Monday, August 29, 2011


Timelapse - The City Limits from Dominic on Vimeo.

Email thread: Fred Pattje; Nanaimo Old City Assoc.; Director of Planning, Andrew Tucker

From: Dean Forsyth
Date: September 11, 2011 3:01:27 PM PDT
To: alexia penny
Cc: noca@oldcitynanaimo.com, Frank Murphy
Subject: Re: Fwd: RE: Meeting with NOCA


Hi Alexia,

I printed a copy of Frank's email to bring to our meeting. I will also add to our agenda, a short tutorial on director access to NOCA email.

When someone sends email to a director, that director should Cc their reply to noca@oldcitynanaimo.com.

We should all get in the habit of looking at the noca email account every week or so. Lawrence too.

See you soon,

Dean Forsyth
Dean's Computer Clinic Co.
48 Kennedy Street
Nanaimo, BC V9R 2H6
1 800 448-0853 or 250 619-2547
www.ComputerDean.com

On Sun, Sep 11, 2011 at 1:19 PM, alexia penny wrote:
Hi all - have taken the liberty of forwarding this to Barb and Ryan as Frank wouldn't know of their involvement or email addresses and I am sure that this will come up at the next meeting.
Alexia
PS Has anyone pulled a hardcopy for Lawrence?

--- On Fri, 9/9/11, Frank Murphy wrote:

From: Frank Murphy
Subject: Fwd: RE: Meeting with NOCA
To: deanforsyth@gmail.com, "Andrea Blakeman" , bownessreddoor@yahoo.ca, dougcreba@aquariusd.com
Received: Friday, September 9, 2011, 1:01 PM


Hi NOCA board -- I'm forwarding comments from Andrew Tucker and Fred Pattje. I think Andrew should be more supportive of any and all neighbourhood involvement but always useful, I think, to know what he's thinking. Certainly his staffers, in my experience, Chris Sholberg and Gary Noble have always been very helpful... willing to attend evening meetings, etc.

Interesting NY Times article on the relationship between population density and economic development.

Any word on the Selby St Train Station?


- Frank
____________________________________________________________

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: RE: Meeting with NOCA
Date: Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:33:17 -0700
From: Andrew Tucker
To: 'Frank Murphy'


Frank,

Just wanted to say that I agree with your views on both counts. An inner city neighbourhood close to the heart of downtown is exactly the type of neighbourhood that one wants to see have redevelopment and infill for the reasons you cite, so long as it is done in a manner that respects neighbourhood heritage and character.

Friday, August 26, 2011

Brian Gould's Video: Picnurbia/VIVA Vancouver


Picnurbia/VIVA Vancouver from Brian Gould on Vimeo.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Strathcona, Vancouver's Oldest Neighbourhood, Celebrates the City's 125th Anniversary, Sept 25

Andrés Duany Goes Off the Rails

Sze Tsung Leong, Putuo District, Shanghai, 2005
"You can make the Asians do anything. They can drink their own piss. You tell them do it and they do. There is no comparison between an Asian situation and an American situation. They will do anything they are told. We will not. They will do anything they are told. I've been to their apartments. Their little pieces of shit. They’re coming from hovels, but what can you say about that?....It’s a fantastic cruelty that’s being perpetrated on the people. It’s a fraud and a cruelty. They’re destroying their neighborhoods for real estate speculation. It’s a spectacular cruelty. It absolutely breaks my heart. I've seen the people in their little cubicles in the high rises. Google the suicides of the Malaysians. And then go visit them in their little cubicles in the sky. Saddest thing I've ever seen."
More here....

Sunday, August 21, 2011

The Way It Is, CBC TV 1969: Jane Jacobs Discusses Toronto and Montreal

Thursday, August 18, 2011

$750 / Month 78 sq ft Apartment in Manhattan

A couple years ago, Manhattan architect Luke Clark Tyler, lived in a 96 square foot apartment. Instead of upsizing with his latest move, he chose to squeeze himself and his belongings into even less space.

Luke now lives in a 78 square foot shoebox studio. It's too narrow to fit a bed lengthwise, but using a bit of plywood and 2x4s he built his own custom bed/couch.

He keeps his clothes, plates, microwave, books, spices and shaving and cleaning supplies in a large built-in cabinet. The rest of his kitchen is a tiny refrigerator that helps hold up his desk (he works for home as a contract architect).

While he admits he misses being able to cook a real meal- though he's vegetarian so eats a lot of vegetables and nuts and can even microwave eggs- Luke doesn't see living small as a sacrifice.

He loves living in the heart of New York City- his place is in Midtown Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen- and he likes paying just $750/month (cheaper than the shared housing he could find in the area).

Original story here: http://faircompanies.com/videos/view/manhattan-shoebox-apartment-a-78-square-...

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

How to Create Successful Markets

What are the dynamics behind the incredible resurgence of public markets and farmers markets in North America? Through PPS’s innovative research, grant-making and technical assistance programs, we have gained an unparalleled perspective on how markets work.

To be truly successful, markets need four crucial elements: the right mix of vendors and products; a strong sense of place; solid economic and operational underpinnings; and a firm commitment to the surrounding community.


Friday, August 12, 2011


Vancouver: Fireworks Draw a Crowd from Dave Delnea Images on Vimeo.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Andrés Duany, January 2008, Vancouver

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Passage on an Urban Graveyard Train


Jack Diamond - Jack Diamond

What Makes a Successful City?

JACK DIAMOND

From Tuesday's Globe and Mail


A 2007 study, Mission Possible: Successful Canadian Cities, by the Conference Board of Canada, identified four cornerstones: a strong knowledge economy to attract business investment and a talented and skilled labour force; a connective physical infrastructure (i.e., a transportation system that can effectively move goods and people); environmentally sustainable growth based on sound planning and industrial ecology principles; and social cohesion, the critical components of which are attractive and accessible housing, a low crime rate, effective immigrant settlement, comprehensive cultural and entertainment amenities (not the least of which are libraries, which act as community centres as much as places to borrow books), and a strong social safety net.