Matthew, John

Thanks to you and your staff very much for all your hard work transforming and improving the site. Have fun in LA!

One last thing before I sign off for the week. I would encourage any of you haven’t done so to click on the HouseBrand icon at the bottom right of the site. Have a look through the projects and how they are presented. One of the criticisms of the Slow Home book we reviewed last year was a lack of examples of what to do. Well here it is.

(Before I completely sell out, let me just say some different colour combinations for the exteriors could be considered :) )

[img]hpim1449.jpg[/img]

Get ready for the Toronto new condo market! A picture for you taken of the CN tower at night(if I can get it to post).

Toronto waterfront taken from a boat a photobucket account. http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t298/tshop144/Slow%20Home%20Toronto/HPIM0136.jpg

John,
Thanks for the link to Egan’s NY Times article. He draws a very thought-provoking conclusion. In BC we’ve had a freeze on developing agricultural land since the 1970s,known as the Agricultural Land Reserve, but control of its administration is at the municipal level, which can be a process involving favoritism among municipal leaders. Near our cities there has been pressure put in to free up different parcels for development. Often the same logic that Egan cites is what will prevail in a development-mad municipality.
Here on the Saanich Peninsula, north of Victoria, we have had ongoing debates on developing argicultural land. Usually the developer’s plans are quashed (so far). The result has been that the largest town moved in the direction of building more density within the town area instead of spreading out. No huge highrises but many condos (some with storefront bottoms) and small townhouse complexes of four or six units. They’ve also tried to direct traffic from the main street and put walkways all along the seaside. There are no big-box stores, but many unique one-owner businesses that seem to survive (at least longer than goldfish!).