Jim Mayer 🇨🇦
@pentastich.bsky.social
Urbanism, utility cycling, rowing, food, vintage cocktails, and city living. Victoria, BC, Canada. He/him.
Blog: https://www.boomin-in-victoria.ca
Mastodon (rarely) https://urbanists.social/@pentastich
Formerly @pentastich on Birdland
Blog: https://www.boomin-in-victoria.ca
Mastodon (rarely) https://urbanists.social/@pentastich
Formerly @pentastich on Birdland
1/3 Wow… the @timescolonist.bsky.social is really letting their biases show. Saying "refuses to call for" sounds like they removed a staff recommendation or a well reasoned report, instead of what they did: reject an unserious, poorly thought out, non-evidence based spam motion from one councillor.
November 7, 2025 at 7:22 PM
1/3 Wow… the @timescolonist.bsky.social is really letting their biases show. Saying "refuses to call for" sounds like they removed a staff recommendation or a well reasoned report, instead of what they did: reject an unserious, poorly thought out, non-evidence based spam motion from one councillor.
That kind of housing is a lot more sustainable in areas with more open land. Tiny Town in Victoria was only possible because the city was willing to temporarily make that parking lot available. Even then, that was 30 units of housing on a plot of EXPENSIVE land that could house many more.
November 5, 2025 at 12:08 AM
That kind of housing is a lot more sustainable in areas with more open land. Tiny Town in Victoria was only possible because the city was willing to temporarily make that parking lot available. Even then, that was 30 units of housing on a plot of EXPENSIVE land that could house many more.
One of the great things about #yyj is that it's easy to get to shockingly beautiful places like Tofino. We experienced beautiful rain, great fireplaces, and even some unexpected sunshine.
Taken with a Fuji X-Pro3 and a 33mm (50mm equivalent) lens.
Taken with a Fuji X-Pro3 and a 33mm (50mm equivalent) lens.
November 3, 2025 at 3:43 PM
One of the great things about #yyj is that it's easy to get to shockingly beautiful places like Tofino. We experienced beautiful rain, great fireplaces, and even some unexpected sunshine.
Taken with a Fuji X-Pro3 and a 33mm (50mm equivalent) lens.
Taken with a Fuji X-Pro3 and a 33mm (50mm equivalent) lens.
5/ But the worst one is "the impacts of the apparently unplanned and unwelcome urban sprawl demonstrated
by the towers built in the 1970s.". I wonder if the residents of those relatively affordable, pleasant, homes located close to shopping, downtown, and Victoria's largest park were consulted?
by the towers built in the 1970s.". I wonder if the residents of those relatively affordable, pleasant, homes located close to shopping, downtown, and Victoria's largest park were consulted?
November 3, 2025 at 2:09 AM
5/ But the worst one is "the impacts of the apparently unplanned and unwelcome urban sprawl demonstrated
by the towers built in the 1970s.". I wonder if the residents of those relatively affordable, pleasant, homes located close to shopping, downtown, and Victoria's largest park were consulted?
by the towers built in the 1970s.". I wonder if the residents of those relatively affordable, pleasant, homes located close to shopping, downtown, and Victoria's largest park were consulted?
4/ The "singular peninsular transportation isolation" bit is equally strange. Also, people can leave James Bay by Government, Douglas, Blanshard, Southgate, or Dallas. That's five roads. Here's a map of Vic West, where I'm "trapped":
November 3, 2025 at 2:09 AM
4/ The "singular peninsular transportation isolation" bit is equally strange. Also, people can leave James Bay by Government, Douglas, Blanshard, Southgate, or Dallas. That's five roads. Here's a map of Vic West, where I'm "trapped":
2/ There are parts of James Bay that would be good candidates for heritage designation, but it seems absurd to designate the entire neighbourhood. More than that, none of the justifications given have ANYTHING to do with why James Bay should be an HCA.
November 3, 2025 at 2:09 AM
2/ There are parts of James Bay that would be good candidates for heritage designation, but it seems absurd to designate the entire neighbourhood. More than that, none of the justifications given have ANYTHING to do with why James Bay should be an HCA.
Some of the changes in the updated OCP establish requirements for two and three bedroom homes in apartment buildings. In addition, there are incentives, in some cases, for exceeding the required number of three bedroom units.
October 30, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Some of the changes in the updated OCP establish requirements for two and three bedroom homes in apartment buildings. In addition, there are incentives, in some cases, for exceeding the required number of three bedroom units.
3/ … focus on citywide objectives. It's interesting how the biggest Victoria proponents of "good governance" were the first to throw all of this away.
October 28, 2025 at 4:39 PM
3/ … focus on citywide objectives. It's interesting how the biggest Victoria proponents of "good governance" were the first to throw all of this away.
2/ “We’re totally committed to our role in protecting the environment and to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions,” he said.
October 26, 2025 at 5:17 PM
2/ “We’re totally committed to our role in protecting the environment and to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions,” he said.
I'm a senior living in Victoria, and I use a cargo bike as a car replacement, for shopping, and when my wife and I go out to dinner and she requests a ride on "the chariot". The safe and increasingly complete bike & roll network makes them extremely practical here!
#yyj
#yyj
October 20, 2025 at 5:59 PM
I'm a senior living in Victoria, and I use a cargo bike as a car replacement, for shopping, and when my wife and I go out to dinner and she requests a ride on "the chariot". The safe and increasingly complete bike & roll network makes them extremely practical here!
#yyj
#yyj
The highway expansion is being driven by MOTT, not the CRD, and MOTT controls provincial highways.
www.crd.ca/programs-ser...
www.crd.ca/programs-ser...
October 20, 2025 at 4:06 AM
The highway expansion is being driven by MOTT, not the CRD, and MOTT controls provincial highways.
www.crd.ca/programs-ser...
www.crd.ca/programs-ser...
Alas, I just learned that Sunday's racing was cancelled because of high winds. That makes sense to me. This happens at regattas—safety is the priority—and we had a LOT of boats this year with rowers of all levels of experience!
October 19, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Alas, I just learned that Sunday's racing was cancelled because of high winds. That makes sense to me. This happens at regattas—safety is the priority—and we had a LOT of boats this year with rowers of all levels of experience!
European Wall Lizards are a nasty invasive species here on Vancouver Island. They're impossible to get rid of, so I guess it's a good thing I find them delightful! I remember them from a trip to Italy when I was a teenager. Love them or not, I wish we hadn't introduced them here.
#yyj
#yyj
October 13, 2025 at 8:45 PM
European Wall Lizards are a nasty invasive species here on Vancouver Island. They're impossible to get rid of, so I guess it's a good thing I find them delightful! I remember them from a trip to Italy when I was a teenager. Love them or not, I wish we hadn't introduced them here.
#yyj
#yyj
Another thing is to separate the Saanich-Victoria amalgamation from the broader question of whether there are too many municipalities in the CRD. If that's your concern, then merging the two largest is… suboptimal.
October 13, 2025 at 4:42 AM
Another thing is to separate the Saanich-Victoria amalgamation from the broader question of whether there are too many municipalities in the CRD. If that's your concern, then merging the two largest is… suboptimal.
FYI, the 2 & 3 bedroom designs could qualify for a density bonus in some cases. In a "Priority Growth" area, a 6-storey building where 15% of the units have at least three bedrooms can get an extra 1.25 FSR, taking it from 2.6 to 2.75. The setbacks are bigger, though, so few single lots would work.
October 10, 2025 at 12:37 AM
FYI, the 2 & 3 bedroom designs could qualify for a density bonus in some cases. In a "Priority Growth" area, a 6-storey building where 15% of the units have at least three bedrooms can get an extra 1.25 FSR, taking it from 2.6 to 2.75. The setbacks are bigger, though, so few single lots would work.
Irene and I biked through Beacon Hill Park, checked out Clover Point, and then explored the excellent new bike lanes on Dallas Road. Clover Point was beautiful!
#yyj
#yyj
October 6, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Irene and I biked through Beacon Hill Park, checked out Clover Point, and then explored the excellent new bike lanes on Dallas Road. Clover Point was beautiful!
#yyj
#yyj
2/ Or Scott Moe saying that BC doesn't have rights over it's own coastline, even though it's the people of BC and the nation's we share space with that would bear the brunt of an oil spill on the coastline where we live?
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
October 4, 2025 at 4:50 PM
2/ Or Scott Moe saying that BC doesn't have rights over it's own coastline, even though it's the people of BC and the nation's we share space with that would bear the brunt of an oil spill on the coastline where we live?
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
That's good news. Perhaps I'm cynical, but the rules for use in public spaces changed 16 months ago. A month or two seems like it would have been enough. I know you're up on this, but for those who are interested here's the BCCDC site on decriminalization:
www.bccdc.ca/health-info/...
www.bccdc.ca/health-info/...
October 3, 2025 at 2:21 PM
That's good news. Perhaps I'm cynical, but the rules for use in public spaces changed 16 months ago. A month or two seems like it would have been enough. I know you're up on this, but for those who are interested here's the BCCDC site on decriminalization:
www.bccdc.ca/health-info/...
www.bccdc.ca/health-info/...
3/ And these offers are coming in conditional on inspections, which gives the buyers time to perform due diligence on the strata's finances. For oldsters like me, this was NORMAL!
September 17, 2025 at 6:02 PM
3/ And these offers are coming in conditional on inspections, which gives the buyers time to perform due diligence on the strata's finances. For oldsters like me, this was NORMAL!
2/ It looks like the Toronto condo market is stabilizing, with sales being driven by people who actually want to live in the places that "nobody would ever want". Amazing what happens when you lower prices!
September 17, 2025 at 5:59 PM
2/ It looks like the Toronto condo market is stabilizing, with sales being driven by people who actually want to live in the places that "nobody would ever want". Amazing what happens when you lower prices!
This should help, I think!
September 17, 2025 at 6:05 AM
This should help, I think!
2/ But, more importantly, Open Route Service (maps.openrouteservice.org) estimates that there are over 1,800 people within a five minute walk, over 5,000 people within a ten minute walk, and over 9,000 people within a fifteen minute walk!
September 14, 2025 at 5:47 AM
2/ But, more importantly, Open Route Service (maps.openrouteservice.org) estimates that there are over 1,800 people within a five minute walk, over 5,000 people within a ten minute walk, and over 9,000 people within a fifteen minute walk!