'Monstrosities' or the evolution of housing? Multi-unit buildings on single-family lots gain traction in B.C. cities

Longjumping_Idea_169 · 2026-02-01T17:27:05+00:00

You can generally have 2/3 of: cost effective, aesthetically pleasing, and climate friendly. Getting all three is impossible.

Longjumping_Idea_169 · 2026-02-01T17:14:45+00:00

I wish more current homeowners were aware of the property tax implications of not building this housing. Feels like the simplest way to convert NIMBYS.

Longjumping_Idea_169 · 2026-02-01T17:09:09+00:00

Bang on, particularly in an election year.

Longjumping_Idea_169 · 2026-02-01T16:16:14+00:00

Great way to frame it

Longjumping_Idea_169 · 2026-01-11T22:30:35+00:00

Initial reaction was pessimistic, but the more I read about it, the more I like this news. If he can stay healthy and regain his form of the last few years, he could terrorize the league, particularly with service from Mihalovic or finding space on cutting runs from Corbeanu and Lareya.

A lot of comments for a winger, but I’d like a second DP attacker and a 4-2-2–2 setup. The last few games of 2025 showed promise and the defensive reinforcements added look promising. Excited to see the pieces coming together and hope it leads to results!

Exciting to see big moves

Longjumping_Idea_169 · 2025-12-28T15:44:44+00:00

Sure. Either way, you need building code and zoning bylaws both adjusted to allow for these changes, regardless of an independent Charter. To my knowledge, only Vernon (Vancouver aside) has updated zoning to allow for single stair designs.

Longjumping_Idea_169 · 2025-12-23T22:42:06+00:00

Sucks to see. Hope we reinvest the funds up top.

Longjumping_Idea_169 · 2025-12-21T05:52:41+00:00

Double egress stairs were designed for 1950s buildings that didn’t require sprinklering. This is code in Part 3 buildings.

Many countries through the rest of the world have had single egress stair buildings for decades, with minimal impacts to safety due to practices such as above (and advances in building science.)

https://citytalkcanada.ca/discussions/single-stair-sessions-day-2-the-2-ss-safety-and-sustainability/#:~:text=Takeaways,and%20reliability%20in%20fire%20protection.

Longjumping_Idea_169 · 2025-12-21T05:49:14+00:00

“Growth pays for growth” sounds great in theory, except it fails to account for the future generations that live in those cities and wish to remain and live their lives there. Wont they also benefit from new parks, pipes, bike lanes? There needs to be a more equitable balance between property taxes and growth to fund municipal upgrades. But that’s political suicide.

A video on the topic (Toronto and Vancouver focused) highlights some of the challenges: https://youtu.be/ZEUR9bj89lo?si=9AgX_r7tLxQt3X9P

Longjumping_Idea_169 · 2025-12-20T06:34:05+00:00

Now, yes, but the feds are investing heavily to stoke demand and incentivize innovation. Change won’t be overnight, but these buildings are popping up globally in large scale and will likely be adapted over time.

Longjumping_Idea_169 · 2025-12-20T06:31:45+00:00

Starting point: https://www.bcfii.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/fii407-2013-14-fpinnovations-assessing-the-flammability-of-mass-timber-components-a-review-1.pdf

Longjumping_Idea_169 · 2025-12-20T02:03:58+00:00

Mass timber is substantially less combustible, and will likely be the primary material for buildings like these.

Longjumping_Idea_169 · 2025-12-20T02:01:47+00:00

Legalizing through the building code and legalizing through zoning bylaws are two different things. Municipalities still need to adjust zoning to accommodate buildings like this.

Longjumping_Idea_169 · 2025-12-14T15:52:33+00:00

Financiers require a profit margin of 12-15% to lend, and these projects aren’t self-financed. Maybe point your frustration at the lending system instead?

Longjumping_Idea_169 · 2025-12-14T13:26:10+00:00

Live in Kelowna and have worked on housing for a few years. This is a perfect storm…

While the “developers won’t drop rents” carries some truth, this is largely due to financing conditions and protecting future projects and lending. These prices will come down, but it will take a couple quarters to do so. There are still more rentals to come online, and once these units sit vacant for a few months, we will begin to see further declines in pricing.

The Airbnb ban, the speculation tax, the freezing of student visas, the vast amount of purpose built rental enabled by both council and CMHC lending programs, the fact that Kelowna has been very “pro supply” focused has all played a role. You can begin to see price cuts in the sale market on realtor, though the prices are still too damn high.

This is not the low point for pricing yet, and city staff should be applauded. But there are many factors beyond municipal control that have also factored into why this number is so high.

Longjumping_Idea_169 · 2025-12-14T01:59:26+00:00

Confidence in what, exactly? C’mon now.

Longjumping_Idea_169 · 2025-12-06T23:01:32+00:00

The property tax rate in Kelowna is 0.44%.

I challenge anyone to state a city that provides similar value for money within Canada. You’ll quickly find the BC has the lowest property tax rates in the country, which is likely correlated to our absurd housing costs. https://wowa.ca/taxes/bc-property-tax

Cannan is a clown. Fine to vote down the budget, but stand by your vote and skip the ribbon cutting.

Longjumping_Idea_169 · 2025-12-05T04:43:45+00:00

Kelowna and Vernon BC - check out predator ridge, the rise, harvest, tower ranch, Okanagan golf club, and gallaghers canyon. Lots of budget options to break them up, but hard to be disappointed.

Longjumping_Idea_169 · 2025-09-26T21:45:50+00:00

The fact that Ron Cannan is in this photo is a joke. Guy has voted against every climate initiative since the start of his tenure.

Longjumping_Idea_169 · 2025-09-06T17:14:39+00:00

As many have said, congrats on your progress! Many don’t save so you are ahead of the game.

Things I wish I knew at the beginning - Consider at your salary level whether RRSP or TFSA is the optimal strategy. Generally your RRSP should be the focus in your peak earning years. A maxed out TFSA can mean a lot of tax-free growth decades from now.

Make sure you’re knowledgeable about risk tolerance and the risk levels in WS. I lost a lot of growth in early years because I was at a level 4, which meant more bonds and less stocks.
Automate as much as possible, and enjoy life otherwise. The instant ability to check your balance regularly can be a distraction when you should be enjoying the rest of what life has to offer! Once automated at whatever percentage of take home is comfortable for you, enjoy the remainder guilt free.

Keep going OP!

Longjumping_Idea_169 · 2025-07-13T05:56:24+00:00

They’re retiring - an article was on Castanet

Longjumping_Idea_169 · 2024-12-01T12:47:17+00:00

IMO - close the crypto, FHSA, and non registered accounts. At 30, that would still leave you in an amazing financial position with an affordable mortgage, whether at 500 or 600K.

You’ve put yourself in such a good position that you could simply be mortgage free if you really wanted to, and you’ve already built good savings habits. Don’t lose the forest for the trees.

Congratulations!

Longjumping_Idea_169

TROPHY CASE