Bob (Robert) Summers
@rjsummers.bsky.social
Professor and Director, School of Urban and Regional Planning. University of Alberta. Also Director of the Sustainability Council at U of A. @rjscity on Twitter. Fun fact - I have the most popular comment in the history of the New York Times.
I’m explaining the whole “we change time twice a year” thing to my cat (because she thinks it’s feeding time) and realizing that my cat is more sensible on this than our governments are (Saskatchewan is also sensible like my cat).
November 2, 2025 at 10:39 PM
I’m explaining the whole “we change time twice a year” thing to my cat (because she thinks it’s feeding time) and realizing that my cat is more sensible on this than our governments are (Saskatchewan is also sensible like my cat).
Everything is up and working! We are a go!
October 31, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Everything is up and working! We are a go!
This is a great example of why I prefer not having parties with party-line voting in local politics. Councilors are free to vote as they see fit and you get very unusual mixed outcomes like this. Nobody would speak about a Janz, Knack, Principe, Rice, and Salvador voting block.
July 8, 2025 at 10:50 PM
This is a great example of why I prefer not having parties with party-line voting in local politics. Councilors are free to vote as they see fit and you get very unusual mixed outcomes like this. Nobody would speak about a Janz, Knack, Principe, Rice, and Salvador voting block.
This is related to a discussion in Edmonton City Council. It seems to me that if a house was there in 2024, you can build a house there later.
May 21, 2025 at 1:00 AM
This is related to a discussion in Edmonton City Council. It seems to me that if a house was there in 2024, you can build a house there later.
Current speaker in Edmonton's mass upzoning public hearing is noting that investors are buying homes. This is very true in markets with restrictive zoning and slow regulatory processes. Edmonton, on the other hand, has not seen that because supply is keeping up with demand.
May 20, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Current speaker in Edmonton's mass upzoning public hearing is noting that investors are buying homes. This is very true in markets with restrictive zoning and slow regulatory processes. Edmonton, on the other hand, has not seen that because supply is keeping up with demand.
I WAS JOKING!
November 26, 2024 at 6:30 AM
I WAS JOKING!
I once saw a $400 toaster in a store and for years I wondered what toast from a $400 toaster would taste like. I see now that toaster is only $329 so I guess I will never know. With that said, I think it would taste the same as that from a $20 toaster.
November 18, 2024 at 2:37 AM
I once saw a $400 toaster in a store and for years I wondered what toast from a $400 toaster would taste like. I see now that toaster is only $329 so I guess I will never know. With that said, I think it would taste the same as that from a $20 toaster.
I had a suggestion to make good use of the bus barn art while making the library look less horrible.
November 16, 2024 at 8:58 PM
I had a suggestion to make good use of the bus barn art while making the library look less horrible.
It’s wonderful to have so many professionals from APPI, CIP, and CPAA out to connect with and mentor our University of Alberta School of Urban and Regional Planning students!
October 3, 2024 at 11:24 PM
It’s wonderful to have so many professionals from APPI, CIP, and CPAA out to connect with and mentor our University of Alberta School of Urban and Regional Planning students!
Very excited to have Chuck Marohn from @strongtowns.bsky.social here at the University of Alberta School of Urban and Regional Planning today.
December 14, 2023 at 4:36 PM
Very excited to have Chuck Marohn from @strongtowns.bsky.social here at the University of Alberta School of Urban and Regional Planning today.
If you want to pose some skeletons for your Halloween decor, the easiest approach is to use lots of hot glue. It just peels out later.
October 31, 2023 at 3:49 PM
If you want to pose some skeletons for your Halloween decor, the easiest approach is to use lots of hot glue. It just peels out later.
Ok, it’s time for testing and repair of Elvis, Billy, and Skelly. (Billy is the horse’s name).
October 29, 2023 at 10:01 PM
Ok, it’s time for testing and repair of Elvis, Billy, and Skelly. (Billy is the horse’s name).
Edmonton allows 8 units/lot in all low density residential zones. Once again, Edmonton is leading in North America when it comes to Zoning reform. This is in addition to removing parking minimums a few years ago. Edmonton is a city of 1 million with a lot of single detached homes!
October 23, 2023 at 5:38 PM
Edmonton allows 8 units/lot in all low density residential zones. Once again, Edmonton is leading in North America when it comes to Zoning reform. This is in addition to removing parking minimums a few years ago. Edmonton is a city of 1 million with a lot of single detached homes!
Some in Edmonton are arguing that going to RS will result in higher land prices as development rights will increase. The RS zone is very similar to the RF3 zone. One side of the image below is RF1 and the other RF3. The general mix of housing is similar. Try to pick which is which.
October 23, 2023 at 1:58 PM
Some in Edmonton are arguing that going to RS will result in higher land prices as development rights will increase. The RS zone is very similar to the RF3 zone. One side of the image below is RF1 and the other RF3. The general mix of housing is similar. Try to pick which is which.