Quote:
Originally Posted by Changing City
Every time you post there's another example of something you believe, that isn't true. This exchange has so little to do with the Civic Election that I'm not posting another response here, for the sake of all the posters that want to debate the thread topic.
Vancouver City Council can't directly 'make' the development industry respond by building new office space in a timely manner when vacancy rates start falling to historic low percentages, unless they're refusing to allow proposals to be approved, or they're restricting where offices can be built. Neither is true. For the past decade, since the Metro Core study, zoning has changed to increase the amount of space allowed to be built, expanded the places where it can be built, and encouraged rezonings where it's deemed appropriate (in terms of transit connections) to allow higher densities. That has led to more being built, in a range of sized units that cover the potential demand from small to larger floorplate. The economy has been growing too, and the new companies coming in are often locating in those spaces. Even some established businesses are even choosing to move from a suburban location to the Metro Core (like Best Buy moving their Canadian HQ to W 6th).
Vancouver did bid for Amazon's HQ2. It's here. It's easy to see what taxes the cities are responsible for. The City of Vancouver commercial tax levy is $4.91 per $1,000 of assessed value, and the total tax payable with all the other taxes added - Provincial schools tax, Translink, Metro Vancouver etc is $9.97 per $1,000 of assessed value. In Toronto it's $12.30 per $1,000. Calgary is $20.61 per $1,000 of assessed value, and has risen for businesses more than in most cities over the past several years. |
Not directly no, but they can provide a favourable climate. And puh-lease, it takes 9 months to get a permit to build a single family house here. But for an office tower; they’re lightning quick? Ya right.
talk to any builder of residential homes what it’s like to build a house here as opposed to other municipalities within Metro Vancouver. Ours is the longest. Look it up there’s articles that speak to just that. And yes, it had gotten better in terms of zoning, but if you look back historically, the moves in recent history only brought us back to a point near where we were before some of the questionable moves from previous councils that saw our commercial office district shrink considerably. We’re only now dipping our toe in allowing for SOME larger floor plates, and we’re seeing the success (so far) in terms of projects. Now let’s take another baby step and remove the arbitrary view ones at least around our major transit hubs, and greatly reduce or outright remove the UDP, and let’s see what happens. Then we can truly say that nothing the Cory does affects the pace of development until that day though, I’m sorry, but the city does indeed play a role.
Regarding a bid for H2 my apologies, I meant a REAL bid. Not that weak effort (if one could even call that one). Ottawa also got people to cheer during a hockey game. Should we count that as a “bid” also? Calgary tried an even worse school yard stunt to get Amazon’s attention and was roasted over the coals by local media there. Only 1 serious bidder came from Canada.
Here is a recent article that identifies some of the issues when looking at property taxes. The city looks good in one measure; not so much in others. The provincial government put a freeze on the school tax which drove Vancouver’s rate down, only to have it pop back up when they recently lifted it.
https://www.globenewswire.com/news-relea...d-Assessments-and-Rising-Tax-Burden.html
On a perhaps more relevant front, was pleasantly surprised to see the city actually step up and pledge financial support for the 2026 World Cup bid. Mayor Stewart was openly supportive of the move. Items like try is and his recognition for at least some form or representational voting system in the ENTIRE city makes a couple good moves on his pet as of late. Would be interesting to see where other candidates stand in the issue
Prev
Linear Mode
