TomatoHat

Not only is February brutal in Edmonton... the leasing market feels like this snowstorm too. The absorption rate has completely shifted. Many of us predicted that Spring 2026 leasing would be different, but I don't think anyone expected this many units to hit the market at the same time. Right now, tenants have options - lots of them. They walk into a showing, and if the unit isn't exactly what they want...there is similar one just across a street. What we're seeing right now is something we haven't seen in a while - a real competition between landlords. free months of rent gift cards parking incentives flexible move-in dates upgraded appliances utility credits Everyone is trying to lease asap as the lender is coming at you and if you don't achieve proforma - you get to buy the rate down ouch! For investors this means a few things: You need to be strategic, flexible, and realistic (!!!) with pricing and incentives.

Turns out building more homes makes housing more affordable.

Edmonton real estate investors are realizing that because so many options are on the market for tenants, they need to be sweetening the pot with incentives - and being "realistic" with rent.

#yeg #yegcc

Douglas Todd: Jarring 18-storey tower on leafy Vancouver street a sign of the out-of-scale times About 10 steel-and-glass highrises, much like the one proposed for Yukon and 14th, are set to arise among character homes within the Broadway plan zone. https://vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/douglas-todd-18-storey-tower-vancouver-out-scale-times

Douglas Todd: Hundreds of quiet east Vancouver side streets upzoned for six-storey apartment blocks Some residents in the vast Rupert and Renfrew area did not know their pleasant side streets had been upzoned for six- to eight-storey apartment blocks. It calls into question the city of Vancouver's murky "engagement strategy." https://vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/douglas-todd-hundreds-of-quiet-east-vancouver-side-streets-upzoned-for-six-storey-apartment-blocks

'Monstrosities' or the evolution of housing? Multi-unit buildings on single-family lots gain traction in B.C. cities The number of multi-unit developments on single-family lots is increasing in B.C. neighbourhoods dominated by single-detached houses. Opinions vary over what these changes will mean for communities. https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/multiplex-feature

Anakin/Padme meme I oppose this building because it's too tall It's just this building, not all new housing? You are not against all new housing, right?

A storey in four acts as captured by local news media:

18 storeys is too high, we’d be fine with 4-6 storeys

6 storeys are too big, we'd be fine with multiplexes

Multiplexes are monstrosities, we are fine with existing post-Second World War bungalows

...

Also, you'll never find the people who say they support density, or affordable housing elsewhere at hearings for those things.

Thank you @michaeljanz.bsky.social for redeeming yourself!

A screenshot of a digital voting record from the Edmonton City Council regarding "Midblock Redevelopment Amendments." A prominent red banner at the top states the motion was **Defeated** with a vote count of **4 - 8 - 0**. The specific breakdown is as follows: * **In Favour (4):** R. Clarke, M. Elliott, T. Parmar, and K. Principe. * **Opposed (8):** A. Knack, M. Janz, J. Morgan, E. Rutherford, A. Salvador, A. Stevenson, K. Tang, and J. Wright. * **Abstain/Conflict:** None. * **Absent (1):** A. Paquette.

BREAKING: We're staying at 8 homes per lot!

Edmonton City Council today voted against reducing the maximum number of homes per lot from 8 to 6 in the RS zone! #yeg #yegcc

Actually getting city council to implement the necessary changes and not go backwards feels like pulling teeth though (Edmonton).

No government issued ID to non-English speakers means fewer of "the wrong people" voting when they implement voter ID laws. So yes, racism.

Now imagine that more of these get built and some of those garages get turned into shops/cafes (maybe even some with units above!

Cruel Musical Chairs (or Why Is Rent So High?) YouTube video by Sightline Institute

Kevin Taft is referencing the cruel game of musical chairs video and says it's disturbing that some councillors and housing advocacy groups have been spreading it.

BTW have you seen this video? 👇
youtu.be/EQGQU0T6NBc?...

I guess we need multiplex chairs?

They want to take into account "local context", but that local context can't be the fact that there is a mass transit station nearby.

🧵 We're back virtually with day 2. Starting off with speakers from the Residential Infill Working Group who say that the problem is massing, not number of units per se.

They list a bunch of concerns with massing, like shadowing, privacy, lights, heat, trees, etc.

Maybe we need subterranean houses to not cast any shadows? /s

30m trees shading your property = good, but a 10.5m home = bad shade that destroys your solar potential.

Thankfully, committee noted that the offending infill would still be allowed under the proposed changes.

People arguing against things they don't understand.

Picture of the Edmonton council chambers.

🧵 Good morning Edmonton. We're live from the council chambers where the Urban Planning Committee will debate reducing housing options.

There are 60 speakers registered so there's a high chance this becomes two days. We'll be live posting so follow along to see how it goes!

The "dense zoning" is being filled with non-Canadian invaders. Thats why. Canada is for Canadians. If the invaders aren't expelled peacefully by law, expect unprecedented violence. Life in prison for the orchestrators is the kind option.

Average Canadian housing discourse

If you want housing affordability, you need to advocate at the provincial level, but especially the municipal level. Cities hold most of the policy levers for housing.

Edmonton’s housing progress is at risk. 🚨

Next week, City Council considers a motion to roll back 8-home builds that made 2025 a record year.

We need more housing options, not less. Tell council to protect housing progress. Send an email with our tool now!

www.growtogetheryeg.com/email-council

You should have a QR code ready to stop and ask them to email their councilors to expand the bike lanes so they have more places to walk to! 🙃

The Bike Share Dilemma YouTube video by About Here

NEW VIDEO: The Bikeshare Dilemma

Bikeshares and scootershares (also known as “Shared Micromobility) is one of the fastest growing forms of transportation on the planet today, but cities appear deeply divided on how to manage them. youtu.be/qfz6AsYycA8

An eight unit rowhome in Prince Charles

🚨 ACTION ALERT

This Monday, Council will consider undoing years of housing progress. Back up for debate is reducing the number of units permitted from 8 to 6.

We need your help to push back. Email council now using our easy 30-second tool. 👇

www.growtogetheryeg.com/email-council

How to speak to City Council · Luma Ever wanted to make your voice heard at City Council but felt intimidated by the process? Or you just don't know where to start? Don't worry, it's not actually…

Make your voice heard! Speaking at council is one of the most impactful ways to make a difference, but it's hard to know where to start.

That's why we're hosting a virtual How to Speak to Council on Feb 5 at 6pm. And yes, it's just like parks and rec.

Sign up via Luma luma.com/x9h7yot5

#yeg

Policies that "protect neighbourhood character" or "keep neighbourhoods stable" rarely achieve that goal. While the outside of neighbourhoods remains the same, everything else changes.

Neighbourhood characters make up the neighbourhood character.

What's preventing consistent (and poor) wayfinding for TTC and GO? Should there be a provincewide standard?

Reposting this video for no (t)reason

Alberta Separatism is a US-backed PSYOP for Oil | The Goose 🇨🇦
youtu.be/r2pFskA1QiE

Thank you for the consultation with the people that matter. I would imagine it would be hard for existing...

This comment on an Edmonton councillor's Instagram reel about zoning really says it all.

"Thank you for the consultation with the people that matter."

>Let's bike to school!
>Ok! Let's get some bike lanes to do so safely!
>No, not like that!

Please also keep zoning laws in the consideration! If we can't get a public builder, repealing restrictive zoning laws would help (ideally we would have less restrictive zoning laws and a public builder).

That, and prioritizing public transportation (buses, trains, bikes, walking, etc.) too!

An image promoting a discussion titled "EDMONTON VS CALGARY: THE FIGHT FOR MORE HOUSING." The graphic features a collage-style design on an off-white background. In the top-left corner is the "city hall talks" logo, consisting of blue, yellow, and orange overlapping triangles. The main imagery includes: A large, centered photo of a modern multi-unit residential building with a blue-grey tint. An overlapping, smaller photo in the top-right showing a smiling man (Courtney Walcott) in a blazer, filtered with a red-orange duotone effect. The text at the bottom is in bold, black capital letters with a 3D drop-shadow effect, reading: "WITH FORMER CALGARY CITY COUNCILLOR COURTNEY WALCOTT."

This Saturday, Councillor @michaeljanz.bsky.social is hosting Calgary vs Edmonton, the fight for more housing, featuring former Calgary Councillor Courtney Walcott.

We'll be there, hope you can join us!

RSVP 🔗

www.michaeljanz.ca/walcottjan31

Lot size per unit: a potentially dangerous regulation – Jacob Dawang Lot area per home has been suggested as a potential replacement for the eight-home hardcap in the RS zone. Looking at the data suggests this comes with some danger if tinkered with too much.

NEW POST

Mayor @andrewknack.bsky.social has mused about transitioning from a hard cap on homes in the RS zone to purely using lot area per unit.

While this would be ok at 80 sqm, it would be real bad at 90 sqm. A huge downzoning.

Read more 👇

jacobdawang.com/blog/2026/lo...

#yeg #yegcc