Alex Freeman
@northernnerd.bsky.social
Toronto Area Housing & Construction.
Gaming & Photography, Bike Data.
Did I mention I like Disc Golf.
Gaming & Photography, Bike Data.
Did I mention I like Disc Golf.
Pinned
3 - Fighting Father Time
Why time is the most expensive input in housing
open.substack.com
Episode 3 of my long-form series on housing construction and affordability out now.
This week we dig into why time is the unifying cost multiplier across all stages of development.
This week we dig into why time is the unifying cost multiplier across all stages of development.
Reposted by Alex Freeman
Prices aren’t just “taxes”, but signals of scarcity. You can zero out the price, but it doesn’t fix the scarcity (often making it worse for everyone)
My family has run into this issue, both in Bridgewater and HRM. It means you always have to have an extra person at the appointment to do drop-off and then circle looking for parking.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Free parking and construction at Bridgewater hospital creating headaches for patients | CBC News
Some patients and visitors at South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater, N.S., say the lack of parking at the facility is causing them extra stress in already difficult times. One family is going s...
www.cbc.ca
January 29, 2026 at 5:09 PM
Prices aren’t just “taxes”, but signals of scarcity. You can zero out the price, but it doesn’t fix the scarcity (often making it worse for everyone)
Had no idea wire was the precursor to tapes.
Wire Recorder #chrisboden #comedy #engineering #science #educational #history #physics #tech #audio
YouTube video by Chris Boden
youtube.com
January 29, 2026 at 4:20 PM
Had no idea wire was the precursor to tapes.
Seemingly relevant article, with comments from @stateofthecity.bsky.social
January 29, 2026 at 4:11 PM
Seemingly relevant article, with comments from @stateofthecity.bsky.social
Reposted by Alex Freeman
Okay so it’s been 4 days, and on the #PlowTO map, the cycling lane plow & salter vehicles are all sitting in the same location downtown, except for one which is on Woodbine.
Hoping #BikeTO gets some relief on Danforth, Harbord and College soon.
cc @diannesaxe.bsky.social . #toronto #topoli
Hoping #BikeTO gets some relief on Danforth, Harbord and College soon.
cc @diannesaxe.bsky.social . #toronto #topoli
January 29, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Okay so it’s been 4 days, and on the #PlowTO map, the cycling lane plow & salter vehicles are all sitting in the same location downtown, except for one which is on Woodbine.
Hoping #BikeTO gets some relief on Danforth, Harbord and College soon.
cc @diannesaxe.bsky.social . #toronto #topoli
Hoping #BikeTO gets some relief on Danforth, Harbord and College soon.
cc @diannesaxe.bsky.social . #toronto #topoli
Reposted by Alex Freeman
Scenes From The Subway Stairs
January 28, 2026 at 11:39 PM
Scenes From The Subway Stairs
The kids are out of their minds.
January 29, 2026 at 1:36 AM
The kids are out of their minds.
Reposted by Alex Freeman
How much longer should we be patient with @toronto.ca over half-assed sidewalk clearing? Three days after the storm, the walk down Coxwell was an eyeopener, dangerous. Scooters in the street and seniors struggling with shopping carts. @paulafletcherto.bsky.social @mayoroliviachow.ca how.ca #SnowTO
January 28, 2026 at 8:55 PM
How much longer should we be patient with @toronto.ca over half-assed sidewalk clearing? Three days after the storm, the walk down Coxwell was an eyeopener, dangerous. Scooters in the street and seniors struggling with shopping carts. @paulafletcherto.bsky.social @mayoroliviachow.ca how.ca #SnowTO
Reposted by Alex Freeman
85/ Huscroft, what do you say to the general proposition?
Beck - It's wrong. You aren't always free to go back to a prior state. If it causes harm, then it engages s. 7.
Huscroft, isn't that creating a 1 way ratchet.?
Beck - if it implicates human life? Yes.
Huscroft - Doesnt that expand issue?
Beck - It's wrong. You aren't always free to go back to a prior state. If it causes harm, then it engages s. 7.
Huscroft, isn't that creating a 1 way ratchet.?
Beck - if it implicates human life? Yes.
Huscroft - Doesnt that expand issue?
January 28, 2026 at 5:52 PM
85/ Huscroft, what do you say to the general proposition?
Beck - It's wrong. You aren't always free to go back to a prior state. If it causes harm, then it engages s. 7.
Huscroft, isn't that creating a 1 way ratchet.?
Beck - if it implicates human life? Yes.
Huscroft - Doesnt that expand issue?
Beck - It's wrong. You aren't always free to go back to a prior state. If it causes harm, then it engages s. 7.
Huscroft, isn't that creating a 1 way ratchet.?
Beck - if it implicates human life? Yes.
Huscroft - Doesnt that expand issue?
The Ford administration is literally suggesting bike lanes harm bike riders.
61/ Govt makes a...somewhat wild IMO...point that a point to weigh is that MORE people are injured overall when bike lanes go in because volume goes up, so even if it's safer overall, in aggregate, more injuries will occur...
January 28, 2026 at 5:18 PM
The Ford administration is literally suggesting bike lanes harm bike riders.
We had no obligation to provide a guardrail for that cliffside so we're allowed to mandate its removal.
25/ Govt counsel argument is technical. The TYPE of action at play isn't the type of "state deprivation" that triggers s. 7 in the first place.
Essentially, because there's no obligation to make it, there's no obligation to keep it.
Essentially, because there's no obligation to make it, there's no obligation to keep it.
January 28, 2026 at 3:39 PM
We had no obligation to provide a guardrail for that cliffside so we're allowed to mandate its removal.
Reposted by Alex Freeman
It’s the big day! The appeal hearing @cycletoronto.bsky.social’s successful Bill 212 case is being heard at Ontario’s Court of Appeal. Time permitting I’ll try and live post the proceedings, like I did for the Ottawa convey injunctions back when #lawtwitter was a thing.
January 28, 2026 at 1:43 PM
It’s the big day! The appeal hearing @cycletoronto.bsky.social’s successful Bill 212 case is being heard at Ontario’s Court of Appeal. Time permitting I’ll try and live post the proceedings, like I did for the Ottawa convey injunctions back when #lawtwitter was a thing.
Reposted by Alex Freeman
Winter Stations is back! Toronto’s annual exhibition of temporary outdoor art installations at Woodbine Beach launches Feb. 16. I got to be part of this year’s jury, and here’s some of the winning entries that you’ll be seeing!
January 28, 2026 at 12:08 PM
Winter Stations is back! Toronto’s annual exhibition of temporary outdoor art installations at Woodbine Beach launches Feb. 16. I got to be part of this year’s jury, and here’s some of the winning entries that you’ll be seeing!
Ironically, I'm finding sidewalks along city park frontages are some of the worst.
Just shovel the sidewalk in front of your home/business you sociopathic freaks!
#shovelingsociopathsTO
#shovelingsociopathsTO
January 28, 2026 at 2:24 AM
Ironically, I'm finding sidewalks along city park frontages are some of the worst.
Reposted by Alex Freeman
There are four levels of government in Canada: municipal, provincial, federal, and railways.
A recent casual conversation with someone who worked in a major transit project in Canada:
"Dealing with CN or CP is a nightmare, they don't care, they come at the table and clearly tell you: 'you are worth nothing, because they were there before the Confederation even existed'"
"Dealing with CN or CP is a nightmare, they don't care, they come at the table and clearly tell you: 'you are worth nothing, because they were there before the Confederation even existed'"
January 27, 2026 at 11:26 PM
There are four levels of government in Canada: municipal, provincial, federal, and railways.
You have to do this about 3 or 4 times with progressively more bouldery snow.
If you live in a house in Toronto and don’t shovel a path through the berm of snow separating road and sidewalk, you honestly deserve not to have your garbage picked up
January 28, 2026 at 12:26 AM
You have to do this about 3 or 4 times with progressively more bouldery snow.
I take it there's a sandbar on the south east side of wards? Bit disappointed Theres not a stop for the disc golf course.
I mean the fire station has a washroom and everything, people love washrooms.
I mean the fire station has a washroom and everything, people love washrooms.
A new report by CPCS for Waterfront Toronto, City of Toronto, and Ports Toronto outlines options for implementing a Seabus service along Toronto’s Waterfront. Similar services exist in Halifax and Vancouver. Read more: www.waterfrontoronto.ca/sites/defaul...
January 28, 2026 at 12:25 AM
I take it there's a sandbar on the south east side of wards? Bit disappointed Theres not a stop for the disc golf course.
I mean the fire station has a washroom and everything, people love washrooms.
I mean the fire station has a washroom and everything, people love washrooms.
I thought Brad said these were done first.
January 27, 2026 at 9:52 PM
I thought Brad said these were done first.
It's entirely possible I'm imagining it, but it feels like there's a bit of a swell of Torontonians joining bluesky right now.
January 27, 2026 at 9:18 PM
It's entirely possible I'm imagining it, but it feels like there's a bit of a swell of Torontonians joining bluesky right now.
Reposted by Alex Freeman
This is pretty deep into the zoning weeds but it's a super important and super frustrating detail and I feel the need to explain in depth so people understand what's being currently proposed. A🧵1/
The new density maximums were intended to increase permissions but height limits will restrict that to what's already on the site (because of Toronto's current site-specific zoning approach). This means no additional housing without a Zoning Bylaw Amendment.
January 27, 2026 at 2:36 PM
This is pretty deep into the zoning weeds but it's a super important and super frustrating detail and I feel the need to explain in depth so people understand what's being currently proposed. A🧵1/
Episode 3 of my long-form series on housing construction and affordability out now.
This week we dig into why time is the unifying cost multiplier across all stages of development.
This week we dig into why time is the unifying cost multiplier across all stages of development.
3 - Fighting Father Time
Why time is the most expensive input in housing
open.substack.com
January 27, 2026 at 2:08 PM
Episode 3 of my long-form series on housing construction and affordability out now.
This week we dig into why time is the unifying cost multiplier across all stages of development.
This week we dig into why time is the unifying cost multiplier across all stages of development.
I feel for people that use permit parking in the winter after a big snowfall.
You invest a ton of energy excavating your car and clearing out your parking space, with no guarantee it'll be there when you come home.
And all the snow means there's less spaces to go around.
You invest a ton of energy excavating your car and clearing out your parking space, with no guarantee it'll be there when you come home.
And all the snow means there's less spaces to go around.
January 27, 2026 at 1:07 PM
I feel for people that use permit parking in the winter after a big snowfall.
You invest a ton of energy excavating your car and clearing out your parking space, with no guarantee it'll be there when you come home.
And all the snow means there's less spaces to go around.
You invest a ton of energy excavating your car and clearing out your parking space, with no guarantee it'll be there when you come home.
And all the snow means there's less spaces to go around.
It was literally more clear last night when it stopped snowing.
January 26, 2026 at 8:12 PM
It was literally more clear last night when it stopped snowing.