Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Ian @idmb.bsky.social · 3d

I don’t see how that can possibly be true when there’s such a massive difference in allowed FSR on/off arterial, and the large minimum frontage requirement that requires land assemblies even when building on Vancouver’s larger single-family lots.

Policy here is heavily distorting the market.

1

Ian @idmb.bsky.social · 4d

The plan is a MASSIVE improvement over policy from a decade ago, but I'll put my pessimistic guess that rental approvals over the next decade will still be >80% on-arterial by floorspace, both across the city and in the R&R plan area.

1

Ian @idmb.bsky.social · 4d

Policy: guidelines.vancouver.ca/policy-plan-...

If we assume in both cases developers are going for the minimum frontage, not much greater, then you need 4x as many applications off-arterial. This means 4x as many land assemblies, many of which are already completed on-arterial!

guidelines.vancouver.ca

1

Ian @idmb.bsky.social · 4d

Looking at the policy plan and the map @jwhiteyvr.bsky.social posted, it's roughly 8+ FSR on the arterial roads and ~2 FSR for off-arterial 6 stories, so you need 4x the land to hit 50% off-arterial floorspace within the plan. Both have huge minimum frontages, requiring assembly.

1

Ian @idmb.bsky.social · 4d

Yes it’s very exciting the plan allows it, and so far approvals within the Broadway plan also have a decent number off-arterial, but in both cases larger buildings are still allowed on the arterials than further into the “villages.”

So I’m curious about the estimated % balance of new floorspace.

1

Ian @idmb.bsky.social · 4d

From 2009-2018, 90% of new purpose-built rental was on arterial roads. How much do you think the policy changes you’re speaking of will improve that figure for 2026-2035?

1 1

Reposted by Ian

Mihai Cirstea @mihai-cirstea.bsky.social · 9d

I'm realizing that I don't know the name of a single judge on Canada's Supreme Court and how that's probably a good thing

Pwnallthethings @pwnallthethings.bsky.social · 9d

Tragic news from Canada where the Canadian Supreme Court has gone from the official dress on the left to the one on the right

Canadian Supreme court. Everyone is dressed in bright red wooly gowns, with a beige trim. It looks sort of like a Santa robe

The Canadian Supreme court. Everyone is dressed in black gowns with a bright white kravat, and two thin red vertical lines on the side of the robe

2 1 8

Ian @idmb.bsky.social · 19d

Would be cool if the BCNDP, in an attempt to distance themselves from Ontario’s conservative government, actually took some major steps to improve road safety and public transportation.

BC’s camera program is up for review by 2027…. Expand & improve it, and earmark revenue for infrastructure!

Oh The Urbanity! @ohtheurbanity.bsky.social · 19d

It’s not just Doug Ford. Are all of Ontario’s political parties car-brained?

Del Duca, recently the leader of the Ontario Liberal Party, seems to join Ford in opposing speed cameras.

The NDP ran on eliminating tolls on Highway 407!

2 1 10

Reposted by Ian

Mihai Cirstea @mihai-cirstea.bsky.social · 19d

Our "progressive" government will bend over backwards to make driving slightly cheaper (gas prices didn't even go down btw good job lining the pockets of the oil & gas industry) but won't do anything to prevent about one death per day on our roads.

Vision Zero Vancouver @visionzerovancouver.ca · 19d

Eby repealed a carbon tax that had been working in BC for almost 2 decades in order to make gas a bit cheaper, and handed out $410 million to drivers for basically no reason. And now there's no money for active transport grants. 300 people a year are killed in BC in motor vehicle crashes.

5 19

Reposted by Ian

GRIDS Vancouver @grids.reillywood.com · 20d

Gregor Robertson addressing BC cities at their annual conference, lol:

Susan Kim 김수잔 @susankimyyj.bsky.social · 20d

Min referencing his experience as former Mayor of Vancouver, listening accomplishments there. Some commentary in the seats next to me express frustration with how… not well done that was.

1 7

Ian @idmb.bsky.social · 23d

By role yeah, though Alto was by far the strongest mayoral candidate on housing… www.homesforliving.ca/elections/vi...

Victoria Candidate Rankings

We looked at platforms, public statements, voting records and responses to our housing survey to rank candidates in the upcoming Greater Victoria elections.

www.homesforliving.ca

1 2

Reposted by Ian

Mihai Cirstea @mihai-cirstea.bsky.social · 23d

Montague doesn't even live in Vancouver, has brought forward zero good ideas in 3 years on council, and only made it into the chamber because the VPD endorsed Sim and wanted their personal spokesperson at the table. He's a bully and actively makes our city worse.

Peter Waldkirch @pwaldkirch.bsky.social · 23d

Last week ABC's Brian Montague engaged in some seriously unprofessional conduct at city council. This is just a clip of a larger series of interruptions.

This sorts of bullying shouldn't be tolerated in civic business.

2 6 26

Reposted by Ian

Mihai Cirstea @mihai-cirstea.bsky.social · 27d

Vancouver's property taxes are among the lowest in Canada. Ken Sim wants a 0% increase this year, which is negative when you consider inflation and the additional $ they'll throw at the police. Sim & co didn't create this problem, but they'll make it much worse. (2/3)

www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar...

vancouver property taxes low - Google Search

google.com

1 1 8

Reposted by Ian

Mihai Cirstea @mihai-cirstea.bsky.social · 27d

If you're wondering why our facilities our crumbling, our infrastructure projects are half-built, our arts & culture sector is struggling, it's simple. Our current government is committed to keeping property taxes artificially low, while handing a blank cheque to the police. (1/3)

2 2 22

Reposted by Ian

Lucy Maloney @lucymaloney.bsky.social · 28d

More evidence of ABC incompetence today at City Hall.

Having directed City institutions to extract the most revenue possible from our public assets, they were confronted with the consequences: a beloved business shuttered in the pursuit of greater profit.

isabella zavarise @isabellazavarise.bsky.social · 28d

Vancouver city council is hearing from speakers urging the city to change its mind about choosing Truffles Fine Foods over Shaughnessy Restaurant. The family run restaurant has been at VanDusen Botanical Garden for decades.
Previous story for reference:
www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar...

Longtime restaurant’s lease at Vancouver’s VanDusen Gardens in limbo

A longtime Vancouver restaurant could be losing its lease, after more than two decades in the same location.

www.ctvnews.ca

2 2 16

Reposted by Ian

Peter Waldkirch @pwaldkirch.bsky.social · Sep 12

Apartments (including rentals and below market homes!) are banned from most of the city's nice side streets.

That sucks!

@lucymaloney.bsky.social's motion to legalize 6 floor apts by parks and bike routes could help change that.

Here's how you can show support:

pwaldkirch.ca/2025/09/12/s...

Support more housing along bike routes and by parks! Here's how: - Peter Waldkirch Webzone

Lucy Maloney's (OneCity) motion to legalize housing by parks and bike routes is housing and climate action. Here's how you can support it!

pwaldkirch.ca

3 30 100

Reposted by Ian

Bryn Davidson - Lanefab @lanefab.com · Sep 12

Bike / Park Oriented Development (BPOD?) !

A motion from OneCity councilor @lucymaloney.bsky.social aims to end the apartment ban next to bike streets and parks!

We need liveable density on quiet leafy streets. Don’t like arterial density? Want alternatives to towers?

Speak in support sept 17

7 25 160

Reposted by Ian

Vision Zero Vancouver @visionzerovancouver.ca · Sep 16

Everyone that rides through here knows that the connection between the Arbutus Greenway and Kent sucks. No wayfinding, steep hills, parking lots, 6-lane arterials... The good news is a motion from @mikeklassen.bsky.social aims to fix this! Along with much needed improvements on Kent. (1/3)

A map showing the current detour between the Arbutus Greenway and Kent, and a potential gap fix which connects the two properly.

2 10 33

Ian @idmb.bsky.social · Sep 12

The R4 getting stuck in traffic is an embarrassment.

1

Ian @idmb.bsky.social · Sep 10

Alternatively, more school!

1 2

Ian @idmb.bsky.social · Sep 10

Sounds like it would be quite popular

2

Reposted by Ian

ostonox @ostonox.com · Sep 3

nyc has socialist mayor zohran mamdani lined up and philadelphia has...

public transit funding crisis sponsored by FanDuel™ sports casino

Tweet: Wow. @FanDuel steps in to restore SEPTA’s Broad Street Line for tomorrows Eagles game 🙌

Tweet contains text screenshot announcing Philadelphia's SEPTA is partnering with FanDuel to restore defunded service

5 5 100

Ian @idmb.bsky.social · Aug 22

Reading the article, it’s actually a problem in many Metro Van municipalities - park board has nothing to do with it.

“Parents and guardians are not allowed to teach their own children or youth,” a [Langley] city spokesperson told Postmedia.

1

Ian @idmb.bsky.social · Aug 22

“These standards help ensure that all instruction is delivered safely, consistently, and in alignment with facility guidelines.”
- Vancouver staff

wow seems like a great strategy to ensure kids learn to swim :))))

vancouversun.com/news/vancouv...

Vancouver parents blocked from teaching their kids to swim in public pools

Enforcement of a vague policy has prevented some parents from teaching their own kids to swim, even as demand for lessons outstrips supply.

vancouversun.com

1

Reposted by Ian

Paris Marx @parismarx.com · Aug 19

Air Canada’s CEO gave striking flight attendants more reason to defy a government order to go back to work.

On BNN Bloomberg, CEO Michael Rousseau says the company didn’t make provisions for passengers with cancelled flights because it assumed government would enforce Section 107 to end the strike.

14 140 510