The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) just published its latest housing supply report for Canada’s 6 largest city regions (downloadable over here). One figure that stands out is the increase in housing starts in the Calgary CMA — it was up almost 63% last… Read More
All posts tagged “vancouver”
Vancouver proposes empty stores tax
When you buy commercial real estate, you are buying a stream of future cash flows. Sometimes these cash flows are already in place and sometimes these cash flows are based on future expectations. Either way, as a general rule, it is better to have more… Read More
The great housing supply debate continues
The great housing debate continues: Are we building enough housing, or are we not? Right now the media is talking about a new report from the Union of B.C. Municipalities, which is claiming that cities in British Columbia are actually building enough housing to keep… Read More
A nation of apartment dwellers
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) recently published its latest data on housing starts, housing under construction, and housing completions. Here are a few of the highlights: Canada saw 271k housing starts last year (2021). This includes single-detached housing and multiples, which captures semi-detached… Read More
The Tokyo Toilet
One of the biggest challenges with living through this pandemic has been finding a good public toilet. Drinking in the park is all fine and dandy, but at some point you’re going to need to find a place to pee. From experience, I can tell… Read More
A walking tour of Vancouver House
Vancouver House is such a wonderful example of great city building. It’s an awkward site hugging the off ramps of the Granville Street bridge. It’s less than ideal. And yet Westbank (developer) and Bjarke Ingels Group (architect) have turned it into something remarkable. The tower… Read More
Speed and simplicity in Vancouver
This is a good follow-up to my recent post about the barriers to developing mid-rise here in Toronto. I have just learned (thanks to Michael Mortensen) that Vancouver has proposed some specific zoning changes that are intended to increase the supply of new rental housing.… Read More
Parasol installation unveiled in downtown Vancouver
Tangible, which is a Vancouver-based art and design studio, has just unveiled its latest “immersive experience.” It’s called Parasol and it can be found in downtown Vancouver in front of the Bentall Centre near the intersection of Dunsmuir and Burrard. An illuminated canopy-type structure, the… Read More
Too much low-rise — Theresa O’Donnell in conversation with Larry Beasley
I attended the above talk last night over Zoom. (Shoutout to Michael Mortensen for inviting Slate’s development team and for helping to moderate the Q&A.) The talk was a conversation between Larry Beasley (former Director of Planning for the City of Vancouver) and Theresa O’Donnell… Read More
Economic update with Benjamin Tal — get ready for the second half of this year
Benjamin Tal — CIBC’s Deputy Chief Economist — is seemingly everywhere. And earlier today, he was delivering an annual economic update at an online event hosted by Brattys LLP (our condo lawyers) in partnership with CIBC. Below are a handful of slides that I found… Read More