“The beatings will continue until the morale improves”. 🤔

Silva Cells Overcome Significant Slope Challenges on Montreal Streetscape Project | Case Study | DeepRoot Along Peel Street in Montreal, Silva Cells were installed on a significant slope, supporting the sidewalk while also enhancing tree growth and treating sidewalk stormwater runoff on site

Healthy street trees and canopies are possible, even in our harsh urban climate. But it takes both vision and commitment.

www.deeproot.com/case-studies...

My kind of data. Thx for the share!

Population density maps are helpful, no doubt. But it’s the revenue density maps that help drive it home.

Seeing annual property tax per sq.m. is a real eye-opener. I’m sure/hoping that someone has done that exercise already.

My favourite infographic!

We have built a system that makes it hard for bad actors to do harm. But in the process, we have also made it difficult for good actors to do anything at all.

I take your point. Seen from the other side, however, it’s just as likely that someone will go in and yell at the person for **doing** their job.

Hence the proliferation of ‘Abuse will not be tolerated’ signage at most wickets and counters.

I’m quite confident that you’re not among them. 🙂

Great article. Though I was thinking less about the business case of robotaxis and more about the core AV tech.

If/when the tech becomes more widespread, reliable and accessible ... could we not imagine a scenario where Mom's car is her own AV in her driveway?

Skeptical, but open to possibilities.

Interesting. Despite the many possible/likely negative externalities … won’t autonomous vehicles mitigate this risk, while potentially letting seniors maintain their autonomy as they age in place?

We agree. I support the goal.

We run up CapEx deficits here too.

A lot.

My point was that CapEx debt in Year 0 reappears as OpEx debt financing in Years 1 and onwards.

And ultimately, the ‘elsewhere’ still comes from the same ‘pockets’ … just by different hands.

We don’t do much DC in QC tho.

At least here in QC, the CapEx is still funded thru OpEx revenue.

It’s fungible as throughput, so whether it started as surplus, funded, or debt … it’s still ultimately funded somehow.

Isn’t Council likely to make it up elsewhere?

I’ll definitely read the report in detail. Thx!

How would municipalities backfill the lost DC revenue if not from increased property taxes? Balanced budgets are mandatory.

Brutal. Sorry for your loss.

Agree. Was that a bus>bus or a metro>bus transfer?

A common maxim: “The only way to do this job well is to be willing to lose it.”

Amazing project! Does anyone with coding skills want to take this on for Montreal?

donnees.montreal.ca/dataset/phot...

It’s a hilarious scene from Zootopia 2. My kid loves it too.

My 10-year-old niece says, “Don’t yuck my yum.”

Sometimes, kids know better than we do.

Yikes. Spurs into Montreal and Ottawa. The path is starting to resemble barbed wire. Feels suboptimal … but keeping an open mind.

Truth-telling: “Sky-high housing prices also suck up valuable capital – capital that is then not deployed in more productive ways, such as business investment, which tends to raise incomes.”

The policy and regulatory frameworks need foundational recalibrating.

Housing values might need to fall 😬

IMHO, the Ottawa central station would only make sense if the line was through-running, and not a spur terminal to/from Toronto.

My limited imagination doesn’t see that option without horrifically expensive tunneling.

Tunneling to downtown Montreal is already scope-worrisome.

Research paywalled, can't comment specifically.

I'm pro-inclusionary zoning in principle, skeptical in practice. Developers tell me affordable unit costs don’t come from their profits, but get baked into remainder market units instead.

Higher prices for everyone else.

Progress, or cost-shifting?

I had no idea this was so. Thx for the reveal and the easy fixes.

Stair and elevator reform have the potential to be big unlocks for missing-middle, more affordable, more abundant, family-attractive housing units where they are most needed.

Who will be the first to reverse-engineer these maps into GIS-ready boundaries?

UK only. 🇨🇦☹️

Also withholding judgment. Maybe the Laval pit-stop is all just some kind of misunderstanding. Montreal’s downtown has to be part of the picture, right? Right?

I’m seeing mixed reporting on whether Laval will be in between Ottawa and Montreal or after Montreal. I can’t imagine a viable version of the in-between option. Any insights @rmtransit.bsky.social ?

Pick two.

Westmount’s full 2025 Capital Works list is public → bit.ly/4qy73ka
But not the cost ranges, which I’ve long pushed to publish.

City-building takes patience, transparency, and experience.
Facts, not fear.

viewcone.substack.com
conradpeart.ca

#WestmountFAFO #FactsAnswersFindOut

How can Quebec municipalities build housing they actually need? Since municipalities in the province control zoning and permits, they have a lot of power when it comes to building housing. But the type of housing and its location can be influenced by who is electe...

I was glad to share a few thoughts in this CBC segment on the region’s housing challenges.

In Westmount, the goal is to make room for housing while staying true to our heritage and scale. The question isn’t whether we grow, but how we grow.

🎥 Watch the CBC piece here: www.cbc.ca/player/play/...