Mark Holland

@LcpVan @KahlonRav @gregorrobertson Then we don’t have to borrow for all the years of construction to pay them - which serves no public interest. And the impacts to infrastructure and community facilities do not start until people move in.

@KahlonRav @gregorrobertson here's a modest proposal worthy of consideration.

@michael_wiebe This is based on faulty assumptions of infinite zoned and serviced land available. In reality land is an inelastic good and will not absorb additional costs.

BREAKING: Patrick Condon argues that tariffs will not increase housing prices, because they merely reduce the land price residual.

@michael_wiebe It’s an absurd position. The costs of housing inputs will never bring costs down to that low a price. He would also then have to prove that where housing is half the cost of Vancouver, everyone would own two homes.

Condon's whole shtick is taking theoretical edge cases and presenting them as normal. Here he's claiming that housing demand is perfectly elastic: if we increase supply, people will just consume more homes, so the price doesn't fall.

@RyanJabs @MurdochOakBay @Ravikahlon Since the targets were given, oak bay has responded by massively increasing dccs, accs, and adding a punishing anti blasting bylaw.

I won't propose a project in @MurdochOakBay's community because it'll get rejected or be saddled with way too many costs to build. They're not hitting @ravikahlon's targets unless the province removes their land use powers or they upzone broadly for these homes.

@Rishi_ss @saanich Congratulations Rishi. Well deserved

Thanks to @saanich Mayor and Councillors for the appointment to the Accessibility and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee. I hope my lived experiences & academic work offer helpful, productive & positive solutions. #dialogue #inclusion rishisharmathesis.com

@GenSqueeze Do your research. It’s been this way since. Martin was minister of finance. It’s multiple generations in the making. Nothing new.

Older Canadians didn’t pay enough in taxes to cover the medical care they now use. So younger taxpayers are footing the bill for boomers’ ballooning medical needs. Hard Truths Podcast with economist ⁠Kevin Milligan⁠: #cdnpoli gensqueeze.ca/medical_budget…

@Sam_Robbins3 @MikePMoffatt Financiers typically require 30% of costs are paid by equity and a minimum 15% profit margin to offset the major risks associated with the 70% debt.

@MikePMoffatt What are the profit margins on the average developer and how much have they changed?

@CraigFarlinger @RJSCity Total land value is not the issue. It’s land value per unit that matters.

Classically incorrect. It only has any truth in a very restrictive land market. Edmonton rezoned thousands of lots from allowing 1 unit to 8 units this Jan 1st. Prices for single detached homes haven't changed. Why? Because there are thousands of lots that allow 8 units.

@SahilBloom Generations of dysfunction, abuse, arrogance, lies and stupidity. Claustrophobia squared. Be honest!

“Walk like you have 4,000 ancestors behind you.” I first heard that quote—attributed to an ancient African proverb—around the time when my son was born. It hit hard. How many tiny moments contributed to you being here right now? You’re never alone. You’ve got an army behind you.

@michael_wiebe The problem with Condon’s argument is it presumes endless land is available so land prices respond to small development cost changes. In reality the Inelasticity of land values in a highly regulated environment makes the argument untrue.

Case in point, let's break down this graphic. He picks a case where imposing an impact fee doesn't affect the project; the developer just pays less for land. But what about projects that are affected? If the fee is too high, the project shuts down. 1/

@rrrobbberttt You’re comparing apples and oranges. It certainly will make the poor happier AND damage future housing supply.

INSIGHTS at UBC Sauder Business “average welfare of the city rose with rent control because it made such a substantial difference to the lives of people at the lower end of the income spectrum, and that the benefits outweighed any potential downsides.” sauder.ubc.ca/news/insights/…

@LcpVan Master plans - it’s all in the servicing and access costs of phase 1 held against absorption rates of a promised neighbourhood before it exists.

Off to Calgary to help a client with multiple sites master-plan residential (rental) mixed use concepts and pro formas. Good Plans + Smart Proformas = Viable Options.

I just watched a tweet of the trump assassination attempt. One tweet later was an advertisement for a company that builds personal safety bunkers. What is our world coming to!

@LcpVan I couldn’t believe they published this article. More truth in this article than a decade of editions.

Great little article in Plan Canada. Stay curious and empirical - bring knowledge and analysis to city building debates.

@AustinTunnell @cnunextgen Okanagan numbers = over 60% increase in cost of construction since 2019.

It costs us roughly 40% more to build today than it did four years ago. I don’t see that going down. Anyone else have a different experience or thoughts? It’s pretty tragic imo. Affordability was a problem in 2019. Now, it just doesn’t work for so many ppl. Just too expensive.

@Lanefab Thanks for your leadership. I remember you being a strong advocate for lane housing as we all came out of school. Stellar career!

15 years ago, today, we incorporated Lanefab. This was in the midst of the '08/09' financial crisis, and with the hope that in the following 6 months the city would adopt laneway house zoning reforms, thereby creating a whole new housing industry. (they did) Cheers!

@acoyne We’re “working on 2%”

"If the Canadian Army got into a shooting war, it would largely be out of ammunition after three days.” Globe editorial: Denial and delay is not a defence policy - The Globe and Mail theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editor…

@mattdellok Yes to both

I've received 223 emails today (a record!), over two big issues at Council tomorrow: 1) Motion (Alto/Hammond) to request a delay of the Short-Term Rental ban until November 2024. 2) Request to extend horse carriage tour licenses for 4 years. What are your thoughts? #yyj

@BobRansford @PierrePoilievre What does “ stand with” mean? Nothing but virtue signalling.

@PierrePoilievre What are you promising them? Probably nothing.

It’s been a hard season for Okanagan cherry growers with cold snaps and tax and rate hikes. We must stand with our farmers to be a self-sufficient nation.

@StandingHannah @MikePMoffatt Ad hominem

Somedays I get to troll @MikePMoffatt by helping to design his new logo and pretend it’s an early birthday present for him.