca/video/110919...

Reminding you all one more time that you don’t have to order from Amazon. Went looking for Njahi black beans from Kenya this week. Not a single local African grocery store had them. $40 for a 1.5 k bag on Amazon. $9 per 1 k bag from Chakula Tami in Toronto plus delivery.

Once again, it's kinda depressing that if you try to bring up the smallest suggestion the Broadway Plan could have better urban design, a pack of people will jump on you to suggest you're trying to kill all housing. I understand, many of you are burned by decades of NIMBY oppo to everything but ...

Vancouver has done amazing work in the past to create outstanding high-density neighbourhoods. The Broadway Plan breaks with that tradition and the city's own history of good urban design. www.bcbusiness.ca/industries/r...

Premier David Eby and Housing MInister Ravi Kahlon have been out and about making interesting speeches lately that have people in the RE world wondering if the ground is shifting in their approach to development storeys.com/bc-housing-a...

For our first session We’ll be joined by an amazing group of journalists for a panel on “Framing the Crisis: Media, Ethics and the Housing Conversation.” They include @michaeljohnlo.bsky.social @robshaw.bsky.social @fabulavancouver.bsky.social @gregorcraigie.bsky.social & Michael Vonn CEO PHS

I talked to cities across Canada, from Saint John to London to Surrey, about their response to the Trump tariff threat. Lots of "buy local" going on out there, along with some measures to actively support businesses in their cities. www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...

Leaked document shows new plan to alter Vancouver's troubled Downtown Eastside. Secret plan calls for quick development approvals, returning people to home communities and review of non-profits, by @fabulavancouver.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... via @theglobeandmail.com #DTES

Vancouver head planner Josh White talking to developer group UDI where his big theme is making things more flexible, deferring developer fees to later in the project, dumping redundant, conflicting policy.

Vancouver and District Labour Council endorsing the OneCity and Green candidates for council, mo mention of COPE's Sean Orr. (I'm guessing they feel like COPE didn't abide by an agreement that there'd only be two left candidates for the by-election. COPE says there was no deal.)

@fabulavancouver.bsky.social talks to a variety of industry folks about what impact tariffs etc might have on construction storeys.com/bc-developer...

What is currently happening in rental world

I'd just like to express my undying gratitude for all the engineers, scientists, lawyers, doctors, airline experts, world-health specialists and lawyers who take the trouble to come onto this site or others to refute the crazy tide of misinformation we're currently living with.

A reminder: in the past, when a singer's mic cut out during the U.S. National Anthem at a hockey game in Canada, the entire arena stepped in, singing every single word of the Star Spangled Banner together. Tonight, thanks to Trump, Canada is booing during the National Anthem.

It’s hard not to feel like what’s going on right now is the slightly politer, North American version of Russia invading Ukraine. An unprovoked war with the end goal (if someone so erratic can be said to have a defined goal) of weakening Canada profoundly in order to take it over

What it's like working in government and dealing with the public these days www.bccourts.ca/jdb-txt/sc/2...

Environmental lawyer and cycling advocate Lucy Maloney named as candidate for OneCity in Vancouver by-election coming April 5.

Vancouver by-election date April 5. Replacing two councillors: OneCity Christine Boyle and Green Party Adriane Carr

Looking to talk to people (for news) about their experiences with the new limits on short-term-vacation rentals of the past year. Made things better, worse, no change for you personally? Your building? DM, call, email, carrier pigeon, stop me on the street.

Promoting this cute vegan cafe in Mount Pleasant, AM (Animals Matter) Cafe, located in an unusual spot, on an alley off Guelph and Broadway. Planning to have patio service in the laneway (between B'way and 10th) by summer. Doing my bit for local amcafe.ca

Misinformation isn't random - it's strategic. 🧵 In the first cross-national comparative study, we examine 32M tweets from politicians. We find that misinformation is not a general condition: it is driven by populist radical right parties. with @julianachueri.bsky.social doi.org/10.1177/1940...

Vancouver Green Councillor Adriane Carr has called a news conference for 10. Kinda expecting her to announce resignation as she had said she was considering. Unless it’s some big expose about city hall

I was in Chilliwack in the pre-Christmas season and, I've gotta say, I quite liked it. Beautiful scenery in the countryside. Reasonably healthy historic main street (with two fabulous bookstores). And a very cute area built like an English mews just off the main intersection.

It seems like only yesterday that I was writing about Concord Pacific's big plans to build a dense, new neighbourhood in Northeast False Creek with a pedestrian-focused street/lane grid and lots of mini-retail. But, no, it was really eight years ago. www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-bu...

Nice to read urban success stories happycities.com/blog/halifax...

For your reading pleasure, a long-ago article about the Vancouver Art Gallery plans for a new building (not mine) www.vanmag.com/city/arts-an...

A machine that allows street drug users to check the composition of what they're about to use within 15 minutes has been a game changer for those using it at London's supervised consumption site. #onpoli www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

My thread on the debate and vote re natural gas in new construction at Vancouver city council tonight. Sorry, haven’t figured out how to post in two places simultaneously x.com/fabulavancou...