Population and Housing

[danbrotherston]

Cell phone repair probably. Others are trickier as you say. Though the Home Hardware on King St in Waterloo kind of works.

Specialist shops that don't have a huge footprint can succeed. Not only phone repair but also phone sales -- maybe even a Samsung or Microsoft store. Specialized clothing. Specialized sports stores (running, skateboarding, bicycles). Niche bookstores. Pet shops. Rogers, Bell or Telus store. Flower/plant shops. Shops like Flying Tiger or Muji.

There are lots of possible retailers that are not big box stores. Hopefully some of those will start to appear soon.

But any store that is more destination, and less "walk by" will benefit less from the more expensive higher profile location, and thus the premium they pay for that location over say...a strip mall, will make less financial sense.

I'm not saying that they can't survive, but until the economic biases are corrected, they will make less economic sense than other businesses, and so will generally be outcompeted by them (under our capitalist maximization of profits model--at least until the market is saturated with available space for businesses).

[tomh009]

Specialist shops that don't have a huge footprint can succeed. Not only phone repair but also phone sales -- maybe even a Samsung or Microsoft store. Specialized clothing. Specialized sports stores (running, skateboarding, bicycles). Niche bookstores. Pet shops. Rogers, Bell or Telus store. Flower/plant shops. Shops like Flying Tiger or Muji.

There are lots of possible retailers that are not big box stores. Hopefully some of those will start to appear soon.

But any store that is more destination, and less "walk by" will benefit less from the more expensive higher profile location, and thus the premium they pay for that location over say...a strip mall, will make less financial sense.

I'm not saying that they can't survive, but until the economic biases are corrected, they will make less economic sense than other businesses, and so will generally be outcompeted by them (under our capitalist maximization of profits model--at least until the market is saturated with available space for businesses).

Maybe yes. But many of them do well in Europe, even in cities that have big malls (and big-box malls) and are relatively car-centric. Know your business, know your customers. If you were selling skateboards, would you choose DTK or Conestoga Mall?

[plam]

Maybe yes. But many of them do well in Europe, even in cities that have big malls (and big-box malls) and are relatively car-centric. Know your business, know your customers. If you were selling skateboards, would you choose DTK or Conestoga Mall?

That's actually an interesting question. For Adventure Guide, as much as I hate it, the Boardwalk kind of makes sense (but it's terrible for me). I don't know the skateboard market well enough to say whether the suburban kids are in the suburbs or on the terrain parks more centrally (e.g. Waterloo park, uptown Waterloo)...

[jeffster]

Maybe yes. But many of them do well in Europe, even in cities that have big malls (and big-box malls) and are relatively car-centric. Know your business, know your customers. If you were selling skateboards, would you choose DTK or Conestoga Mall?

That's actually an interesting question. For Adventure Guide, as much as I hate it, the Boardwalk kind of makes sense (but it's terrible for me). I don't know the skateboard market well enough to say whether the suburban kids are in the suburbs or on the terrain parks more centrally (e.g. Waterloo park, uptown Waterloo)...

Lot of skateboarding in DTK: great parking garages make a lot of fun. Zehr Square is great too. Victoria Park is nearby as well, so great opportunity there as well.

[Acitta]

A great video on the medium density housing that Montreal has in abundance compared to the lack of such in most other North American cities. Five Dense "Missing Middle" Neighbourhoods in Montreal

[ac3r]

The housing in Montréal is wonderful. I love that entire city...it's unlike anything else in Canada. I've long been tempted to move there. I'd go just for the subway system. It has some beautiful modernist subway architecture. Also the fact they can build mid rises and often just offer nothing more than street parking (or underground, as seen in the more modern mid rise homes) is great to see. Anytime we build a midrise, there's a giant parking lot out back.

[danbrotherston]

The housing in Montréal is wonderful. I love that entire city...it's unlike anything else in Canada. I've long been tempted to move there. I'd go just for the subway system. It has some beautiful modernist subway architecture. Also the fact they can build mid rises and often just offer nothing more than street parking is great to see. Anytime we build a midrise, there's a giant parking lot out back.

Montreal is indeed a remarkable city. It's one of the very few cities in Canada I'd consider moving to. The cycling culture is amazing as well.

[jeffster]

The housing in Montréal is wonderful. I love that entire city...it's unlike anything else in Canada. I've long been tempted to move there. I'd go just for the subway system. It has some beautiful modernist subway architecture. Also the fact they can build mid rises and often just offer nothing more than street parking (or underground, as seen in the more modern mid rise homes) is great to see. Anytime we build a midrise, there's a giant parking lot out back.

Wider streets in Montreal -- also legal to park on streets overnight. Unlike Waterloo region, where on-street parking is frowned upon. Helps that more people use PT to move around. Subway wheels are rubber. Montreal is a nice city. They have a different attitude, though it helps that it is a historical city. Lots of good, high quality, older buildings there. Around here, still lots of cheap builds, especially in the university area.

[plam]

Wider streets in Montreal -- also legal to park on streets overnight. Unlike Waterloo region, where on-street parking is frowned upon. Helps that more people use PT to move around. Subway wheels are rubber. Montreal is a nice city. They have a different attitude, though it helps that it is a historical city. Lots of good, high quality, older buildings there. Around here, still lots of cheap builds, especially in the university area.

Probably the most urban city in Canada. It can be politically complicated (I grew up there). I think rubber Metro wheels are overrated, it was still really bumpy when I commuted to high school. And yes you can park overnight but you have to move your car twice a week in summer (which I think is great, adds friction to car ownership).

[ijmorlan]

Wider streets in Montreal -- also legal to park on streets overnight. Unlike Waterloo region, where on-street parking is frowned upon. Helps that more people use PT to move around. Subway wheels are rubber. Montreal is a nice city. They have a different attitude, though it helps that it is a historical city. Lots of good, high quality, older buildings there. Around here, still lots of cheap builds, especially in the university area.

Probably the most urban city in Canada. It can be politically complicated (I grew up there). I think rubber Metro wheels are overrated, it was still really bumpy when I commuted to high school. And yes you can park overnight but you have to move your car twice a week in summer (which I think is great, adds friction to car ownership).

Montreal has a lot to recommend it. There are at least 2 things I really don’t like:

1. Multi-unit buildings with outdoor access to the various units. There are way too many buildings where one has to climb an entire flight of stairs to get to the entrance to a unit. The worst offender is Habitat, which is cool and all with the modular design, but the notion of taking an elevator up 8 floors and then having to walk outdoors to my unit in Montreal winter weather is just silly. All that extra shovelling is unattractive. But then I don’t really believe in outdoor stairs at all in most situations: building entrances should be at grade.
   
2. “Moving Day”. The notion of having most leases end on the same day is just an absurd way to run a residential rental market. I thought it was perpetuated by the operating practices of a major public housing agency, but all the information I can find quickly now seems to suggest that it’s just a holdover from ancient practices; as late as the 70s leases were required to end on a certain day of the year, which needless to say is massive government overreach into what should be the realm of private contract.
   

But the park on the mountain, the subway system, bagels, … now I want to schedule a visit!

[plam]

1. Multi-unit buildings with outdoor access to the various units. There are way too many buildings where one has to climb an entire flight of stairs to get to the entrance to a unit. The worst offender is Habitat, which is cool and all with the modular design, but the notion of taking an elevator up 8 floors and then having to walk outdoors to my unit in Montreal winter weather is just silly. All that extra shovelling is unattractive. But then I don’t really believe in outdoor stairs at all in most situations: building entrances should be at grade.
   
2. “Moving Day”. The notion of having most leases end on the same day is just an absurd way to run a residential rental market. I thought it was perpetuated by the operating practices of a major public housing agency, but all the information I can find quickly now seems to suggest that it’s just a holdover from ancient practices; as late as the 70s leases were required to end on a certain day of the year, which needless to say is massive government overreach into what should be the realm of private contract.
   

But the park on the mountain, the subway system, bagels, … now I want to schedule a visit!

Usually triplexes, so some shovelling, but not that much. There are many units with inside access though.

Moving day isn't required anymore, as you say, but yes, there is a lot of inertia. I read that NYC used to do it too.

I can actually get pretty decent Montreal bagels in Wellington surprisingly. Someone brought them here...

[dtkvictim]

Have the covid hotel shelters ended?

[BruceAshe]

Have the covid hotel shelters ended?

I know someone who volunteers with House of Friendship and they mentioned that the hotel shelter has moved. I can't remember where he said it moved too, but it's not in KW and many of those who were using the shelter decided not to move with it.

[ac3r]

I noticed this in a thread on Reddit. The Welcome to Waterloo Region signs have finally updated our official population to 630'000. I'll be curious to see if the region hits its 2041 estimate of 700'000 well before that, because in 2017 they projected our 2021 population to be 580'000 and we've clearly exceeded that by a long shot.

[jeffster]

I have a good friend that works in a law office - it's strictly dealing with real estate mostly.

She was saying out cities are addicted to these high land transfer tax, every time there is a sell. It's common to see they taxes in excess of $40,000 now.

Had me thinking that, while the government (all levels) speak lip service regarding affordable housing, everything they do prevents it. Why? They want the money.

Not sure what a solution to that is -- but most likely they'd need to figure out a tax scheme from elsewhere.