4084 replies to this topic

[dasmo]

In that Brazil pic not only were they able to construct ~1000 highrise buildings in 35 years but they also found time to engineer a massive sandy beach. Remind me, for how many years did the CoV stall the 6-story Northern Junk redevelopment? How long has it taken to only partially build out the Songhees or Dockside Green? How long will it take to make a dent in the potential of the Douglas/Blanshard corridor all the way out to Uptown?

It almost makes one wonder if maybe we were dragging our feet a bit for a while there re: building new homes, even while we were also crying "housing crisis" for the entire time.

Here, we aren't restoring cultural wonders from abominations of urban planning. That is for sure. 

 

The difference I was going for is infrastructure. Naples can reduce cars in its city core because it built a subway.... Here we are just adding people, crushing established neighborhoods, and not adding infrastructure. Bike lanes don't really count since they are taking away infrastructure to build. 

[Tony]

Scarborough LRT was not a great success. Scarborough had less than 500,000 population when it was built and it connected to the subway.

Infrastructure is important but getting it right (if that exists) is also important.

 

The TTC’s Line 3, Scarborough Rapid Transit system (SRT), was a 6.4 kilometre intermediate capacity rapid transit line with six stations that opened in 1985. The SRT trains operated 10 years past their design life, became susceptible to cold weather, and had already been overhauled twice to ensure safe reliable service. 

In July 2023, the TTC decommissioned service on Line 3,  Line was replaced by more reliable bus service according to the TTC.

Edited by Tony, 21 June 2024 - 12:29 PM.

[Mike K.]

Interesting.

 

Thanks for that, Tony.

[aastra]

By coincidence that exact distance of 6.4 kilometers could link the north side of James Bay through downtown out to Uptown and then over to Tillicum Mall.

Maybe the CoV should buy the Scarborough line and move it to Victoria?

 

--

 

[Matt R.]

Just let it tunnel its way here.

[Tony]

The challenges of transit development. as illustrated by the rise and fall of the Scarborough Light Rapid Transit Line.

 

Too optimistic expectations? Too many cooks? Vanity new technology project? etc. etc.

 

Long read but a good example of what happened.

 

https://transittoron...bway/5107.shtml

[Victoria Watcher]

To fix Oak Bay housing, try amalgamation

 

There is a solution to Oak Bay’s apparent recalcitrance to achieving housing objectives: amalgamation.

 

 

Doug Steinburg

Victoria

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let Oak Bay continue just as it is

 

Again I’m seeing demands by the provincial government for Oak Bay to increase density and add more housing.

I don’t think Oak Bay should be required to “keep up” with other, larger municipalities. It is a unique jewel that needs to remain charming and village-like, somewhat like a miniature Cotswolds area that’s pleasant to drive through.

Tourists can enjoy its quaint atmosphere and beautifully kept gardens, check out its cute shops and stop in at the Penny Farthing for an ale.

Please don’t force it to change!

 

 

Rosemary Garnet

Victoria

 

 

https://www.timescol...om-home-9156283

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 29 June 2024 - 06:01 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Saanich is now ready to start accepting applications to redevelop properties inside the district's urban containment boundary after rezoning roughly 27,000 lots from single detached or duplex use to allow for three, four or six units.

The zoning changes bring the district into line with new provincial Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) legislation that requires municipalities to ease restrictions on development with the aim of creating more housing stock.

Saanich successfully met the province's June 30 deadline, according to a district news release.


https://www.vicnews....-effect-7422595

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 02 July 2024 - 02:38 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

This one here still for sale.

 

 

Completely renovated and Vacant! 7-suite character conversion facing south onto Central Park behind Crystal Pool. R-2 Family/Duplex zone, this property comprises: 3 legal One bedroom/studio suites on the ground floor; 2 main-level 2 bedroom suites - each with front entrance and a backyard entrance; and, 2 upper floor suites, each with 2 bedrooms and a den. All suites have in-suite laundry, brand new appliances and separate BC Hydro meter. Separate secure bike storage in the back yard. Gardening space for each suite. Move-in ready, with occupancy certificate expected in November 2023, start leasing for December 1st.

 

https://www.usedvict...entals/40408508

 

[Victoria Watcher]

'A concern for us': Petition calls for no housing in Oak Bay parks

Carnarvon design option doesn't represent a shift in policy, says mayor


https://www.vicnews....y-parks-7430207



“Once housing goes in there, we’re not getting park land back there no matter what happens. We don’t think that should happen in Carnarvon or any other Oak Bay park,” Preston said. “That is a concern for us but we don’t know if this is a sign of other parks to come.”

The exploration doesn’t indicate a shift in policy, as the flyer seems to indicate, Mayor Kevin Murdoch said.

“We’re trying to look at potential for housing any time we’re looking at new buildings,” he said. “It’s certainly not the cornerstone of the ask on Carnarvon.”

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 05 July 2024 - 03:45 PM.

[aastra]

 

Oak Bay is among the communities legislated by the province to create more housing

 

Why is everyone acting like the Uplands school property doesn't exist?

[Victoria Watcher]

A potential housing bylaw change in Vancouver is looking to make living in the city more attainable.

 

A referral report(opens in a new tab) is recommending the city make amendments to its zoning and development bylaws.

 

The change would allow builders to construct multiplexes from previous single properties. It would also allow significantly more space on each lot to be developed, compared to a single property. 

 

A newly-built detached single family house could only use the equivalent of 60 per cent of a lot’s area, or about 2,400 square feet. However, a multiplex will be permitted to go up to 4,026 square feet on that same lot.

 

 

 

https://bc.ctvnews.c...wumraq/7.392349

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 08 July 2024 - 02:05 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Why is everyone acting like the Uplands school property doesn't exist?

 

[Victoria Watcher]

Oak Bay's missing-middle housing could keep province from municipal interference

 

Unclear if municipal action will be enough to appease provincial government

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oak Bay council passed its own form of missing-middle housing just before a provincial deadline last month but it’s still unclear if that will be enough to appease the provincial housing minister and keep the province from getting involved with Oak Bay land-use matters.

 

Oak Bay’s new infill housing program, adopted June 24, is akin to missing-middle programs in other municipalities. It added bylaw amendments to allow for coach houses, tri-plexes, four-plexes and other infill housing options in the Oak Bay for the first time.

 

The program is supposed to allow for more diverse housing choices while aligning with the province’s new housing legislation. Municipalities were given until the end of June to update their bylaws to accommodate what the province calls small-scale, multi-unit housing requirements.

 

Those rules require local governments to allow a primary dwelling and a suite or an accessory dwelling on all lots in single-family residential zones.

 

Local governments were also required to allow denser housing forms such as houseplexes of three to six units, townhomes or small apartment buildings on single-family lots, while allowing taller buildings around transit hubs.

 

The province also gave a number of municipalities housing targets to hit.

 

Oak Bay, the smallest of the first 10 communities given targets, was mandated to produce 56 net new housing units in the first year and 664 units by 2028.

 

A recently filed six-month progress report showed Oak Bay had added only seven new housing units.

 

 

 

 

https://www.timescol...ference-9248132

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 21 July 2024 - 04:12 AM.

[Mike K.]

But hold on.

Aren’t the 423 student housing units on the Oak Bay side of the Camosun campus? So technically, they’re already 423 units in. Plus 15 approved and likely to get built, six in a little mixed use project nearing completion or just completed, and whatever infill they’ve approved.

[Nparker]

Quotas never solve problems.

[GaryOak]

But hold on.

Aren’t the 423 student housing units on the Oak Bay side of the Camosun campus? So technically, they’re already 423 units in. Plus 15 approved and likely to get built, six in a little mixed use project nearing completion or just completed, and whatever infill they’ve approved.

remember that's 423 beds in a dorm layout, it's probably going to be 2 people per room with communal washrooms and dining areas. So for all we know it might count as one really dense unit of housing.

[Mike K.]

It’s a mix of styles, I think, but you’re right, it’s beds, not units. So the actual figure we’re interested in is doors.

[LJ]

We rode the E&N today and going by the Fort Victoria RV park is eye-opening. It is huge, and it is chock-a-block full, with a lot of permanent set-ups.

 

Why doesn't the government take some crown land and build some huge RV parks?  People can spend $30k plus on a unit, plunk it on a pad and pay a low monthly rental that just covers the cost of services and voilà  - you have your affordable housing right there.

[Victoria Watcher]

https://x.com/Lazenb...521097887756688

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B.C.’s housing minister says the District of West Vancouver has 30 days to align with provincial legislation aimed at increasing small-scale multi-unit (SSMU) builds.

 

On Thursday, Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon said the legislation aimed at fixing outdated zoning rules had been adopted by almost 90 per cent of communities. SSMU housing includes row homes, triplexes, and townhouses.

 

Out of 188 municipal governments, 162 have adopted the SSMU legislation through local bylaws, the province said, adding another nine are “actively working to adopt the legislation.”

 

“We will be reviewing these bylaws to ensure that more triplexes, fourplexes, and townhomes can be built,” Kahlon said on X.

 

 

https://vancouver.ci...ng-ssmu-notice/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 25 July 2024 - 03:25 PM.