Rick Vugteveen
@rickvug.bsky.social
Music, technology, community, politics
Great news! So happy to have this confirmed. Thank you for digging in to get the scoop.
November 3, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Great news! So happy to have this confirmed. Thank you for digging in to get the scoop.
I had the same reply in my family chat. Of all of the things to be riled up about.
October 23, 2025 at 10:35 PM
I had the same reply in my family chat. Of all of the things to be riled up about.
Thanks! Glad to have you back in action.
October 16, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Thanks! Glad to have you back in action.
Awesome! Looking for stories? Without local journalism around I might have creating rumours about the riverfront near the new bridge. 😉 Would love to read some more definitive information. www.reddit.com/r/NewWest/co...
From the NewWest community on Reddit: 330ft of waterfront land between Pier Park and Sapperton Landing sold last week. Who is the mystery buyer? 🤞
Explore this post and more from the NewWest community
www.reddit.com
October 15, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Awesome! Looking for stories? Without local journalism around I might have creating rumours about the riverfront near the new bridge. 😉 Would love to read some more definitive information. www.reddit.com/r/NewWest/co...
This article has the latest: dailyhive.com/vancouver/lo....
My 2 cents is that it will be great to see the area redevelop but it is wise to pause for a moment to make sure there's a plan to designate potential parks or institution (read: school!) space. Not many large undeveloped lots like this.
My 2 cents is that it will be great to see the area redevelop but it is wise to pause for a moment to make sure there's a plan to designate potential parks or institution (read: school!) space. Not many large undeveloped lots like this.
New Westminster City Council balks at 'Manhattan' density plan | Urbanized
The proposed building heights and density for the Lower Twelfth Street Area has been deemed too much for downtown New Westminster.
dailyhive.com
September 25, 2025 at 9:43 PM
This article has the latest: dailyhive.com/vancouver/lo....
My 2 cents is that it will be great to see the area redevelop but it is wise to pause for a moment to make sure there's a plan to designate potential parks or institution (read: school!) space. Not many large undeveloped lots like this.
My 2 cents is that it will be great to see the area redevelop but it is wise to pause for a moment to make sure there's a plan to designate potential parks or institution (read: school!) space. Not many large undeveloped lots like this.
I'm very curious about what this would look like once the Expo Line Surrey-Langley extension is complete. Given bridge bottlenecks and distance from highways my hypothesis is that a fairly large area will become green and yellow.
September 25, 2025 at 9:31 PM
I'm very curious about what this would look like once the Expo Line Surrey-Langley extension is complete. Given bridge bottlenecks and distance from highways my hypothesis is that a fairly large area will become green and yellow.
There was a community plan for the area back in 2004 that talked about exactly this (see screenshot) but it was never actually investigated in depth. Not happening.
Have you been tracking the progress and debates about what level of density for this area and what the uses should be?
Have you been tracking the progress and debates about what level of density for this area and what the uses should be?
September 25, 2025 at 9:25 PM
There was a community plan for the area back in 2004 that talked about exactly this (see screenshot) but it was never actually investigated in depth. Not happening.
Have you been tracking the progress and debates about what level of density for this area and what the uses should be?
Have you been tracking the progress and debates about what level of density for this area and what the uses should be?
Bread Friday. Open invite.
September 24, 2025 at 3:59 AM
Bread Friday. Open invite.
Friday is typically WFH for me as well. Let’s make it happen! This Friday at about 1pm is looking good.
September 24, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Friday is typically WFH for me as well. Let’s make it happen! This Friday at about 1pm is looking good.
Good reminder! I need to try this. Actually the closest restaurant to me. Could be awesome for work from home days.
September 23, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Good reminder! I need to try this. Actually the closest restaurant to me. Could be awesome for work from home days.
You are a close follower of municipal politics. From your non-partisan journalistic perch, would it be fair to say that Fontaine is hyper-partisan and generally antagonistic in his dealings at council? Pot calling the kettle black on this one - and then some!
July 8, 2025 at 10:33 PM
You are a close follower of municipal politics. From your non-partisan journalistic perch, would it be fair to say that Fontaine is hyper-partisan and generally antagonistic in his dealings at council? Pot calling the kettle black on this one - and then some!
Hopefully! There likely are ways to bring that cost down but any way you slice it we are still talking expensive infrastructure. Can still be worth the investment, especially in high traffic, high density areas where it would be a transformative change.
June 26, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Hopefully! There likely are ways to bring that cost down but any way you slice it we are still talking expensive infrastructure. Can still be worth the investment, especially in high traffic, high density areas where it would be a transformative change.
I'm talking CapEx. St George St Rainway is budgeted at $36M, split roughly 50/50 between the city and province. I believe that is for 5 blocks (Broadway to East 5th).
June 26, 2025 at 10:55 PM
I'm talking CapEx. St George St Rainway is budgeted at $36M, split roughly 50/50 between the city and province. I believe that is for 5 blocks (Broadway to East 5th).
Have you come across newwestloststreams.ca? I love your vision but huge $$$. If the city was to prioritize I think 7th Street has the most potential. Super wide and cuts through the heart of the city. The grade would make for nice water flow. I believe also next in line for mobility lanes.
The Lost Streams of New Westminster Project – Connecting geography, history and people
newwestloststreams.ca
June 26, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Have you come across newwestloststreams.ca? I love your vision but huge $$$. If the city was to prioritize I think 7th Street has the most potential. Super wide and cuts through the heart of the city. The grade would make for nice water flow. I believe also next in line for mobility lanes.
I'm tapping out on Gasworks. Same with "Muni Evers" Park. Those public washrooms built into the waste water treatment plan are going to be retro by the time they finally get used!
June 24, 2025 at 11:49 PM
I'm tapping out on Gasworks. Same with "Muni Evers" Park. Those public washrooms built into the waste water treatment plan are going to be retro by the time they finally get used!
Thanks for noticing!
June 24, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Thanks for noticing!
What out what you wish for, there used to be coal powered gas lights around these parts!
June 24, 2025 at 6:06 PM
What out what you wish for, there used to be coal powered gas lights around these parts!
It would be nice if the contract wasn't already awarded, allowing for some additional flexibility. There might be other options that come to light. Based on what is known what you suggested is likely the best approach.
June 24, 2025 at 6:03 PM
It would be nice if the contract wasn't already awarded, allowing for some additional flexibility. There might be other options that come to light. Based on what is known what you suggested is likely the best approach.
Presumably a custom fabrication job. My Dad works in a machine shop. They build custom stuff like this for municipalities all the time. However it is very expensive and the performance of the lighting itself in this case may be limited due to style. Still think it will be worth doing.
June 24, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Presumably a custom fabrication job. My Dad works in a machine shop. They build custom stuff like this for municipalities all the time. However it is very expensive and the performance of the lighting itself in this case may be limited due to style. Still think it will be worth doing.
Thanks for live tweeting! Nice to be done with kids sports and be able to quickly get up to speed. Sounds like my time was better spent! 🤣
June 24, 2025 at 5:06 AM
Thanks for live tweeting! Nice to be done with kids sports and be able to quickly get up to speed. Sounds like my time was better spent! 🤣
Imagine a world where the spend on roads shrunk from 33% to 25%. That would be enough to double how much spent is spent on Parks, Sports & Recreation.
June 5, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Imagine a world where the spend on roads shrunk from 33% to 25%. That would be enough to double how much spent is spent on Parks, Sports & Recreation.
A loophole that is so good that it is political suicide to even suggest changing it. Even a reasonable change such as a neutral tax shift to lower income taxes while putting some form of a cap on the principal residence exemption would be a non-starter.
June 3, 2025 at 3:25 AM
A loophole that is so good that it is political suicide to even suggest changing it. Even a reasonable change such as a neutral tax shift to lower income taxes while putting some form of a cap on the principal residence exemption would be a non-starter.
Nice honest materials.
May 26, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Nice honest materials.