Here’s the story I had in the Globe this week about the interesting business of taking over stalled condo projects. It’s a bit of a specialty area that’s developing for lawyers and accounting firms, as they work with companies willing to take the plunge. They’re not the easiest development deals, as there are lots of […]

[Read more →]

My story in the Globe today about the NY Transportation Commissioner’s visit to the city.

[Read more →]

Okay, this isn’t strictly urban issues but I just couldn’t help noticing this story about plans to open up campgrounds near (i.e. within a couple of hours) of Vancouver/Whistler so that Olympics tourists could stay there if they wanted. I have to say, the Games are starting to feel more and more like some out-of-control […]

[Read more →]

This internal email from parks general manager Susan Mundick just flew in my window. Now, instead of “helping with the transition for as long as needed,” she is now leaving immediately. Hmm, sounds like there’s unpleasantness going on. I’m sure the scuffling in the past month, when Mundick was on vacation part of the time, […]

[Read more →]

A reader sent in this link on interesting efforts to tinker with the carrots and sticks for drivers in order to get them onto transit. “Another interesting discussion for your blog perhaps? http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-parking-experiment15-2009oct15,0,2933172.story The article discusses Santa Monica’s plan to use market rates to manage their parking to short term stops, higher fees and programming […]

[Read more →]

This just in (or out) from city hall Mayor Robertson to travel to London, Greece to take part in Olympic Flame ceremonies Mayor Gregor Robertson will travel to Greece this week, where as Mayor of the 2010 Winter Olympics host city he will take part in the lighting of the Olympic Flame ceremony in Olympia […]

[Read more →]

I’ve been away in the Kootenays doing a media workshop in the town where I got my first-ever newspaper job 26 years ago, Creston, so excuse my lateness on various burning urban issues that broke out in the last few days. As a result of my sojourn (and digressively, I must say, was it ever […]

[Read more →]

This just in, or going out to city hall, or something. I’m a bit surprised. I thought Marg WAS the city clerk and doing a good job. From: Ballem, Penny Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2009 2:35 PM To: Mayor and Council (COV) – DL; Corporate Management Team (COV) – DL Cc: Di Nozzi, Caterina; Naklicki, […]

[Read more →]

My latest column in Vancouver magazine is on Vancouver city manager Penny Ballem, who seems to be enjoying her job more every day. (Heard her ALL over the radio all day today telling people they should leave their cars at home during the Olympics.) She’s a fascinating woman to watch in action and to hear […]

[Read more →]

Just too much going on for me this week, so I didn’t get to the VV fundraiser, but here’s the report from Jonathan Ross at civicscene, detailing the lively goings-on. A quieter, more angst-ridden scene tonight at the NPA annual general meeting, I expect. This report from city caucus sets the stage, although as NPA […]

[Read more →]