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Ryan Jabs

@ryanjabs.bsky.social
353 followers 620 following 505 posts

Dad who's fascinated by urban planning. Runner of a small #YYJ home development company. Trying to build the right things. www.lapishomes.com Art by Elizabeth Upton (www.instagram.com/living.whimsicall…)

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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.
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Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Many 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.ca
Why asking rents have surged in Canada since 2021
Renting 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...
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Tim Querengesser @timquerengesser.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The built form fighting gentle-density infill creates.
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Alex Bozikovic @alexbozikovic.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
This 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
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Nevin Thompson @nevint.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Edmonton 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...
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CHEK News @cheknews.ca · 19/09/2026
The 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.ca
Victoria earmarks nearly $1M to support non-market housing buildings
The City of Victoria has earmarked nearly $1 million to support non-market housing projects that are geared towards low-income residents.
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Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Nice to see, @victoria.ca! islandsocialtrends.ca/city-of-vict...
islandsocialtrends.ca
City of Victoria awards nearly $1 million to seven organizations for affordable housing - Island Social Trends
City of Victoria awards nearly $1 million to seven organizations for affordable housing. Projects to be completed by mid-October 2027.
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Sam @samd.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
the 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
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Push The Needle @pushtheneedle.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Developed 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
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David Roberts @volts.wtf · 16/09/2026
We visited these when we were in Vancouver and they are genuinely gorgeous buildings. Yay for density!
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Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
If 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.
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Push The Needle @pushtheneedle.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Seattle 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?
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Phil @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."
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G | 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
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Mike Eliason @holz-bau.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
the 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)
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Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Yet 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.
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CalgaryK @calgaryk.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Wow, wow, wow
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Alex Bozikovic @alexbozikovic.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Super 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.
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Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
The 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.
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Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Interestingly, 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.
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Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Saanich 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.com
Comment: First Saanich taxes employers out. Then it asks how we’re doing
A business can end up paying taxes influenced by the property’s redevelopment value while receiving none of the benefit from that increased value.
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Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
I 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.
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Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
One 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.
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𝚃𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚜 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
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Fietser @americanfietser.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
City 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.
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Michael Andersen @andersem.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
The 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
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Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
For 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!
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Bloomberg News @bloomberg.com · 24/08/2026
EXCLUSIVE: Canada sees little chance of resuming talks with the US before the midterms and is preparing to ride out Donald Trump's term
bloom.bg
Canada Sees Long Trade War With US That May Last Beyond Midterms
Prime 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.
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CHEK News @cheknews.ca · 24/08/2026
A 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.ca
On your mark, get set, fundraise! Mustard Seed marathon runner has a very personal reason for giving back
A Mustard Seed marathon runner is gearing up for race day as part of the CHEK Charity Pledge Program.
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Emily 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.com
The End of the European Summer
As extreme heat overwhelms the Continent’s great cities, they are racing to adapt to a climate that they were never built to withstand.
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Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
It’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.
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Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
The most entertaining account on blue sky (and my kids swear I have no idea what this guy is going on about).
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Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
September 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.com
933/935 Convent Place — Lapis Homes
Nestled 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...
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David Roberts @volts.wtf · 20/08/2026
Mrs. 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. 🚴‍♂️😎
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Tiny Beaches @tinybeaches.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
I 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
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Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Is 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.com
Council rejects 77-unit rental project in Gordon Head over size
There was plenty of public input on the project, with the vast majority of those addressing council asking for it to be rejected.
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Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Bellingham, 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?
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Oh The Urbanity! @ohtheurbanity.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
People 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.com
Mark Carney is promising relief for Toronto renters. Here’s why critics are concerned
The PM announced $2.7B in funding for Toronto rental projects Wednesday. Much of it is going to private developers.
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Halifax Examiner @halifaxexaminer.ca · 05/08/2026
Coalition calls on Nova Scotia to investigate, make recommendations to prevent deaths from pickups and large SUVs By @dentremy.bsky.social
halifaxexaminer.ca
Coalition calls on Nova Scotia to investigate, make recommendations to prevent deaths from pickups and large SUVs - Halifax Examiner
C.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...
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Jens von Bergmann @jensvb.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Can’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.
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GRIDS Vancouver @grids.reillywood.com · 03/08/2026
Really 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
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Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Another 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.ca
Can B.C. fix the red tape stalling affordable housing? The Anglican Church says yes
The 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.
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Dr. Mike P. Moffatt @mikepmoffatt.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Something 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.
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Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
I 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.com
Compensation hiked for long-term Victoria tenants displaced by development
Compensation 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.
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Times Colonist @timescolonist.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
dlvr.it
‘Torrential’ rain prompts evacuations from West Coast Trail
With 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.
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Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
I’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.
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Max Dubler 🏳️‍🌈 @maxdubler.com · 21/07/2026
The 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.
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Bryn Davidson - Lanefab @lanefab.com · 17/07/2026
There's nothing "gentle" about a city full of $3m bungalows
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Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
One 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:
Esquimalt's consultant is recommending more site specific requirements for missing middle housing. This will make these homes more expensive and more difficult to build.
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Ryan Jabs @ryanjabs.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Fascinating 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.
Two charts showing the results of a survey Esquimalt held about how to further restrict provincially required missing middle housing. 80% home owners and only 13.5% tenants responded.
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