Jens von Bergmann
@jensvb.bsky.social
Data, analysis, visualization, #CensusMapper, transportation cyclist.
📍Vancouver, BC
📍Vancouver, BC
Interesting how this interacts with coupling up and other living arrangements, for contrast here are age-specific headship rates.
December 26, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Interesting how this interacts with coupling up and other living arrangements, for contrast here are age-specific headship rates.
Reposted by Jens von Bergmann
Best explanation of the liar's dividend that I've ever seen.
December 24, 2025 at 6:36 AM
Best explanation of the liar's dividend that I've ever seen.
Great building and unit layout. A couple other distinction between living in Europe vs North America I can't help but notice. 🧵
here's plan of 3-bedroom unit
daylight on 3 sides.
1,240 s.f. w/ 150 sf loggia (likely higher, these are normally counted at 50%)
also note in a pinch, the living room (wohnen) could become a 4th bedroom by adding walls and door intersecting at floating column
and that plumbing wall is 👀
daylight on 3 sides.
1,240 s.f. w/ 150 sf loggia (likely higher, these are normally counted at 50%)
also note in a pinch, the living room (wohnen) could become a 4th bedroom by adding walls and door intersecting at floating column
and that plumbing wall is 👀
December 24, 2025 at 5:10 AM
Great building and unit layout. A couple other distinction between living in Europe vs North America I can't help but notice. 🧵
Reposted by Jens von Bergmann
I recently had the chance to chat with @wazaroff.bsky.social who is running for mayor. He is smart, has great judgement, and spends his time providing affordable housing for those who need it. He would make an excellent mayor.
December 22, 2025 at 9:47 PM
I recently had the chance to chat with @wazaroff.bsky.social who is running for mayor. He is smart, has great judgement, and spends his time providing affordable housing for those who need it. He would make an excellent mayor.
Reposted by Jens von Bergmann
I appreciate @1alexhemingway.bsky.social’s consistent advocacy for non-market housing without downplaying market housing or the broader supply shortage.
By covering not just zoning but also suppressed household formation, this is pretty much the gold standard for left-YIMBYism.
By covering not just zoning but also suppressed household formation, this is pretty much the gold standard for left-YIMBYism.
British Columbia’s #housing crisis is severe, but its root causes are familiar: exclusionary zoning, under-building, and chronic neglect of nonmarket housing. Economist Alex Hemingway’s proposals show how governments could reverse course, in BC and elsewhere. jacobin.com/2025/12/cana... #Canada
The Housing Crisis Is Solvable
British Columbia’s housing crisis is severe, but its root causes are familiar: exclusionary zoning, under-building, and chronic neglect of nonmarket housing. Economist Alex Hemingway’s proposals show ...
jacobin.com
December 22, 2025 at 4:06 AM
I appreciate @1alexhemingway.bsky.social’s consistent advocacy for non-market housing without downplaying market housing or the broader supply shortage.
By covering not just zoning but also suppressed household formation, this is pretty much the gold standard for left-YIMBYism.
By covering not just zoning but also suppressed household formation, this is pretty much the gold standard for left-YIMBYism.
Reposted by Jens von Bergmann
Nice. This should fit nicely into the 3FSR 400-800m TOA annuli. And in the anticipated 6 storey village zoning and some of the area plans whenever that zoning change happens.
December 21, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Nice. This should fit nicely into the 3FSR 400-800m TOA annuli. And in the anticipated 6 storey village zoning and some of the area plans whenever that zoning change happens.
Reposted by Jens von Bergmann
From the Metro Toronto Planning Board's 1959 draft Official Plan (voted down by Metro Council). You could not say something this obvious in Toronto's Official Plan anymore.
December 19, 2025 at 7:41 PM
From the Metro Toronto Planning Board's 1959 draft Official Plan (voted down by Metro Council). You could not say something this obvious in Toronto's Official Plan anymore.
New data release of the National Address Registry out today, good to see continued development, and it's getting better with each release. Here all properties with mailing address in Vancouver.
December 19, 2025 at 6:01 PM
New data release of the National Address Registry out today, good to see continued development, and it's getting better with each release. Here all properties with mailing address in Vancouver.
Reposted by Jens von Bergmann
New piece! For the second time in three years, Metro Vancouver has raised development charges just after another level of government lowered taxes on new housing, capturing the savings instead of lowering total costs.
Read Metro Van Strikes Again here: www.missingmiddleini...
Read Metro Van Strikes Again here: www.missingmiddleini...
December 19, 2025 at 2:22 PM
New piece! For the second time in three years, Metro Vancouver has raised development charges just after another level of government lowered taxes on new housing, capturing the savings instead of lowering total costs.
Read Metro Van Strikes Again here: www.missingmiddleini...
Read Metro Van Strikes Again here: www.missingmiddleini...
Your regular reminder that the province intervened in municipal land use regulation because cities have and are very inclined to continue to strongly curb the right to build housing for people.
(And that the soft approach that leaves cities a lot of wiggle room has failed.)
(And that the soft approach that leaves cities a lot of wiggle room has failed.)
holy @!#
It looks like the final adopted update to Burnaby's R1 zoning is really bad.
The allowable footprint area for a house and LWH is now capped at either 30% or 40% of the lot.
This change appears to kill the current design for one of our projects, and the housing library designs.
It looks like the final adopted update to Burnaby's R1 zoning is really bad.
The allowable footprint area for a house and LWH is now capped at either 30% or 40% of the lot.
This change appears to kill the current design for one of our projects, and the housing library designs.
December 18, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Your regular reminder that the province intervened in municipal land use regulation because cities have and are very inclined to continue to strongly curb the right to build housing for people.
(And that the soft approach that leaves cities a lot of wiggle room has failed.)
(And that the soft approach that leaves cities a lot of wiggle room has failed.)
Finally found some time to play with Meta's new image segmentation model. (Special thanks to @kylewalker.bsky.social for making it super-easy.) Just open the map view and tell it what to find. First example: cars.
Quite impressive for foundation model without additional training.
Quite impressive for foundation model without additional training.
December 18, 2025 at 6:39 AM
Finally found some time to play with Meta's new image segmentation model. (Special thanks to @kylewalker.bsky.social for making it super-easy.) Just open the map view and tell it what to find. First example: cars.
Quite impressive for foundation model without additional training.
Quite impressive for foundation model without additional training.
New quarterly population projections are in today, quick update looking at BC. Net interprovincial migration turned positive again, but net overall migration including international migration turned negative for the first time since COVID due to strong net NPR outflows.
December 17, 2025 at 4:34 PM
New quarterly population projections are in today, quick update looking at BC. Net interprovincial migration turned positive again, but net overall migration including international migration turned negative for the first time since COVID due to strong net NPR outflows.
Good take. Being clear about concepts matters.
A lot of our housing discussions go sideways because people aren’t precise about the concepts they are talking about about. And the seemingly simple concept of “vacant home” is a prime example where things go wrong frequently.
A lot of our housing discussions go sideways because people aren’t precise about the concepts they are talking about about. And the seemingly simple concept of “vacant home” is a prime example where things go wrong frequently.
I thought a bit through @missingmiddleca.bsky.social's inclusion of vacancy taxes in the category of harmful policies with regards to overall supply and decided to blog it.
medium.com/@AdamMongrai...
With thanks to @jensvb.bsky.social and @lausterna.bsky.social wonderful work on Unoccupied Canada.
medium.com/@AdamMongrai...
With thanks to @jensvb.bsky.social and @lausterna.bsky.social wonderful work on Unoccupied Canada.
The point of vacancy taxes is to increase vacancy rates
Missing Middle Initiative has a new report out, grading provinces on housing policies and housing outcomes. It is, as usual, a dizzying…
medium.com
December 17, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Good take. Being clear about concepts matters.
A lot of our housing discussions go sideways because people aren’t precise about the concepts they are talking about about. And the seemingly simple concept of “vacant home” is a prime example where things go wrong frequently.
A lot of our housing discussions go sideways because people aren’t precise about the concepts they are talking about about. And the seemingly simple concept of “vacant home” is a prime example where things go wrong frequently.
Reposted by Jens von Bergmann
There's been a flurry of housing policy announcements in recent years, but much of it is less than meets the eye.
In a new report for @bcpolicy.bsky.social, I outline why BC’s housing crisis and shortage is solvable—and key structural changes we still urgently need.
bcpolicy.ca/housing-cris...
In a new report for @bcpolicy.bsky.social, I outline why BC’s housing crisis and shortage is solvable—and key structural changes we still urgently need.
bcpolicy.ca/housing-cris...
This is why BC’s housing crisis hasn’t been solved yet
The magnitude of the housing shortage is huge, the problems chronic, but the housing crisis is solvable.
Throughout the province and country, the housing crisis is marked by high rents and prices, ...
bcpolicy.ca
December 16, 2025 at 5:08 PM
There's been a flurry of housing policy announcements in recent years, but much of it is less than meets the eye.
In a new report for @bcpolicy.bsky.social, I outline why BC’s housing crisis and shortage is solvable—and key structural changes we still urgently need.
bcpolicy.ca/housing-cris...
In a new report for @bcpolicy.bsky.social, I outline why BC’s housing crisis and shortage is solvable—and key structural changes we still urgently need.
bcpolicy.ca/housing-cris...
Reposted by Jens von Bergmann
I'm going to be voting for William Azaroff as OneCity's mayoral candidate in February; I think he's the best chance we have at a mayor who will be great on housing. I'd strongly encourage you to join the party and do the same.
Exciting news - I’m seeking the mayoral nomination with @OneCityVan! 1 / 5 youtu.be/2MTf7QmcEpc
My name is William Azaroff and I'm seeking the mayoral nomination with OneCity
YouTube video by William for Vancouver
youtu.be
December 16, 2025 at 3:46 AM
I'm going to be voting for William Azaroff as OneCity's mayoral candidate in February; I think he's the best chance we have at a mayor who will be great on housing. I'd strongly encourage you to join the party and do the same.
Late to comment on the RMS data release from last week, but wanted to update this graph on turnover and note that increased vacancy rates and easing rents have enabled more people to move (in most markets). Which is good.
December 16, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Late to comment on the RMS data release from last week, but wanted to update this graph on turnover and note that increased vacancy rates and easing rents have enabled more people to move (in most markets). Which is good.
Reposted by Jens von Bergmann
Consultants contracted by Minnesota found that an eight-story single-stair building with 6,000 sq. ft. per floor (building 4) has dramatically lower fire risk than a same-height code-compliant two-stair building with a larger floor plate (building 1) www.dli.mn.gov/sites/defaul...
December 12, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Consultants contracted by Minnesota found that an eight-story single-stair building with 6,000 sq. ft. per floor (building 4) has dramatically lower fire risk than a same-height code-compliant two-stair building with a larger floor plate (building 1) www.dli.mn.gov/sites/defaul...
Great framing by @kevinerdmann.bsky.social. This part too.
December 13, 2025 at 5:48 AM
Great framing by @kevinerdmann.bsky.social. This part too.
Reposted by Jens von Bergmann
Your regular reminder that it takes a ginormous amount of privilege to claim that our low-density neighbourhoods are "working".
(Old data, but story did not change.)
(Old data, but story did not change.)
Vancouver SFH Affordability Estimator
Who can afford to live in Signle Family Zones?
mountainmath.ca
December 12, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Your regular reminder that it takes a ginormous amount of privilege to claim that our low-density neighbourhoods are "working".
(Old data, but story did not change.)
(Old data, but story did not change.)
Reposted by Jens von Bergmann
Back-to-back CBC British Columbia news items.
BC has too many people living in cars because they can't find housing. Think I'm going to stick with the province on this one.
RV fire: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Metro Van mayors: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
BC has too many people living in cars because they can't find housing. Think I'm going to stick with the province on this one.
RV fire: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Metro Van mayors: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
December 12, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Back-to-back CBC British Columbia news items.
BC has too many people living in cars because they can't find housing. Think I'm going to stick with the province on this one.
RV fire: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Metro Van mayors: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
BC has too many people living in cars because they can't find housing. Think I'm going to stick with the province on this one.
RV fire: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Metro Van mayors: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
There was this narrative that cities kind of wanted more housing, and just needed a bit of nudging from the province to get over the hump...
Good to see that not all munis are on board with winding back the clock.
Good to see that not all munis are on board with winding back the clock.
Check and see if your mayor is on the Province's naughty or nice list! vancouversun.com/news/metro-v...
December 12, 2025 at 4:27 AM
There was this narrative that cities kind of wanted more housing, and just needed a bit of nudging from the province to get over the hump...
Good to see that not all munis are on board with winding back the clock.
Good to see that not all munis are on board with winding back the clock.
Report on Sen̓áḵw progress from my morning ride into downtown, the crane for the second tower is getting taken down and now only serves the small round structure between tower two and three.
December 12, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Report on Sen̓áḵw progress from my morning ride into downtown, the crane for the second tower is getting taken down and now only serves the small round structure between tower two and three.
Reposted by Jens von Bergmann
Big new blogpost!
My guide to data visualization, which includes a very long table of contents, tons of charts, and more.
--> Why data visualization matters and how to make charts more effective, clear, transparent, and sometimes, beautiful.
www.scientificdiscovery.dev/p/salonis-gu...
My guide to data visualization, which includes a very long table of contents, tons of charts, and more.
--> Why data visualization matters and how to make charts more effective, clear, transparent, and sometimes, beautiful.
www.scientificdiscovery.dev/p/salonis-gu...
December 9, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Big new blogpost!
My guide to data visualization, which includes a very long table of contents, tons of charts, and more.
--> Why data visualization matters and how to make charts more effective, clear, transparent, and sometimes, beautiful.
www.scientificdiscovery.dev/p/salonis-gu...
My guide to data visualization, which includes a very long table of contents, tons of charts, and more.
--> Why data visualization matters and how to make charts more effective, clear, transparent, and sometimes, beautiful.
www.scientificdiscovery.dev/p/salonis-gu...