Of all the ways Darren and I expected to close out this year, I can safely say this was not one of them. Like most, I would not describe it as good one per say, though we were relieved to be double vaccinated, and in good spirits after visiting the Christmas Market two weeks ago.... Continue Reading →
Moderate Income Rental Homes Bloom From The Ruins Of Vancouver’s Laneway Disaster
3615 - 3645 Fraser StreetWith city council’s decision not to renew or replace the Affordable Housing Choices Interim Rezoning Policy, Darren and I have watched the activity in our guide to that program wither away. A few active rezoning proposals linger, awaiting the judgment of our elected officials, but one has remained jarringly stuck at... Continue Reading →
No Longer A Terminal Condition – City Duo Looks Into Port Town’s Iron Heart
Ironworks (Formerly 1900 Pandora Street - DE419697)It is hard to believe nearly a year has passed since Darren and I were rushing down Powell Street, late for a tour of the Ironworks building. My recap of that experience has been similarly delayed, but the double-whammy of the pandemic, and my father-in-law’s passing, upended many of... Continue Reading →
City Duo Closes The Book On 2020 – Yet The Quest For Boxed Coffee Resumes In Early January
It’s that time of year again where Hannah and I decide to catch up on a little sleep rather than argue over the better choice of words to describe some random civic meeting. It’s certainly tempting to focus on the tragedies of this year, both in our own lives, and in the wider city sense.... Continue Reading →
Questions Linger Over Vancouver’s Hopes To Lift The Curse Of Robson Street
1045 Haro StreetIt’s been hard to be excited about anything this year, but one of the few things that brought Hannah and I some joy was city council’s decision to simplify the rezoning process. Removing the requirement for applicants to submit an enquiry prior to an official application has not only saved them and city... Continue Reading →
City Duo Posts To Pause Due To Family Tragedy
1950 - 2020 With the current events in the world today, it’s hard to find someone who’s life has not been touched by a personal tragedy. Hannah and I are deeply sorry to say that reality has hit home in our immediate family, with the loss of a close loved one. City Duo has always... Continue Reading →
Opportunities For Affordable Housing Polarize Opinions On Granville Bridge Connector
Granville Bridge Connector - Phase 3 If this was truly the worst timeline, like some of our friends joke, then city council would have approved last year's proposed changes to the 56 year old Granville Street Bridge. Global conditions have likely increased construction costs since then, but the previous centre lane option had plenty of... Continue Reading →
All Wrapped Up For 2019 – City Duo Set To Return In Mid-January With A Moderate Pace
As we enter the eve of not only a new year, but a new decade, it would be easy to get lost in a moment of self-reflection. Certainly a lot has changed for Darren and I over these last 10 years, but neither of us ever imagined writing a blog would become such a core... Continue Reading →
Four Of A Kind – Crofton Manor’s Six Acre Refinement Could Deal Vancouver A Winning Hand
2803 West 41st Ave (Crofton Manor) While fall is generally considered a season of harvest and decline, it seems in Vancouver it's actually brought a time of rebirth. From a long-stalled townhome project in the Cambie Corridor, to a grandfathered building under the old HA-1A guidelines, many areas of our city are springing back to... Continue Reading →
Fresh Off The Grill – A Brighter Future For Vancouver’s Most Venables
2924 Venables Street - Alice Saunders House Admittedly, Hannah and I were a little torn on whether to write this post. While we enjoy sharing information about upcoming pre-application events, it almost feels unnecessary when the notice is openly available on Twitter. Then again, as we only learned about it when we were sent a... Continue Reading →