Blog

All the blog posts, with a select collection of blog posts from old website pre-2022.

Some of the older posts are archived here not so much for posterity as transparency/ Comments have been turned off.

On transparency and the Kettle Boffo deal.

On transparency and the Kettle Boffo deal.

Some years ago I met w/ Daniel Boffo, over n’hood resistance to height/density and perception that inclusion of city land in project called to question net public benefits, notwithstanding Kettle contributions.

I suggested that the best solution might be to open the books, show people the pro formas ie. the numbers that make the project work vis a vis public land and public benefits involved.

Read More
Empty data from Mayor's office on Empty Homes Tax.

Empty data from Mayor’s office on Empty Homes Tax.

If EHT is not tracking primary residence but location at time of declaration, and declarations can be made by a proxy — are we tracking local owners, or local realtors/lawyers?

Read More
Big Loopholes in Vancouver's Empty Homes Tax

Big Loopholes in Vancouver’s Empty Homes Tax

VANCOUVER, Archive, HOUSING, VANCOUVER

Want to avoid Vancouver’s Empty Home Tax?
Find the right strata.

The extended empty home reporting deadline is approaching.
There’s been plenty of advertising. But did you know EHT specifically exempts condos where strata rules restrict rentals?

Read More
NPA votes against tax on property flippers

NPA votes against tax on property flippers

VANCOUVER, Archive, HOUSING, VANCOUVER

Vancouver City Council proposes province tax property flippers… But NPA voted against.

ICYMI, as the BC Budget was being delivered, the rest of Vancouver City Council passed Adriane Carr’s “Call for Bold Provincial Actions to Tackle Housing Affordability.”

Read More
UBCM Housing Strategy for BC

UBCM Housing Strategy for BC

Union of BC Municipalities have released a housing policy paper, “A Home For Everyone: A Housing Strategy for British Columbians” that consolidates some excellent recommendations.

Read More
Over six months later, negligent developers still screwing over local neighbours.

Over six months later, negligent developers still screwing over local neighbours.

Word that the developers of the Brixton Flats project in Chinatown are refusing to fairly compensate residents of the half dozen homes they destroyed back in in April, when a wind storm collapsed a brick retaining wall they had been constructing (ironically covering over the very mural they have featured in their promo for the new development).

Read More
Penalties for Illegal Ridesharing Operations should be Steeper

Penalties for Illegal Ridesharing Operations should be Steeper

VANCOUVER, Archive, RIDESHARE

While MLAs continue to debate how to regulate ride shares in Vancouver and across BC — here in the Lower Mainland, growth in illegal rideshares has been absolutely explosive!

Yesterday on CKNW I followed up with Lynda Steel on a conversation we had back in July.

Read More
Green politico Pete Fry sounds alarm about loophole in campaign-finance law

Green politico Pete Fry sounds alarm about loophole in campaign-finance law

Big money may continue to influence local elections in B.C., says a former city-council candidate. Pete Fry of the Green Party of Vancouver claims that this is due to a loophole in legislation that was passed by the province last month regarding campaign financing.

Read More
Know Your Rights: Tenant Relocation and Protection policy

Know Your Rights: Tenant Relocation and Protection policy

VANCOUVER, affordability, Archive, tenants

Under the City’s Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy, formally evicting long term tenants for “minor repairs” necessitates at a minimum 4 months free rent and moving expenses (in the case of a 10year tenant).

Read More
On Zoning.

On Zoning.

VANCOUVER, Archive, HOUSING, URBANISM

Zoning and land-use decisions are the big tools at the city’s disposal. The outrageous land valuation increase detailed in this article is a direct result of the city’s changes to permissible building height and scale — and it’s what is driving a rush on speculation as well as replacement and displacement of actually affordable housing in the West End.

Read More
Voting Vision is more of the same and voting NPA could block key budget votes

Voting Vision is more of the same and voting NPA could block key budget votes

The best part of political campaigns is meeting people and reconnecting with our city’s neighbourhoods.

But it’s bittersweet.

Too many folk are being pushed out. People are living on the street. Increasingly our city is becoming more about speculative investment and less about people who live and work here.

Read More
Adriane Carr: Vancouver and I need Pete Fry on city council

Adriane Carr: Vancouver and I need Pete Fry on city council

VANCOUVER, Archive, in the media, POLITICS

I love my job as a Vancouver city councillor. But I’d get a lot more done and the city would be better off if Pete Fry were to join me at the council table.

Dynamics were different at city hall when I was elected as Vancouver’s first Green councillor in 2011. The two NPA councillors—Affleck and Ball—were willing to second my motions even if they didn’t vote for them, just to ensure they got publicly debated. Vision councillors, who often tried to dissuade me from even making motions, occassionally seconded one, then basically quashed it by referring it to staff for review.

Read More