Rebecca McClure
@rebeccamcclure.com
Ceramic artist and potter, counsellor, educator, Greater Victoria Public Library trustee, soprano, and resolute Canadian. Proponent of “peace, order and good governance”.
Gratefully living on the traditional territory of the Lək̓ʷəŋən Peoples.
Gratefully living on the traditional territory of the Lək̓ʷəŋən Peoples.
If you have a refence to the research around the isolating factors of single family homes, I’d appreciate the citation. Thanks.
May 21, 2025 at 12:43 AM
If you have a refence to the research around the isolating factors of single family homes, I’d appreciate the citation. Thanks.
I have a PDF of the article mentioned if you’re interested in reading it.
May 21, 2025 at 12:19 AM
I have a PDF of the article mentioned if you’re interested in reading it.
Costco isn’t an amenity.
May 19, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Costco isn’t an amenity.
Maybe read all my comments before jumping to conclusions. Thanks.
May 19, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Maybe read all my comments before jumping to conclusions. Thanks.
You’re mischaracterizing what I’ve said. This is a quality of life issue. Langford lacks so many amenities, including parks, that support tower living.
May 19, 2025 at 4:58 PM
You’re mischaracterizing what I’ve said. This is a quality of life issue. Langford lacks so many amenities, including parks, that support tower living.
Should any city have a goal to double in size in 20 years? Especially one as poorly planned as Langford? Others have made better arguments in this thread.
We don’t have a crystal ball. Housing trends change. Boomers will eventually abandon family homes.
30 story towers are still not the answer.
We don’t have a crystal ball. Housing trends change. Boomers will eventually abandon family homes.
30 story towers are still not the answer.
May 19, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Should any city have a goal to double in size in 20 years? Especially one as poorly planned as Langford? Others have made better arguments in this thread.
We don’t have a crystal ball. Housing trends change. Boomers will eventually abandon family homes.
30 story towers are still not the answer.
We don’t have a crystal ball. Housing trends change. Boomers will eventually abandon family homes.
30 story towers are still not the answer.
I’m so disappointed with this exchange on a number of levels. On the survey, I supported densification over sprawl, but stated clearly that building heights should not exceed six stories. When towers eventually surround the community gardens at Porcher Park, how well do you think they’ll do?
May 19, 2025 at 4:50 PM
I’m so disappointed with this exchange on a number of levels. On the survey, I supported densification over sprawl, but stated clearly that building heights should not exceed six stories. When towers eventually surround the community gardens at Porcher Park, how well do you think they’ll do?
Yes. I just don’t see how this OCP refresh improves that.
May 19, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Yes. I just don’t see how this OCP refresh improves that.
It is dated and yet has relevant insights about human psychology that current planning theory seems to ignore. When we warehouse human beings, we become less as a society.
I hope that elected officials will thoughtfully consider perspectives that differ from their own, as you have done in the past.
I hope that elected officials will thoughtfully consider perspectives that differ from their own, as you have done in the past.
May 19, 2025 at 3:22 AM
It is dated and yet has relevant insights about human psychology that current planning theory seems to ignore. When we warehouse human beings, we become less as a society.
I hope that elected officials will thoughtfully consider perspectives that differ from their own, as you have done in the past.
I hope that elected officials will thoughtfully consider perspectives that differ from their own, as you have done in the past.
Kim, I’m going to leave you with these quotes from Christopher Alexander’s “A Pattern Language”, section 21. I hope you’ll take some time to review the whole chapter. Thank you.
May 19, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Kim, I’m going to leave you with these quotes from Christopher Alexander’s “A Pattern Language”, section 21. I hope you’ll take some time to review the whole chapter. Thank you.
The housing shortage is an issue, yes, but the solutions being offered do not address the root cause of the problem.
May 18, 2025 at 11:48 PM
The housing shortage is an issue, yes, but the solutions being offered do not address the root cause of the problem.
It is my considered opinion that we are doing families in our communities a disservice by suggesting that condos towers are the solution. That is not a judgement on an individual’s choices. Instead it is a judgement about a society that prioritizes development over quality of life.
May 18, 2025 at 11:47 PM
It is my considered opinion that we are doing families in our communities a disservice by suggesting that condos towers are the solution. That is not a judgement on an individual’s choices. Instead it is a judgement about a society that prioritizes development over quality of life.
There is a massive difference between making parenting/life choices based on personal values and being stuck with an option that is not optimal because of societal and economic constraints.
May 18, 2025 at 11:45 PM
There is a massive difference between making parenting/life choices based on personal values and being stuck with an option that is not optimal because of societal and economic constraints.
And what did staff say? And did council push them to reword it?
May 18, 2025 at 11:38 PM
And what did staff say? And did council push them to reword it?
I see your mind is made up. Your prerogative.
May 18, 2025 at 11:36 PM
I see your mind is made up. Your prerogative.
Do you honestly think Langford can currently provide that to all families? We’re not Toronto, Vancouver, or NYC.
This isn’t Nimby-ism on my part. It might be idealism, though.
Everyone deserves a home, but shouldn’t it be a home where any of us would be happy to live and to raise a family?
This isn’t Nimby-ism on my part. It might be idealism, though.
Everyone deserves a home, but shouldn’t it be a home where any of us would be happy to live and to raise a family?
May 18, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Do you honestly think Langford can currently provide that to all families? We’re not Toronto, Vancouver, or NYC.
This isn’t Nimby-ism on my part. It might be idealism, though.
Everyone deserves a home, but shouldn’t it be a home where any of us would be happy to live and to raise a family?
This isn’t Nimby-ism on my part. It might be idealism, though.
Everyone deserves a home, but shouldn’t it be a home where any of us would be happy to live and to raise a family?
Have you lived in a tall (or even six story) building with children? It’s a different experience than living in a townhouse or a duplex or a suite in a house. And it takes easily accessible and diverse community resources to provide that rich quality of life.
May 18, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Have you lived in a tall (or even six story) building with children? It’s a different experience than living in a townhouse or a duplex or a suite in a house. And it takes easily accessible and diverse community resources to provide that rich quality of life.
That projection was based on current levels of growth due to Big Development projects (still ongoing).
But once those are done, will people still come here looking for starter homes in Westhills?
I know there’s been a lot of work put into this refresh, but I feel like it has missed the mark.
But once those are done, will people still come here looking for starter homes in Westhills?
I know there’s been a lot of work put into this refresh, but I feel like it has missed the mark.
May 17, 2025 at 11:47 PM
That projection was based on current levels of growth due to Big Development projects (still ongoing).
But once those are done, will people still come here looking for starter homes in Westhills?
I know there’s been a lot of work put into this refresh, but I feel like it has missed the mark.
But once those are done, will people still come here looking for starter homes in Westhills?
I know there’s been a lot of work put into this refresh, but I feel like it has missed the mark.
The demand isn’t there.
Yes, you can have fulfilling family experiences outside of a SFH if there are robust and accessible community amenities to support that lifestyle. Langford is still a long way from providing that level of service.
Yes, you can have fulfilling family experiences outside of a SFH if there are robust and accessible community amenities to support that lifestyle. Langford is still a long way from providing that level of service.
May 17, 2025 at 11:41 PM
The demand isn’t there.
Yes, you can have fulfilling family experiences outside of a SFH if there are robust and accessible community amenities to support that lifestyle. Langford is still a long way from providing that level of service.
Yes, you can have fulfilling family experiences outside of a SFH if there are robust and accessible community amenities to support that lifestyle. Langford is still a long way from providing that level of service.
I would like to see more intentional community planning in the core vs towers though: through subsidized family housing (like the townhouse units in James Bay) and co-op housing. 4 story walk-ups are great, too. But towers just seem odd in Langford. This is the point of the article I shared.
May 17, 2025 at 11:39 PM
I would like to see more intentional community planning in the core vs towers though: through subsidized family housing (like the townhouse units in James Bay) and co-op housing. 4 story walk-ups are great, too. But towers just seem odd in Langford. This is the point of the article I shared.
Single family homes aren’t selling because people cannot afford them. Instead of addressing that, the market is being flooded with condos. I had a two year old in a condo in the Songhees and, believe me, it’s much better to be able to walk through one door to access the wide world that kids need.
May 17, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Single family homes aren’t selling because people cannot afford them. Instead of addressing that, the market is being flooded with condos. I had a two year old in a condo in the Songhees and, believe me, it’s much better to be able to walk through one door to access the wide world that kids need.
I’m glad to hear that council is still listening to feedback at this stage. Perhaps I’m being short sighted, but I honestly don’t see that Langford needs to grow to 100,000 people. Our rate of growth is unsustainable and you were all voted in because people had development fatigue.
May 17, 2025 at 8:01 PM
I’m glad to hear that council is still listening to feedback at this stage. Perhaps I’m being short sighted, but I honestly don’t see that Langford needs to grow to 100,000 people. Our rate of growth is unsustainable and you were all voted in because people had development fatigue.
Before council rubberstamps this (which in turn rubberstamps 30 storey condo buildings in the downtown core), it might be helpful for them to get a read on real estate market downward trends. www.cbc.ca/news/busines...
The condo market is slowing down. Where are all the buyers? | CBC News
The condo market meltdown in Canada’s largest cities is showing no signs of fading. Experts say the market has shifted significantly over the past few months, as supply soars and demand disappears.
www.cbc.ca
May 17, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Before council rubberstamps this (which in turn rubberstamps 30 storey condo buildings in the downtown core), it might be helpful for them to get a read on real estate market downward trends. www.cbc.ca/news/busines...