We left for Portugal on January 31st. I have only published twice since then. But, I have been busy. We spent four weeks in Nazaré, the World’s surfing capital. Yes, this is the place that surfers go to catch the 100-foot waves. And then, two weeks in Vienna. I did take time to enjoy my winter break but I was working several hours a day, mostly on a project designed to find a way to fund green projects in the urban environment. We had our workshop on March 28 at Massey College, Toronto. And then, the ice “event” in Montreal had us on a nomadic search for a hot shower. So, not a lot of time to blog and I have missed writing. I hope you have missed me.
I will pick up my series on cities. I have started the section on affordable housing – a complex but not unsolvable problem. There will be new articles on this topic but I will probably insert some posts on Third Places in between these articles. Maybe there will be a little bit more on Portugal and on our time in Vienna. And, of course, the occasional item on a restaurant I may think you should enjoy! Or, perhaps avoid! Or about something I really like or dislike.
However, I am going to avoid politics. There will be no question about my views on certain topics but the cupboard is bare when it comes to politicians and political parties. This is true, almost everywhere in the world and particularly so in Canada.
And really, I have missed writing.
My age odometer turns over this week. I won’t tell you my age – many of you know anyway. The rest of you will have to guess. I will give you hints. Things I miss: I don’t miss My age odometer turns over I think it is natural to think back as we grow older. […]
I am not keeping up with my commitment to write more often. I am busy. In addition to my usual advisory work, I am investing a lot off time into three inter-connected initiatives: Interconnected because they are all about improving urban life and providing homes for everyone and everything. How did I Ever Get Hooked? […]
I will return to Vienna to look at its affordable housing model. First, I have to address some of the issues that make solving the affordability crisis complex. For many years, multiple levels of government focused on “capacity to buy”. Think of the programs: All of these initiatives sell the dream of home ownership and […]
We left for Portugal on January 31st. I have only published twice since then. But, I have been busy. We spent four weeks in Nazaré, the World’s surfing capital. Yes, this is the place that surfers go to catch the 100-foot waves. And then, two weeks in Vienna. I did take time to enjoy my […]
Lisbon’s seven hills and waterfront make it visually spectacular. The second oldest capital in Europe, the city has energy. Busy streets and squares, full restaurants, and vibrant night life – the city pulsates. And, the population seems young. All signs of a city on the rise? Earthquake A 1755 earthquake destroyed 85% of the city […]
People living on the street have come to symbolize the global housing crisis but they are only the tip of the iceberg. While the examples of Finland and Houston demonstrate a focussed plan pursued diligently can resolve the housing situation for the chronically homeless, addressing the affordable housing problem is much more complex. Defining Affordability […]