This week in Canada.

[cat in january]

I would think the advancements in solar and composting toilets would have an impact on breaking the monopoly.

[Kenny Satch]

I would think the advancements in solar and composting toilets would have an impact on breaking the monopoly.

Funny you joke about that.

Once at a City of Vaughan meeting with Developers and Realtors I got up and proposed the concept of a "septic" subdivision(s). Whereby the services would all be preinstalled and when the sewers reached the area all homes could switch to sewers and remove the septic tanks. I said we can sell double lots with the septic tanks sitting on the vacant parcel. When time came the owner could keep the lot or sell it.

WELL didn't the developers and the city planners nearly shit their pants. Of course it didn't happen and one of the big developers pulls me aside and says "why do you want to fuck us over" I responded by say I wanted to see more homes built. Greedy fuckers. The city employees in planning made huge amounts of money from these people. What a total fucking scam.

At the time my idea could bring to market a 3000 sq.ft. for $350k. Well below what they were selling home like that for. Besides the land in question were not in protected areas. Those lands ended becoming industrial parks.

Ok end of rant.

[riser4]

Thing #1 said ash was falling from the sky in Richmond, ON this afternoon.

[cat in january]

I wasn’t joking. Seems off the grid has come far enough not to need the grid.

But I did learn why Calgary looks so odd with its expansion at least from an American perspective.

[johnnyg82]

Thing #1 said ash was falling from the sky in Richmond, ON this afternoon.

Yup, thick smoke all day, never went outside today though so I can’t confirm nor deny the ash.

[riser4]

Yup, thick smoke all day, never went outside today though so I can’t confirm nor deny the ash.

It got increasingly smokey as the day went on down here south of the border. It's Quebec's fault. I was in the catch-22 where I needed to keep the windows closed overnight which means running the AC, which means more global warming, which means more fires. Rinse lather repeat.

[ex-powderbroker]

It got increasingly smokey as the day went on down here south of the border. It's Quebec's fault. I was in the catch-22 where I needed to keep the windows closed overnight which means running the AC, which means more global warming, which means more fires. Rinse lather repeat.

Nah, it's Obama's fault for locking up all that moisture in the gulf and great lakes.

Fortunately I just picked up one of these on Prime.

[riser4]

Nah, it's Obama's fault for locking up all that moisture in the gulf and great lakes.

Relax, I just picked up one of these on Prime.

Nice. Shoulda got same day delivery. Thing#1 is in Toronto all week for work.

[petey_]

Buddy in Sudbury said he was wearing an N95 yesterday when he went out fishing. Way too smoky. Here in London it has been a bit smoky a couple of times. South west Ontario has remained relatively unscathed. Rain lately has been welcome.

[Darren Jakal]

But I did learn why Calgary looks so odd with its expansion at least from an American perspective.

So what did you learn?

[Darren Jakal]

I wasn’t joking. Seems off the grid has come far enough not to need the grid.

But I did learn why Calgary looks so odd with its expansion at least from an American perspective.

So what did you learn?

[The Tortoise]

Buddy in Sudbury said he was wearing an N95 yesterday when he went out fishing. Way too smoky. Here in London it has been a bit smoky a couple of times. South west Ontario has remained relatively unscathed. Rain lately has been welcome.

I was up in North Bay. Can confirm it was smoky. To the point where we didn't venture out of the cottage for most of Sunday.

Boating was interesting.

[cat in january]

So what did you learn?

The abrupt boundary between dense development and field is driven by utility infrastructure, mostly sewer.

[Kenny Satch]

The abrupt boundary between dense development and field is driven by utility infrastructure, mostly sewer.

Bingo

[johnnyg82]

Buddy in Sudbury said he was wearing an N95 yesterday when he went out fishing. Way too smoky. Here in London it has been a bit smoky a couple of times. South west Ontario has remained relatively unscathed. Rain lately has been welcome.

Yeah, Ottawa public health was recommending N95’s for everyone

[ex-powderbroker]

The abrupt boundary between dense development and field is driven by utility infrastructure, mostly sewer.

it’s kind of better than endless sprawl, no?

[cat in january]

Yes it is. Been a few years since I was in Calgary and the amount of growth amazed me along with how abruptly it stopped. Pretty ugly architecture, but I don’t know if I have seen density done well.

[riser4]

Endless sprawl vs artificial scarcity so that developers and city hall employees can get more money. Where's the balance point that creates enough housing that people can afford?

[ex-powderbroker]

well, if we stop subsidizing single family homes for developers it would be a great start.

[Kenny Satch]

Don't know what you mean about subsidized single family homes. How so? Not trying to argumentative but i'm curious if I'm missing something. Perhaps as it pertains to Taxation?

IME unless it's government housing nothing is subsided. All the development charges are passed on to the buyer. Developers are merely financing the cost through pension funds and financial institutions. Some now can do it all by themselves.

[Kenny Satch]

Yes it is. Been a few years since I was in Calgary and the amount of growth amazed me along with how abruptly it stopped. Pretty ugly architecture, but I don’t know if I have seen density done well.

I couldn't believe how the foothills exploited but I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Who wouldn't want to live there with the ski hills being close and the city even closer. Best of both worlds. If not for all my family in Toronto and Montreal I would've moved there long ago.

Endless sprawl vs artificial scarcity so that developers and city hall employees can get more money. Where's the balance point that creates enough housing that people can afford?

Good point. I think it has to be more stacked housing with parks and green spaces. I've seen certain new areas do a good job with balancing out affordability with 15 minute city like infrastructure. Commercial plazas where people can go to for all their needs. Walk-in clinics and alike have made many new areas less depend on cars or the amount of driving required. I think we'll see more of that.

[cat in january]

Yeah I saw very little green in the neighborhood I was in. where I was (Indian) it seemed very car focused with roads and business to drive to and from and not walk friendly places. The houses were huge in terms of square footage but the lots barely had walk ways around them. Winter so view skewed, but I like Vancouver much better in terms of neighborhoods. Jasper neighborhoods too but not a fair comparison

[ex-powderbroker]

Don't know what you mean about subsidized single family homes. How so? Not trying to argumentative but i'm curious if I'm missing something. Perhaps as it pertains to Taxation?

It's subsidized through zoning policy and taxes, nimbyism, etc. It sounds like Calgary is doing a great job building density. In many places developers have an easier time putting up single family (less fights from neighbors and cheaper fees from the city) even though it leaves everyone else in the community on the hook for maintenance of utes, new highways, paving, playgrounds that fewer people can walk to, health costs related to accidents and obesity from the people not walking, etc, while still costing people more to be housed.

here's a very old article about why it is worthwhile to redevelop land instead of to continue pushing out like what Cat was asking about in regards to Calgary or Neufox with Canada's density in general:

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opin...ticle15218154/

[irul&ublo]

https://www.gocomics.com/savage-chickens/2023/06/30

[sb]

Dear Canada

Please stop polluting the air.

TY