Westside Backyard
@westside-backyard.bsky.social
just a millennial, standing in front of a city, asking for an affordable home
Reposted by Westside Backyard
I'd do anything pro housing,
but I won't do that
but I won't do that
December 10, 2025 at 5:26 AM
I'd do anything pro housing,
but I won't do that
but I won't do that
I'd do anything pro housing,
but I won't do that
but I won't do that
December 10, 2025 at 5:26 AM
I'd do anything pro housing,
but I won't do that
but I won't do that
They can't even get their message consistent.
This is too big of a swing that will fundamentally change the city
but
it's only 10 projects, and we shouldn't do something that has such little effect
This is too big of a swing that will fundamentally change the city
but
it's only 10 projects, and we shouldn't do something that has such little effect
December 10, 2025 at 4:41 AM
They can't even get their message consistent.
This is too big of a swing that will fundamentally change the city
but
it's only 10 projects, and we shouldn't do something that has such little effect
This is too big of a swing that will fundamentally change the city
but
it's only 10 projects, and we shouldn't do something that has such little effect
“There's a broad sense out there that the six-storey wood frame is a typology that the economics work on it"
1. If it's the economic option, it will get built over other possibilities
2. You blocked that option too!
1. If it's the economic option, it will get built over other possibilities
2. You blocked that option too!
December 10, 2025 at 4:41 AM
“There's a broad sense out there that the six-storey wood frame is a typology that the economics work on it"
1. If it's the economic option, it will get built over other possibilities
2. You blocked that option too!
1. If it's the economic option, it will get built over other possibilities
2. You blocked that option too!
Overall, it seems like they're still treating "permitted" as "required", and that the goal of planning and zoning is to describe precisely what will be built on every lot.
You don't know which 10 parcels of land are available & viable for building on, so you need to make it possible on a lot more.
You don't know which 10 parcels of land are available & viable for building on, so you need to make it possible on a lot more.
December 10, 2025 at 4:41 AM
Overall, it seems like they're still treating "permitted" as "required", and that the goal of planning and zoning is to describe precisely what will be built on every lot.
You don't know which 10 parcels of land are available & viable for building on, so you need to make it possible on a lot more.
You don't know which 10 parcels of land are available & viable for building on, so you need to make it possible on a lot more.
Instead of at least 30% HIL homes on ten projects a year, starting now, that would mean thousands of non-market homes
we'll get ?% of ? smaller projects, after another round of sending staff back to do more work for months
we'll get ?% of ? smaller projects, after another round of sending staff back to do more work for months
December 10, 2025 at 4:41 AM
Instead of at least 30% HIL homes on ten projects a year, starting now, that would mean thousands of non-market homes
we'll get ?% of ? smaller projects, after another round of sending staff back to do more work for months
we'll get ?% of ? smaller projects, after another round of sending staff back to do more work for months
I guess people can drink salt water while they're waiting for affordable homes to be built
December 10, 2025 at 3:58 AM
I guess people can drink salt water while they're waiting for affordable homes to be built
"I support affordable housing"
...but not too much of it
...but not too much of it
![Article except:
“My record is clear — I support building more homes, more affordability and more options for Vancouver’s families, especially affordable housing,” Zhou said.
“But we are discussing something today that goes too far — [it’s] too much all at once. The initiative would fundamentally reshape our city.”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cj3srpvfyvvcvcrbxpxnf4kr/bafkreieyoq7sb2bqpajolvgzk66bjw5br6yagpw7vi6bwlxewc6ojitxde@jpeg)
![Article excerpt:
“There's a broad sense out there that the six-storey wood frame is a typology that the economics work on it” he said.
“You can have in some of these buildings well over 100 units and have a good portion of that set aside for below market and social [housing]. That has to sort of feed into our conversation on this one, and not necessarily take a big swing on this [initiative].”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cj3srpvfyvvcvcrbxpxnf4kr/bafkreibfmtsqdghcqp5ws65i3ylym7fqkuammpscd3a26xwumullyxxpae@jpeg)
December 10, 2025 at 3:55 AM
"I support affordable housing"
...but not too much of it
...but not too much of it
Reposted by Westside Backyard
As an aside, it's very funny how easily NIMBYs code-switch between decrying cookie-cutter housing and demanding that all new housing exactly match the pre-existing character of the neighborhood
December 9, 2025 at 6:52 PM
As an aside, it's very funny how easily NIMBYs code-switch between decrying cookie-cutter housing and demanding that all new housing exactly match the pre-existing character of the neighborhood
Reposted by Westside Backyard
As a non-profit housing CEO, here's why the Social Housing Initiative mattered. It offered a real pathway to build homes for our neighbours in need, without half a million dollars in paperwork. Without 8-12 months of unnecessary delays for projects Council never rejects anyway.
December 9, 2025 at 11:20 PM
As a non-profit housing CEO, here's why the Social Housing Initiative mattered. It offered a real pathway to build homes for our neighbours in need, without half a million dollars in paperwork. Without 8-12 months of unnecessary delays for projects Council never rejects anyway.
It would be the absolute dumbest political move for them to focus on winning over the west side homeowners who absolutely hate them the most for approving Broadway and Jericho
So, yeah, that's probably what they're trying
So, yeah, that's probably what they're trying
December 9, 2025 at 10:58 PM
It would be the absolute dumbest political move for them to focus on winning over the west side homeowners who absolutely hate them the most for approving Broadway and Jericho
So, yeah, that's probably what they're trying
So, yeah, that's probably what they're trying
This makes me much more concerned about the Villages Planning Program.
The SHI was largely enabling housing in line with density planned for Villages and Neighbourhood Centres, just giving non-profits a head start on site availability and shorter development timelines.
The SHI was largely enabling housing in line with density planned for Villages and Neighbourhood Centres, just giving non-profits a head start on site availability and shorter development timelines.
December 9, 2025 at 8:59 PM
This makes me much more concerned about the Villages Planning Program.
The SHI was largely enabling housing in line with density planned for Villages and Neighbourhood Centres, just giving non-profits a head start on site availability and shorter development timelines.
The SHI was largely enabling housing in line with density planned for Villages and Neighbourhood Centres, just giving non-profits a head start on site availability and shorter development timelines.
Not public or private, but a secret third thing
Senakw is akin to a community land trust
Senakw is akin to a community land trust
December 9, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Not public or private, but a secret third thing
Senakw is akin to a community land trust
Senakw is akin to a community land trust
December 8, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Similar FAR is within a walkable distance across False Creek, but people get real weird about density crossing out of the downtown peninsula
December 8, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Similar FAR is within a walkable distance across False Creek, but people get real weird about density crossing out of the downtown peninsula
In a previous apartment if I wanted the ambience and functionality of the electric fireplace I could have just plugged in a space heater. Hated that thing and never used it.
December 7, 2025 at 10:11 PM
In a previous apartment if I wanted the ambience and functionality of the electric fireplace I could have just plugged in a space heater. Hated that thing and never used it.
It's a speculative asset for investors because they know there's a constrained supply capacity in desirable areas. Any public rental company includes increased housing supply as a risk in their disclosure report.
Most homeowners would get more wealth from their neighbourhood allowing more density.
Most homeowners would get more wealth from their neighbourhood allowing more density.
December 7, 2025 at 2:43 AM
It's a speculative asset for investors because they know there's a constrained supply capacity in desirable areas. Any public rental company includes increased housing supply as a risk in their disclosure report.
Most homeowners would get more wealth from their neighbourhood allowing more density.
Most homeowners would get more wealth from their neighbourhood allowing more density.
Go to any public hearing for a new apartment building and you'll hear neighbours complain both that it will lower the property value of their investment, and that they will have to pay more property tax because of it increasing their property value.
December 7, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Go to any public hearing for a new apartment building and you'll hear neighbours complain both that it will lower the property value of their investment, and that they will have to pay more property tax because of it increasing their property value.
The average property value may go down because there are more, more affordable homes, but the land value - which is where most of the value is in older homes - will go up.
Zoning rules make the only option for apartments large & ugly, but there are many better missing middle options.
Zoning rules make the only option for apartments large & ugly, but there are many better missing middle options.
December 7, 2025 at 2:29 AM
The average property value may go down because there are more, more affordable homes, but the land value - which is where most of the value is in older homes - will go up.
Zoning rules make the only option for apartments large & ugly, but there are many better missing middle options.
Zoning rules make the only option for apartments large & ugly, but there are many better missing middle options.
And you've pushed a whole lot of renters into finding new homes all at the same time, among the fewer rentals that are now available.
Meanwhile the retirees fighting new townhomes in their single family neighbourhood get another tax break on all the tax-free gains of their primary residence.
Meanwhile the retirees fighting new townhomes in their single family neighbourhood get another tax break on all the tax-free gains of their primary residence.
December 7, 2025 at 2:05 AM
And you've pushed a whole lot of renters into finding new homes all at the same time, among the fewer rentals that are now available.
Meanwhile the retirees fighting new townhomes in their single family neighbourhood get another tax break on all the tax-free gains of their primary residence.
Meanwhile the retirees fighting new townhomes in their single family neighbourhood get another tax break on all the tax-free gains of their primary residence.