The author and those quoted in the article seem to be surprised/annoyed about two facts of real estate: 1) Larger properties cost more than smaller ones 2) Places that have a lot of amenities and conveniences cost more than places with fewer amenities and conveniences Therefore, to spend a...

Pro - May create some community support for development by requiring developers to pay into a fund for off-site improvements. Brings in cash to the city for “giving” something of value to the developer. Con - Acts as an additional tax on dense, inner-city developments that we say we want to...

The solution is no parking - that’s JEMM’s entire strategic plan. Buy land next to transit and get approval for more density and no parking. Rent apartments to people who don’t drive. Only speedbump they’ve hit is the city shaking them down for $1 million to go higher than the 26m height limit...

So basically the city wanted ~$1 million more than JEMM was willing to pay, along with a bit more bike parking. Will be fascinating to see whether council makes the same decision.

Messi is better off with PSG so he can just put in 100% effort for champions league and the day-in day-out doesn’t wear him down. He only has so many games left in his legs. Mbappe should have left for Madrid when he had the chance, yes it’s fun to play in your hometown but he’s a big fish in a...

I walk/bike to that Staples from Kensington fairly often. Agree that the parking lot is gigantic and totally hostile. Would be awesome to get something like the Royal with an urban format Staples in the podium. Same goes for the Staples location by Chinook station.

So the office component is gone?

This looks a lot to me like a developer that wants to show investors that something is happening, while not having the financing to actually make something happen.

My cynical hypothesis is that it is easier to find $109M in government funding for a shiny new energy efficient building than $15M to do deferred maintenance to keep something habitable if basic.

So the plan is to spend $109M on a new building ($491k per unit) when the estimated repairs for the existing building were $15M? How many centuries of "reduced utility costs" will it take to recoup that extra $94M in capital costs? They could build another 300+ units somewhere else in the city...

$15M to renovate 210 units works out to only $71k/unit. Even if the real cost is more than that, no way CHC is going to get new construction built for a comparable price elsewhere in the city - seems like an obvious choice to do some lifecycle upgrades and maintain the housing for those who need...

My bet based on an election held today would be 45-42 NDP, with the adjustments as follows: 338 has Calgary-Elbow as a UCP Likely, essentially because Greg Clark did so well in 2019 for the Alberta Party. Seems like a flaw in the modeling unless Greg Clark is running again. I would rate that...

St Albert and Sherwood Park will be pretty competitive seats, so it would be wise for UCP to splash some cash there. Inside the Anthony Henday, I doubt Smith announces a loonie in new infrastructure commitments.

October 2022 was only 3.6% below October 2019, the closest we’ve come so far. Given all the disruptions on the supply side and the high prices of tickets that’s impressive.

Westbrook 2.0?

I don’t think airport rail should be a particularly high priority for Calgary but if it creates political will to extend the green line to 96 Ave, it’s great.

I don’t think those voters see themselves riding the green line to Ogden, but my understanding is that airport rail is conceptually very popular - more so than in practice. Airport rail is actually used mainly by airport workers and a small share of air passengers but it is the kind of thing...

Hopefully Notley sees her tactics and raises her a fieldhouse and a green line extension to Seton.

I’m not sure the idea is blue line spur, could be (eventual) green line extension plus people mover from green line to heavy rail station to airport. I am very skeptical of the one-seat heavy rail to the airport concept that Liricon proposed, I think they will find it’s way too expensive to do...

I like the heavy pergolas, steep pitch roofs, and the stone work, gives it a bit of the alpine feel. Unfortunately it’s just going to feel like a sea of garage doors and curb cuts, disappointing that these aren’t laned to make the street in front more attractive.