The typical 50x100 Portland lot was a category in the just-concluded National Single Stair Design Competition - some nice submissions here:
www.singlestair.com/s/BetterToge...
www.singlestair.com/s/InnerGarde...
Single stair coming to Vancouver council Dec 10th.
you can now sign up to speak: council.vancouver.ca/20251210/cfs...
Planning staff are mapping out areas that might be suitable to single stair buildings
We hear the new Paragon Cafe on Cambie will be cool 😎
California sanitary drainage configuration using a vertical wet vent for the water closet and lavatory and individually vented drainage configuration for a dedicated bathtub stack
All fixtures connect directly to the drainage stack no venting is shown
Typical sanitary drainage configuration for larger aisle-layout bathrooms in California vs what would be designed/installed in Europe. The one to the left requires double the amount of piping and labor while also having 8 penetrations through the floor rather than 4, each requiring fire-stopping.
Vancouver's proposed single stair code is a bit different from anywhere else, in that it focuses on external stairs, and allows 6 units on the first 3 floors.
Vancouver also has fairly deep (122') lots in much of the city.
It's an interesting design challenge vs status quo massing.
“These are unprecedented economic and political times. All decisions relating to public money NEED to be strategic, maybe now more than ever.
But ‘blunt instrument’ austerity budgets can devastate a city like ours, weakening its reputation and its economic positioning, and undermining its future.”
“What this budget strengthens, and what this budget surrenders, feels DISCONNECTED from the city’s vision, its priorities, its leadership position, its inspirational role to other cities, its stated objectives (like getting more housing built), and it’s VALUES.” #VancouversBudget
Slide saying “The truth about a city’s aspirations isn’t found in its vision. It’s found in its budget.”
“In my work with cities, one of my messages that resonates most is that the truth about the cities aspirations isn’t found in its plans and visions. It’s found in its budget.
A budget may be the most powerful public policy lever a Council has, and the most authentic one because It reveals so much.”
“My name is Brent Toderian. I’m a resident of Vancouver. I’m also a city planner, a former chief planner for Vancouver, and now an advisor to cities across Canada & around the world.
Council knows I don’t make a habit of this. I can count on one hand the times I’ve spoken to council as a citizen.”
Iowa City Made Its Buses Free. Traffic Cleared, and So Did the Air. (11/18/2025)
f the nyt
“the truth about a city’s aspirations isn’t found in its vision. It’s found in its budget.” — Brent Toderian
Many city halls are deep in budget-time. Some are pushing austerity ideologies, and are ignoring the difference between costs and cost-savers/value creators. Citizens, PAY ATTENTION, and never forget that the TRUTH about a city’s REAL aspirations isn’t found in its visions. It’s found in its budget.
Multiplex project being framed near Lakewood and 13th in vancouver (not a Lanefab project)
Multiplexes are bigger than bungalows
(And that’s ok)
NEW: Councillors and sources inside the City of Vancouver say the city's mayor, Ken Sim, will put forth a budget Wednesday that will eliminate the city's celebrated climate and sustainability department.
Vancouverites can request to speak to mayor Sim & ABC Party's elimination of #Vancouver climate & sustainability department and other core services.
Special Council meeting, 2026 budget - Wed Nov 12, 2025 (in-person or via phone)
#ClimateChange #ActOnClimate #VanPoli
vancouver.ca/your-governm...
An observation from the City of Richmond’s information session last night: There were some residents who were really scared and angry that they could lose their homes because of this ruling, and they were not provided with information that might have allayed some of their worries. A short thread.
It’s quite nice saving the old bones and integrating it with a new multiplex - it’s mostly just the city’s character home permitting process that is so frustrating - but that’s been getting a bit better as it becomes less micro managed.
All stripped and ready to lift.
For this project we’re working as the GC - with @haeccity.bsky.social as the design team.
B.C. is a global leader in mass timber production, clean construction and forestry innovation.
Proud to welcome builders, engineers, thought leaders and innovators to #Woodrise2025!
We're excited to work with local and global businesses to see more mass timber buildings across B.C. and Canada.
1/2
Hey I'm hosting a public screening for a new About Here video! It's called "The Uncertain Future of Granville Island". There'll be snacks and a panel discussion too :).
Fuck 'em up, @jamuseum.bsky.social!!!
NEW: After cancelling nearly all projects on trans health, the Trump admin has now directed the NIH to study the negative consequences of transitioning.
This will create “a distorted research ecosystem where only politically favorable findings are permitted to exist”, researcher Harry Barbee says.
“Adding car lanes to deal with traffic congestion is like loosening your belt to cure obesity.” — Lewis Mumford, 1955 Spread the word.
It’s still a goal of mine to help make this the most famous, well-known and UNDERSTOOD quote about cities in history.
Please share it as much as you can.
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
Holy moly, it’s time to turn X off in Canada
How do housing shortages affect family and household demography? Long story short, @jensvb.bsky.social & I offer a cultural explanation and find evidence that housing shortages largely explain variation in how people live together across Canada from 1981-2021.
homefreesociology.com/2025/03/11/h...
This is among the first of many steps in a sea-change in how Vancouver’s planning system works.
Was also joined by Travis from @haeccity.bsky.social who came along to talk about their single stair project that is progressing with an “alt solution” for code compliance
No jurisdiction that has reduced homelessness has ever done the following:
- frame the solution as the problem
- reduce housing and supports
- turn low-income housing into high-income housing
- use human lives as a negotiating tool
www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar...
It shouldn't be necessary, but the most impactful speakers against Mayor Sim's no net new supportive housing motion are those with lived experience.
Here is someone who was formerly homeless showing Council how people stay warm when homeless in winter. He's holding up a burnt piece of wood.
Came for the Single Egress Stairs, stayed for the Temporarily Pausing Net-New Supportive Housing Motion. Ken Sim should be ashamed. That speaker’s scream was warranted. #vancouvercitycouncil
