Agent Will

Documenting Life and Real Estate in Vancouver
 

Laneway Housing Update

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

Just a real quick update from Helen O’Toole on the hot topic that is hydro. BC HYDRO BACKS DOWN FROM HIGH CONNECTION FEE FOR LANEWAY HOUSING – They are now going to allow the overhead/upgrade option (i.e. the cheaper option) where clearances and capacity make it feasible – In some cases (i.e. corner lots) we [...]

The Vancouver Convention Centre’s Green Roof

Tuesday, September 1st, 2009

The new convention centre that we have sitting right downtown near Coal Harbour is a true masterpiece in every sense of the word. For those who haven’t been down to see what our tax money went to I suggest you go and see it for yourself. It’s the kind of place that requires (and will [...]

Laneway Housing By-laws and Design Guidelines are Here

Saturday, August 8th, 2009

Here’s the latest information courtesy of Helen O’Toole of H.O.T. Architecture. The guidelines were posted Aug 6th on Vancouver City Hall web site and the By- Laws have just been posted. In the By Laws for RS-1 and RS-5 it tells you to go to Section 11.24 of the General By-Law. This section 11 has [...]

Laneway Housing is Approved!

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

Latest update from Helen O’Toole of H.O.T Architecture is: Laneway Housing was approved by City Hall Council this evening July 28. Only one parking space required for large or small lots. vancouverlanewayhousing.com for design options or custom plan. Woohoo! I am all for this idea. Now, I am not saying that we’ll see a whole [...]

Laneway Housing Update

Friday, July 24th, 2009

Here’s another update from Helen O’Toole of H.O.T Architecture on the ongoing Laneway Housing issue. Wednesday July 22nd Laneway Housing Public Hearing – No Decision Yet ! And into the night it went….The Mayor and council have great stamina and paid attention to every speaker. About 28 people spoke last night and there are about [...]

Laneway Housing Update

Tuesday, July 7th, 2009

It is my pleasure to introduce Helen O’Toole of H.O.T Architecture (how is that for a name?) as the guest writer of this post. Helen first started coming to the site when I did a small post about the laneway housing proposals in Vancouver and she did an absolutely superb job of keeping us all [...]

Affordable Housing at $1305 a Square Foot

Monday, February 23rd, 2009

There are some out there who think the buyers, investors, hopers, and dreamers were absolutely crazy or misguided in “Being Bold” and signing on to the Woodwards project when it was announced to cost between $600-$800 a square foot.  Here was a building in a much less desirable area of town, with boarded up shops [...]

Stupid Stupid Incentives

Thursday, January 22nd, 2009

Buy a Home get a Car! Stella did it.  Buy a condo and they gave you a Honda Fit.  A place in North Vancouver is doing it with a BMW lease for three years.  Some individuals are trying to do it, too.  And today I got an email from Polygon for their Hennessy project in [...]

Vancouver Approves Laneway Housing

Friday, October 31st, 2008

This is great news!  I am a big supporter of laneway housing concepts having seen what some have been able to achieve for affordable living in small footprints.  The biggest obstacle has always been city permits and getting those in power to see the solution.  On the downside, these properties will only be permitted to [...]

False Creek North Plans Pass City Hall

Friday, October 31st, 2008

This is cool.  Very cool.  Plans and schemes for what we will do with BC Place and the new art gallery have passed a city council vote.  We’re getting a new retractable roof (to be closed 80% of the time?) and a new waterfront art gallery.   We’re also getting some more mixed use towers (office [...]