Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 12h“We need more policies to guide housing.” Staff tied up creating new policy. “We need more staff to enforce policies.” Staff hired. “We need more policies to guide housing.” Staff tied up creating policy. “We need more staff to enforce policies.” Staff hired. Over and over and over. 120
Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Many people don’t believe this and so advocate only for gov’ subsidized housing (well away from where they live): “If the number of renter households increases faster than the supply of rental units, asking rents tend to rise.” BoC on rising rents. www.bankofcanada.ca/2026/09/spar...bankofcanada.caWhy asking rents have surged in Canada since 2021Renting has become significantly more expensive in Canada in recent years. Asking rents—those advertised for vacant units—rose sharply as demand grew faster than supply. As tenants move and sign new l... 121
Reposted by Ryan JabsTim Querengesser @timquerengesser.bsky.social · 30/09/2026The built form fighting gentle-density infill creates. 0214
Reposted by Ryan JabsAlex Bozikovic @alexbozikovic.bsky.social · 30/09/2026This pattern makes no sense and never has. North York Centre achieves some actual urbanity along Yonge Street, but that street is a highway - and the district is surrounded by a ring road surrounded by an ocean of houses 5517
Reposted by Ryan JabsNevin Thompson @nevint.bsky.social · 24/09/2026Edmonton grew by 10% in 2 years, adding 100,000 people (one City of Victoria) and yet there are still tons of “for rent” signs. Greater Victoria could learn from this. edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n... 163
Reposted by Ryan JabsCHEK News @cheknews.ca · 19/09/2026The City of Victoria has earmarked nearly $1 million to support non-market housing projects that are geared towards low-income residents. cheknews.ca/victoria-earmarks-nearl…cheknews.caVictoria earmarks nearly $1M to support non-market housing buildingsThe City of Victoria has earmarked nearly $1 million to support non-market housing projects that are geared towards low-income residents. 1104
Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 17/09/2026Nice to see, @victoria.ca! islandsocialtrends.ca/city-of-vict...islandsocialtrends.caCity of Victoria awards nearly $1 million to seven organizations for affordable housing - Island Social TrendsCity of Victoria awards nearly $1 million to seven organizations for affordable housing. Projects to be completed by mid-October 2027. 020
Reposted by Ryan JabsSam @samd.bsky.social · 16/09/2026the fact that the NTSB is conducting a federal safety investigation of the helicopter crash, but nobody is going to do anything about the original deadly car crash, really shows just how few fucks our country gives about every day traffic violence that kills 40k people every year 1142770
Reposted by Ryan JabsPush The Needle @pushtheneedle.bsky.social · 16/09/2026Developed without any zoning code or jurisdictional approval. And they self permit as a tribal authority. Got that all squared in less than 3 months Seattles permit process takes 700-900 days for projects this size 081
Reposted by Ryan JabsDavid Roberts @volts.wtf · 16/09/2026We visited these when we were in Vancouver and they are genuinely gorgeous buildings. Yay for density! 613612
Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 16/09/2026If we put amateur, passionate urbanists in charge of city building instead of planners, engineers and politicians, we’d have livable, people friendly & economically vibrant cities. Go on any chat board, discourse server or reddit and read the ideas. Those folks read the science and know their crap. 160
Reposted by Ryan JabsPush The Needle @pushtheneedle.bsky.social · 13/09/2026Seattle political leaders taxed soda to reduce the consumption of sugary drinks and it worked. But Seattle wants good, high paying jobs downtown and wants more housing growth, so why are we taxing those and surprised when the outcome is the same? 28111
Reposted by Ryan JabsPhil @philmarfisi.bsky.social · 12/09/2026"Cities are not simply collections of buildings or engines of commerce: They are where strangers become neighbours, where ideas become businesses, and where a society defines itself." 092
Reposted by Ryan JabsG | Builds Stuff, Goes Places 🦀 @whereisgraeme.bsky.social · 11/09/2026“Why are all you developers pissed off all the time. Everyone else in the industry is much less worried. There’s still lots of construction” My brother in trillium. Maybe the people doing the math and taking the risk might understand something highly inconvenient that everyone else is ignoring 112
Reposted by Ryan JabsMike Eliason @holz-bau.bsky.social · 10/09/2026the corruptness of the building codes is why we can't have nice things (and also why sh*tty US wood framed buildings offering a poorer quality of life cost more than concrete passivhaus homes in switzerland) 4659
Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 10/09/2026Yet governments layer large taxes on housing in core, walkable communities instead. And these taxes push housing out of core walkable communities. And this housing now being built in sprawling communities leads to more cars costing society way more money. 000
Reposted by Ryan JabsAlex Bozikovic @alexbozikovic.bsky.social · 07/09/2026Super clear to me at this point that the more paperwork and the more consultants you have, the worse the end result. The best public architecture in Canada is 60 years old and this is why. 0253
Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 06/09/2026The most successful opposition to my car lite, transit oriented housing has come from an “environmentalist.” A Green Party of B.C. candidate, successfully petitioned council to oppose a very reasonable, family and community oriented 4 storey project, literally because it would shade tomatoes. 1477
Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 06/09/2026Interestingly, this also directly shows how zoning restrictions unnecessarily inflates end user prices. If developers could buy less expensive single detached lands, they could build & sell at lower prices. Instead we restrict housing, which raises the land cost of the few available properties. 230
Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 06/09/2026Saanich has put its development opportunities only on main arterials—where their business and industrial services are. They’re doing this to keep homes out of single detached neighbourhoods (where people should live w/ small commercial). Another consequence: www.timescolonist.com/opinion/comm...timescolonist.comComment: First Saanich taxes employers out. Then it asks how we’re doingA business can end up paying taxes influenced by the property’s redevelopment value while receiving none of the benefit from that increased value. 150
Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 03/09/2026I complain about housing, but on bike lanes, #YYJ is killing it. I've had two friends in the last few weeks purchase a bike for their daily commute. One of them is directly b/c @saanichbc.bsky.social and @victoria.ca finished up the crucial Shelbourne route. Safe cycling routes reduce car traffic. 2377
Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 31/08/2026One anti-housing bylaw after another. Residential trades almost all work 7-3:30. I hope council pushes staff on this one this time as it will add another new cost that hits middle housing hardest. Folks, there’s a reason why housing costs keep going up and it’s mostly hidden in bylaws. 360
Reposted by Ryan Jabs𝚃𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚜 𝙶𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚘𝚎 🚇 @taras-grescoe.com · 31/08/2026"Cities are meant to stop traffic. That is their point. That is why they are there. That is why traders put outposts there, merchants put shops there, hoteliers erect inns there. Rationally one wants to have traffic *stop* there, not go *through*." —Kirkpatrick Sale, Human Scale 317248
Reposted by Ryan JabsFietser @americanfietser.bsky.social · 24/08/2026City leaders often claim there's no room for better urban infrastructure. But the truth is the space is always there, you just have to look under the cars to find it. 416026
Reposted by Ryan JabsMichael Andersen @andersem.bsky.social · 24/08/2026The most remarkable thing about this isn’t that home values fell after upzoning (NZ’s weak job creation since 2020 contributed too), it’s that homebuilding *continued* at a much higher rate even after the price drop 819842
Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 24/08/2026For decades, governments have thought like this and it illustrates why we have a housing crisis. Here's a manufactured problem with cars that we could regulate at the source (vehicle size, tax on large vehicles, permits for public parking, etc). No. It's the homes that are the problem! 040
Reposted by Ryan JabsBloomberg News @bloomberg.com · 24/08/2026EXCLUSIVE: Canada sees little chance of resuming talks with the US before the midterms and is preparing to ride out Donald Trump's termbloom.bgCanada Sees Long Trade War With US That May Last Beyond MidtermsPrime Minister Mark Carney’s government sees little chance of resuming talks with President Donald Trump before the midterm elections after trade negotiations collapsed, according to people familiar with the matter. 31416108
Reposted by Ryan JabsCHEK News @cheknews.ca · 24/08/2026A Mustard Seed marathon runner is gearing up for race day as part of the CHEK Charity Pledge Program. cheknews.ca/on-your-mark-get-set-fu…cheknews.caOn your mark, get set, fundraise! Mustard Seed marathon runner has a very personal reason for giving backA Mustard Seed marathon runner is gearing up for race day as part of the CHEK Charity Pledge Program. 041
Reposted by Ryan JabsEmily Johnston @enjohnston.bsky.social · 23/08/2026"We have three new swimming areas in the Seine. They’re important for heat waves, but they also stimulate joy & happiness. They improve the quality of daily life.” Subtract cars, concrete, & water pollution; add greenery & bike lanes.....soooo many benefits. www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...newyorker.comThe End of the European SummerAs extreme heat overwhelms the Continent’s great cities, they are racing to adapt to a climate that they were never built to withstand. 15312
Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 23/08/2026It’s interesting the tactics places like Paris use to keep housing and reduce car space for people & trees. B.C. allowed municipalities to handcuff a lot of housing by requiring a piece of private property to maintain wide roads. This is one of many things govs do to prioritize cars over housing. 130
Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 23/08/2026The most entertaining account on blue sky (and my kids swear I have no idea what this guy is going on about). 031
Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 22/08/2026September is 2 years since the ADP gave this project a rare, unanimous recommendation to move it forward unchanged to council, we’re still waiting for approval. Please, folks, believe me. The problem with housing costs sits 100% with government. www.lapishomes.com/projects/933...lapishomes.com933/935 Convent Place — Lapis HomesNestled within Victoria's cherished Fairfield neighborhood, Convent Place offers a blend of classic architectural design and sustainable living. At its core lies the shared community courtyard, envisi... 170
Reposted by Ryan JabsDavid Roberts @volts.wtf · 20/08/2026Mrs. Volts and I have been riding e-bikes around Victoria, BC all day and we are blown away. We already knew that Vancouver is awesome but we didn't have many expectations about Victoria. It is amazing! The bike infrastructure is superb and there is jaw-dropping beauty around every turn. 🚴♂️😎 4472226
Reposted by Ryan JabsTiny Beaches @tinybeaches.bsky.social · 17/08/2026I got a $5,200 raise by bicycling to my job downtown thanks to Social Engineering. Great news! It’s available to everyone who works downtown!* #yycBike #Calgary #Edmonton #socialengineering #yegBike 35912
Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 13/08/2026Is this the right decision in a housing and climate crisis for @saanichbc.bsky.social to reject a reasonable multifamily rental application near most of the city’s major employers and schools? www.timescolonist.com/local-news/c...timescolonist.comCouncil rejects 77-unit rental project in Gordon Head over sizeThere was plenty of public input on the project, with the vast majority of those addressing council asking for it to be rejected. 000
Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 11/08/2026Bellingham, Portland, Ottawa, Vancouver, Edmonton, Buffalo, Minnesota, Austin, parts of Dallas, and hundreds of others, removed parking requirements. The “green” @victoria.ca? You must build parking or pay a massive tax if you don’t. Sigh. Is this housing friendly? Is this climate friendly? 1122
Reposted by Ryan JabsOh The Urbanity! @ohtheurbanity.bsky.social · 08/08/2026People talk about “fancy new units that people cannot afford”, but if the units are selling/renting then someone can afford them. Otherwise they have to lower the price. Every higher-income person living in a shiny new condo is one person no longer competing with everyone else for older housing.thestar.comMark Carney is promising relief for Toronto renters. Here’s why critics are concernedThe PM announced $2.7B in funding for Toronto rental projects Wednesday. Much of it is going to private developers. 312813
Reposted by Ryan JabsHalifax Examiner @halifaxexaminer.ca · 05/08/2026Coalition calls on Nova Scotia to investigate, make recommendations to prevent deaths from pickups and large SUVs By @dentremy.bsky.socialhalifaxexaminer.caCoalition calls on Nova Scotia to investigate, make recommendations to prevent deaths from pickups and large SUVs - Halifax ExaminerC.R.A.S.H. and local partners Vision Zero Kijipuktuk-Halifax, Ecology Action Centre (EAC), and Halifax Cycling Coalition wrote to chief medical examiner calling for a death review of pedestrian and cy... 54720
Reposted by Ryan JabsJens von Bergmann @jensvb.bsky.social · 04/08/2026Can’t get this story out of my head. The delays aren’t unusual, the cost comes out at $100k per unit or ~$400/month rent for those non-market homes. Same issues come up for market housing, developers could keep building at lower rents if munis did not impose those delays and uncertainty. 13914
Reposted by Ryan JabsGRIDS Vancouver @grids.reillywood.com · 03/08/2026Really remarkable article, the Anglican Church is going gloves off against multiple cities. $9M and 6 years of delay to build 85 units of below-market seniors housing on their own land 24612
Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 03/08/2026Another window into why even non-profit housing is so expensive. Saanich delays led to an extra $9milliom (!!) in costs. No one in Saanich is held accountable so they keep dragging their feet and increasing costs. bcbusiness.ca/real-estate/...bcbusiness.caCan B.C. fix the red tape stalling affordable housing? The Anglican Church says yesThe Anglican Church says years of municipal delays are making affordable housing in B.C. more expensive—and is calling for a six-month approval cap. 3368
Reposted by Ryan JabsDr. Mike P. Moffatt @mikepmoffatt.bsky.social · 31/07/2026Something I'll never understand - if I want to make substantial enough changes to my house, it has to go through a neighbourhood consultation process, but someone on my block can buy a vehicle that significantly increases the chances one of my kids gets run over. 732275
Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 31/07/2026I get why this is vital for some, but the more expensive city makes housing, the fewer number of homes get built and the higher rents become in the long term. Additionally, policies like this reinforce the city’s tall and sprawl development pattern… www.timescolonist.com/local-news/c...timescolonist.comCompensation hiked for long-term Victoria tenants displaced by developmentCompensation will start at five months’ rent for tenants in their homes for five to nine years, and top out at 24 months for those with tenancies in excess of 40 years. 110
Reposted by Ryan JabsTimes Colonist @timescolonist.bsky.social · 29/07/2026dlvr.it‘Torrential’ rain prompts evacuations from West Coast TrailWith parts of trail impassable and more rain on the way, Parks Canada is suggesting hikers consider delaying their trips — or be prepared to wait it out. 002
Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 28/07/2026I’ve seen a number of babies born in buildings I’ve built, many times due to couples having enough room to grow. Housing creates the blank pages that one day will be filled by the lives and stories of our current and future generations. Building it is so important. 0102
Reposted by Ryan JabsMax Dubler 🏳️🌈 @maxdubler.com · 21/07/2026The two hardest and most unforgiving facts in housing policy are that it actually costs a lot of money to build new homes and that the rents that poor people can afford are not enough to pay off the cost of construction. 53907112
Reposted by Ryan JabsBryn Davidson - Lanefab @lanefab.com · 17/07/2026There's nothing "gentle" about a city full of $3m bungalows 2375
Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 16/07/2026One of the big reasons middle housing is missing is that local govs' treat them like they're six to 26 storey builds, micromanaging them with conflicting directions. There's not enough money in middle housing to allow for this, so builders avoid them. The latest recommendation: 141
Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 16/07/2026Fascinating to see a breakdown on who provides feedback to local governments as it clearly shows why they continue to restrict housing. Only 413 of Esquimalt's 17,533 residents responded to their survey on missing middle homes. The comfortably housed (owners) made up 80% of responses. 2132