4570 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

Statistics Canada says the increase in the inflation rate between May and June was the "largest yearly change since January 1983." The consumer price index for May was 7.7 per cent. 

The agency says the increase was mainly because of higher gas prices, though increases "remained broad-based with seven of eight major components rising by 3 per cent or more."

Meanwhile, on a monthly basis, Statistics Canada says the inflation rate rose 0.7 per cent last month, after a 1.4 per cent increase in May. 

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 20 July 2022 - 04:51 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

As I've been saying:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amazon’s Bellevue tower pause may be a sign we’re entering an era of ‘untransit’

 

Seattle Times:

 

With more remote workers, cities should prepare for an era of "untransit" | Danny Westneat

 

The evidence that remote work is here to stay just got serious, writes columnist Danny Westneat. In the past few weeks, the region’s two biggest employers — Amazon and Microsoft — have signaled that “Build it and they will come,” the old normal, is no longer operative. So why are we continuing with the same transit planning without figuring that a third or more of the workforce may not be commuting to a downtown core, or commuting at all?

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 20 July 2022 - 09:28 AM.

[dasmo]

Now homes need to include full offices. But how do we squeeze those into the missing middle one bedroom low rise apartments? 

[Mike K.]

With parklets on would-be residential street parking stalls.

[Ismo07]

Now homes need to include full offices. But how do we squeeze those into the missing middle one bedroom low rise apartments? 

 

I'm not so sure missing middle means one bedroom apartments...

[Mike K.]

It means that, too. A six-plex can be comprised of any domicile. Even studios, or just studios. It can also be large townhomes, small townhomes, a mix of townhomes and studios, etc.

[Ismo07]

It means that, too. A six-plex can be comprised of any domicile. Even studios, or just studios. It can also be large townhomes, small townhomes, a mix of townhomes and studios, etc.

 

The point is that the majority of new dwellings is already 1 bedroom...  What is missing is housing for families...  The intent is for a one bedroom with an office .  Right now a 1 bedroom is not missing or the middle...

 

Quick Facts
Missing Middle housing currently accounts for just five per cent of new home construction, with apartments, condos and detached houses making up the other 95 per cent.

• Over the past 30 years, Victoria has experienced a net loss of school-aged children and adults aged 30-50 – the age when many adults are raising families.
• Most housing in Victoria (68 per cent) is apartment style (rental or condo).
• In Canada, 37 per cent of households have three or more people. In the City of Victoria, it is only 16 per cent.
• The number of seniors in our community is expected to double over the next 20 years. More housing options are needed to allow seniors to age in place within their community.

Edited by Ismo07, 20 July 2022 - 11:17 AM.

[Mike K.]

You should tell the mayor.

[Ismo07]

You should tell the mayor.

 

2e3b730e91e83b01498f1cd10c81ebde_MM_22_handout_FINAL_DIGITAL_July_13.pdf (ehq-production-canada.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com)

 

Just read...  I'm just telling you...  Sure heritage houses might get some 1 bedroom but not really the point of this...

[dasmo]

This is not going to produce more housing for families.... That would be great. I lived in an area in Rotterdam that has this being rolled out in an area that was once industry and brothels. It was a great re-development over a large area with a full mix even parking and large parks with shared outside spaces. We lived in a live/work space on the ground floor of a three story apartment complex.  It can be done and the "form" of this type of building is great. I have stated many times this is what should be happening in the West Hills. But.... it is being used to veil up-zoning EXISTING neighbourhoods that are already multi family if you look at the suites and large houses converted to condos. I lived in Fairfield. The streets are packed with cars already. almost no "single family house" has a single family living in it. This will up the lot value to reflect maximum potential. Therefore any developer will want to maximise it's potential plus extra.....  A 50' wide by 100' deep lot can't make many row houses but can jam in a three story skiniplex.... 

[Mike K.]

West Hills is just in its infancy. They are going to be pursuing more condos and higher densities.

That aside, we aren’t Europe. We like SFDs, and certainly have room for them.

[dasmo]

Sure, but good planning is done in advance. I was blown away visiting the Ben Franklin memorial in Philadelphia and seeing his row house being the only one on an empty street. Even then they all got torn down to make way for downtown. But it was interesting that they had planned from the start for a European style city. I like row houses for urban living. Works super well because it’s mostly just removing the front and side yards and the alley ways behind are useful play zones on top of car parking.

[Mike K.]

West Hills is suburbia, though.

One minute people say West Hills is the middle of nowhere, then we hear it’s urban and needs intense urban densification

[dasmo]

West Hills is suburbia, though.

One minute people say West Hills is the middle of nowhere, then we hear it’s urban and needs intense urban densification

It should be planned as urban IMO. That area is growing big time and it does have a dormant tram line connecting it through other commercial areas and close to downtown. Row house development Netherlands style would be prefect there IMO. A lot more practical than proposing that will happen overnight in Fairfield if we up-zone it there (not-up-zone but rather increase the allowable density under the existing zoning)... 

[Ismo07]

West Hills is suburbia, though.

One minute people say West Hills is the middle of nowhere, then we hear it’s urban and needs intense urban densification

 

There is something that resembles row houses out there..  Close to the Pacific FC training facility.

[dasmo]

They have shifted away from the original tiny houses with front and side yards. 

[Mike K.]

Yes, that’s a different development (those row houses). West Hills hasn’t shifted from its original premise, at least not too much. But it will be building more of its condo components soon, pending market conditions.

[dasmo]

A Calgary-based street pastor, his brother and a cafe owner, all of whom flouted public health restrictions for months, have seen their contempt of court sanctions set aside by the Alberta Court of Appeal. Pastor Artur Pawlowski of Street Church Ministries, his brother Dawid Pawlowski and Christopher Scott, who owns the Whistle Stop Cafe in Mirror, Alta., had been sentenced in October 2021 by Court of Queen's Bench Justice Adam Germain.

https://www.cbc.ca/n...peals-1.6529072

[Spy Black]

You forgot this part from the article:

 

In January, the brothers were arrested after a protest outside the health minister's house in Calgary. Artur was later accused of inciting violence during the blockade at the Coutts, Alta., border crossing.

The panel said it agreed those provisions should be set aside, writing that a judge sanctioning for civil contempt, like a sentencing judge, "should alert counsel before imposing a sanction that exceeds or is significantly different from that sought by the other party and afford counsel the opportunity to address the proposed sanction."

It went on to say that Scott's three days spent in jail, coupled with other sanctions, was sufficient to reflect the seriousness of his breach of the injunction. It set a fine of $10,000 and eight months probation, already served, as new sanctions.

 

 

So ... not quite as "clean" as you presented it, but then expectations that you would present unbiased reportage on anything related to COVID are ,quite simply, no longer expected!

Edited by Spy Black, 22 July 2022 - 02:26 PM.

[dasmo]

I’m glad you enjoyed the article I posted. I aim to inform. Although I didn’t add anything and just quoted from it so I’m not sure why you are clutching your pearls so tightly…

Edited by dasmo, 22 July 2022 - 02:48 PM.