Ah, I think I see the confusion. Business enterprise value vs. fair market value for the site and building.. Assessment doesn't consider BEV value, its strictly about what this site would sell for on the open market for the fee simple interest, between a willing buyer and a willing seller...

yep, see above. It doesn't impact their development plans, its tax mitigation/savings.

You're correct; Loblaws won, but the board are not experts, and don't understand appraisal, specifically the concept of Highest and Best use, which is the foundation of any valuation. The board is saying Loblaws is right, and that the current use value is the correct value to assess the...

Interesting podcast, always like podcast recommendations. I found this one had too much sarcasm to enjoy consistently, and I had to skip around a bit, but I did like the focused look on an infrastructure project. They didn't seem to get the tolling situation right on the Gordie Howe I don't...

Sorry to bump, but thought this Appeal Review Board decision might be interesting to some. https://www.canlii.org/en/on/onarb/doc/2026/2026canlii19334/2026canlii19334.html Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. (In other words, the board erred as they have so many times on the topic of...

Unless someone like Stern is involved and the developer is willing to pay for reproduction materials, this plan would likely look really bad in the end unfortunately.

Interesting about construction labour costs. Are you seeing lower cost to build overall? (Or at least with hard costs generally being lower?) I see Altus Cost Guide is saying as much, suggesting decreasing cost to build overall from 2024 to 2025.

This elevated section reminds me of riding the monorail at the zoo as a child. Except higher. Child me is excited again.

Exactly, it wasn't great before, but it was way worse after Elon got hold of it with his "free speech absolutism" bs, which basically meant, hey how can get the Nazi's in to the convo? Elon is kind of sad. It's so weird that people still worship false idols like him. But I would argue all the...

The value doesn't matter for this. The use is what dictates the tax class. If it is being used for commercial purposes as an interim use, then that is the associated tax class. The value would still be based on the approved (and highest and best use) under the ZBLA affecting the site. Also...

That's interesting. The exposure time to market at 2 months is not abnormal for most markets. Abnormal maybe for Toronto as we were used to quick sales and bid wars from those halcyon days pre-covid. I am surprised by the loss in value for older stock condos. There was always good value in...

Both of you are correct, I think. The condo market is currently dead (although larger non-investor unit sizes, I would wager are still selling, they just are a small component of the unit mix out there.) But prox to higher order transit is certainly a major driver in value for land, and that...

Minor quibble; ProPublica is well-known for its journalism and is legit and credible - certainly not clickbait..

I loved that walkway. It's a shame it doesn't run anymore.

So, that's interesting. Didn't honestly expect something with 400,000 sq ft. How large was the old Science Centre? I like the design. If it ends up looking like that with quality materials, as is functional on the interior, I wouldn't be upset. Is there opportunity for further expansion if...