January 28, 2010 - 10:26 am |
Posted by Jonathan Ross
This kind of a space for $750 seems ridiculous to me, even if it is located downtown.
I watched Councillor Raymond Louie on the news a couple of nights back speaking about the upcoming microlofts that Council gave the go ahead to in 2008. He spoke about how this was the direction that the city was heading in and that creating new rental housing in the downtown core was a positive thing.
And, I suppose I cannot argue with that. Just like I believe that communities that have a publicly funded component to them must have social housing in the mix, I also feel that downtown – particularly one that is as residential as Vancouver’s – must have a range of living options.
Additionally, it seems as though groups like the Tenant Resource and Advisory Council have been swept along with the paradigm shift that has occurred in Vancouver over the past decades. Namely, that new rentals properties of any size are a welcome phenomenon amongst the Vancouver real estate landscape, and that density within the city is positive and on the cutting edge of innovation (microlofts, laneway housing, etc.).
But for the life of me, I cannot fathom how a space smaller than two parking spots is worth $750 per month.
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December 22, 2009 - 10:53 am |
Posted by Jonathan Ross
This is the kind of public reaction that Vision Vancouver critics would have you believe the party is facing after the just-completed budget process. Nothing could be further from the truth, however.
What do you get with:
Well, you get the budget that the City of Vancouver just completed. And, all in all, you get a pretty reasonable process that took the needs of the collective into consideration above the loud voices of the minority.
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December 4, 2009 - 4:35 pm |
Posted by Jonathan Ross
Mackinnon was baffled and baffling in front of Council last night.
Last night City Hall attracted quite a crowd – approximately 90 individuals by my sources’ count – with the majority obviously there to speak in front of Council about their opposition to the cuts being made as part of the budget process.
Mayor Robertson let children and seniors speak first, and some of these early presentations, including an adorable group of brothers and sisters between the ages of 5-11 talking about how they love reading and how they wanted libraries to stay intact, were very touching and I am sure difficult for Council to hear in light of the decisions they still have to make.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: All assertions use paraphrasing based on several first hand accounts, meaning that there was no tape recorder to confirm exact wording. Thus, this is only my interpretation of what has been communicated to me).
Park Board Commissioner Loretta Woodcock made a very quick presentation, talking about how the Bloedel Conservatory and the Stanley Park petting zoo have been “orphaned” and encouraging Council to consider modest tax increases to make up the shortfall. Woodcock was articulate, direct and to the point, as well as being reasonable in her requests.
Stuart Mackinnon, on the other hand, didn’t make out as well.
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November 6, 2009 - 11:14 am |
Posted by Jonathan Ross
Should Vancouver's newest neighbourhood
The Olympic Village handover was an event that marked 100 days until the opening ceremonies, and from all who were in attendance, I hear that the mood in the crowd was jubilant to say the least. John Furlong’s latest displays of choking up on cue were of course a part of the mix.
But I definitely do not envy the decision that City Council is going to have to make with regards to the social housing component of the development.
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