Alex Beheshti
@alexbeheshti.bsky.social
Urban Planner and Land Economist.
Senior Research Associate at Missing Middle Initiative
Senior Research Associate at Missing Middle Initiative
Fun legal case for the NIMBY haters.
In Northcrest Neighbours v. City of Peterborough a group of neighbours tried to stop a 52 unit supportive housing project.
1/6
In Northcrest Neighbours v. City of Peterborough a group of neighbours tried to stop a 52 unit supportive housing project.
1/6
November 25, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Fun legal case for the NIMBY haters.
In Northcrest Neighbours v. City of Peterborough a group of neighbours tried to stop a 52 unit supportive housing project.
1/6
In Northcrest Neighbours v. City of Peterborough a group of neighbours tried to stop a 52 unit supportive housing project.
1/6
Reposted by Alex Beheshti
“Ottawa feels completely off-key for the moment we are in. What they have chosen to play sounds terrible to anyone who cares about housing. It lands like a bad cover played by a tribute band that cannot find the tune.”
Dropping @beynate.bsky.social was a red flag that they haven’t recovered from.
Dropping @beynate.bsky.social was a red flag that they haven’t recovered from.
November 24, 2025 at 9:11 PM
“Ottawa feels completely off-key for the moment we are in. What they have chosen to play sounds terrible to anyone who cares about housing. It lands like a bad cover played by a tribute band that cannot find the tune.”
Dropping @beynate.bsky.social was a red flag that they haven’t recovered from.
Dropping @beynate.bsky.social was a red flag that they haven’t recovered from.
With the budget out it is clear the feds are off tune on housing, again. No minister could play the LPC policy song book well, but Robertson is making ears bleed. If you're a Liberal this article should keep you up at night because the warnings it holds are hard to ignore.
November 24, 2025 at 7:45 PM
With the budget out it is clear the feds are off tune on housing, again. No minister could play the LPC policy song book well, but Robertson is making ears bleed. If you're a Liberal this article should keep you up at night because the warnings it holds are hard to ignore.
Reposted by Alex Beheshti
All of those posts about the Mamdani-Trump meeting and none of you bothered to tell me that the big point of agreement was "Build more housing and bring rents down?"
November 23, 2025 at 7:23 PM
All of those posts about the Mamdani-Trump meeting and none of you bothered to tell me that the big point of agreement was "Build more housing and bring rents down?"
"Earlier this year the City of Toronto put out a call for suggestions on how better to regulate buskers and street vendors.
Then, apparently with no sense of irony, it put out another call barely half an hour later looking for advice on how to cut red tape."
- Globe and Mail Editorial Board
Then, apparently with no sense of irony, it put out another call barely half an hour later looking for advice on how to cut red tape."
- Globe and Mail Editorial Board
a man is laying his head on a desk with his hands on the desk .
ALT: a man is laying his head on a desk with his hands on the desk .
media.tenor.com
November 23, 2025 at 6:49 PM
"Earlier this year the City of Toronto put out a call for suggestions on how better to regulate buskers and street vendors.
Then, apparently with no sense of irony, it put out another call barely half an hour later looking for advice on how to cut red tape."
- Globe and Mail Editorial Board
Then, apparently with no sense of irony, it put out another call barely half an hour later looking for advice on how to cut red tape."
- Globe and Mail Editorial Board
When it comes to housing, the big difference between Alberta and Ontario is they both got nimbys, just ON's nimbys end up being more bananas - Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything.
No sprawl, no tall, no missing middle at all.
No sprawl, no tall, no missing middle at all.
November 23, 2025 at 6:43 PM
When it comes to housing, the big difference between Alberta and Ontario is they both got nimbys, just ON's nimbys end up being more bananas - Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything.
No sprawl, no tall, no missing middle at all.
No sprawl, no tall, no missing middle at all.
Reposted by Alex Beheshti
I had never run a petition before, Finch Store trusted me to go for it.
I had never deputed before, @alexbeheshti.bsky.social suggested I try.
I had never done a Jane's Walk before, @moreneighboursto.bsky.social approached me with a concept.
I want people to try this for themselves!
I had never deputed before, @alexbeheshti.bsky.social suggested I try.
I had never done a Jane's Walk before, @moreneighboursto.bsky.social approached me with a concept.
I want people to try this for themselves!
November 14, 2025 at 5:52 PM
I had never run a petition before, Finch Store trusted me to go for it.
I had never deputed before, @alexbeheshti.bsky.social suggested I try.
I had never done a Jane's Walk before, @moreneighboursto.bsky.social approached me with a concept.
I want people to try this for themselves!
I had never deputed before, @alexbeheshti.bsky.social suggested I try.
I had never done a Jane's Walk before, @moreneighboursto.bsky.social approached me with a concept.
I want people to try this for themselves!
Reposted by Alex Beheshti
Thanks to everyone who participated but it turns out that none of you were able to imagine the greatest horror: a successful small business with beef patties.
Councillor Shan moves to exclude three streets in his ward. He worries the retail spaces created won't just be small shops selling ice cream to locals, but things like "beef patties that are so popular that people from the 905 will come to get it." That'll just add to traffic problems, he says.
November 13, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Thanks to everyone who participated but it turns out that none of you were able to imagine the greatest horror: a successful small business with beef patties.
Reposted by Alex Beheshti
He’s reading your posts and it’s getting to him. Cuz they’re true.
"The rage-baiting is really nauseating," says Councillor Parthi Kandavel. "The idea or the implication that we're against kids getting ice cream or seniors getting a cappuccino, it's troubling. That insinuation that some of us are knuckle-dragging suburbanites ... it doesn't reflect the complexity."
November 13, 2025 at 5:44 PM
He’s reading your posts and it’s getting to him. Cuz they’re true.
If this is good for one part of the city it's good for the whole city.
We're not two cities with the same mayor.
We're not two cities with the same mayor.
Full text of Chow's motion to allow neighbourhood corner stores in all Old Toronto & East York wards.
November 13, 2025 at 4:44 PM
If this is good for one part of the city it's good for the whole city.
We're not two cities with the same mayor.
We're not two cities with the same mayor.
I guess we're at the part of the business cycle where rental providers are less greedy (said very sarcastically).
November 9, 2025 at 11:24 PM
I guess we're at the part of the business cycle where rental providers are less greedy (said very sarcastically).
Reposted by Alex Beheshti
unrelated non sequitur
November 9, 2025 at 12:08 AM
unrelated non sequitur
Here is another way to look at the housing disaster
November 6, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Here is another way to look at the housing disaster
The province just lowered its housing forecast again in the Fall Economic Statement (FES). There will be 17,000 fewer homes by 2028, leaving Ontario 390,000 homes short of its goal.
The crisis isn’t slowing. It’s accelerating because all levels of gov still can't act with cohesion or conviction.
The crisis isn’t slowing. It’s accelerating because all levels of gov still can't act with cohesion or conviction.
November 6, 2025 at 8:22 PM
The province just lowered its housing forecast again in the Fall Economic Statement (FES). There will be 17,000 fewer homes by 2028, leaving Ontario 390,000 homes short of its goal.
The crisis isn’t slowing. It’s accelerating because all levels of gov still can't act with cohesion or conviction.
The crisis isn’t slowing. It’s accelerating because all levels of gov still can't act with cohesion or conviction.
I wonder how an ad about Stormy Daniels would land in the White House. If anyone has a few millions to spare please hit me up
Trunp feeds off fear, thats what this is all about. He wants Canadians to fear him enough we stop speaking the truth to our American friends and family.
Trunp feeds off fear, thats what this is all about. He wants Canadians to fear him enough we stop speaking the truth to our American friends and family.
Trump terminates trade talks with Canada because of tariff ads nationalnewswatch.com/2025/10/24/t... #nationlnewswatch via @natnewswatch
Trump terminates trade talks with Canada because of tariff ads
National Newswatch: Canada's most comprehensive site for political news and views.
nationalnewswatch.com
October 25, 2025 at 9:04 PM
I wonder how an ad about Stormy Daniels would land in the White House. If anyone has a few millions to spare please hit me up
Trunp feeds off fear, thats what this is all about. He wants Canadians to fear him enough we stop speaking the truth to our American friends and family.
Trunp feeds off fear, thats what this is all about. He wants Canadians to fear him enough we stop speaking the truth to our American friends and family.
Reposted by Alex Beheshti
Edmonton's infill election is over, and Edmontonians overwhelmingly voted for a pro-infill council. The predicted backlash never came.
Now, it's time to build. And what better place to start than near our LRT stations.
Read our op-ed 👇 #yeg #yegcc
edmontonjournal.com/opinion/colu...
Now, it's time to build. And what better place to start than near our LRT stations.
Read our op-ed 👇 #yeg #yegcc
edmontonjournal.com/opinion/colu...
Opinion: Voters backed infill housing: Now let's build it near transit
The infill election is over. The mandate is clear: it's time to build.
edmontonjournal.com
October 23, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Edmonton's infill election is over, and Edmontonians overwhelmingly voted for a pro-infill council. The predicted backlash never came.
Now, it's time to build. And what better place to start than near our LRT stations.
Read our op-ed 👇 #yeg #yegcc
edmontonjournal.com/opinion/colu...
Now, it's time to build. And what better place to start than near our LRT stations.
Read our op-ed 👇 #yeg #yegcc
edmontonjournal.com/opinion/colu...
Reposted by Alex Beheshti
As rumoured, Fletcher moved for the item on Craven Road garden suites to be deferred. The consultations will continue until morale improves.
I wrote in to Toronto and East York Community Council on the silliness happening on Craven Road garden suites. I understand Councillor Fletcher has asked for the item to be deferred for yet more consultation. TEYCC should just vote to reject the item and save the staff effort.
October 22, 2025 at 6:15 PM
As rumoured, Fletcher moved for the item on Craven Road garden suites to be deferred. The consultations will continue until morale improves.
My Spidey Senses are tingling that something is going down tomorrow related to housing.
October 22, 2025 at 5:18 PM
My Spidey Senses are tingling that something is going down tomorrow related to housing.
Reposted by Alex Beheshti
This housing for the elderly piece is not something that gets enough attention. Can't remember where I saw this but anecdotally, many seniors don't actually end up downsizing, and one reason is we don't build housing in the neighbourhoods they *already* have community in.
If we listened to the nimbys we couldnt build:
*housing for poor or middle class ppl
*housing for the elderly
*daycares
*schools
*power plants & transmission lines
*transit
I could go on but the real question is how the hell could you have an operational society if you didnt build these things.
*housing for poor or middle class ppl
*housing for the elderly
*daycares
*schools
*power plants & transmission lines
*transit
I could go on but the real question is how the hell could you have an operational society if you didnt build these things.
October 22, 2025 at 3:57 PM
This housing for the elderly piece is not something that gets enough attention. Can't remember where I saw this but anecdotally, many seniors don't actually end up downsizing, and one reason is we don't build housing in the neighbourhoods they *already* have community in.
If we listened to the nimbys we couldnt build:
*housing for poor or middle class ppl
*housing for the elderly
*daycares
*schools
*power plants & transmission lines
*transit
I could go on but the real question is how the hell could you have an operational society if you didnt build these things.
*housing for poor or middle class ppl
*housing for the elderly
*daycares
*schools
*power plants & transmission lines
*transit
I could go on but the real question is how the hell could you have an operational society if you didnt build these things.
October 22, 2025 at 3:50 PM
If we listened to the nimbys we couldnt build:
*housing for poor or middle class ppl
*housing for the elderly
*daycares
*schools
*power plants & transmission lines
*transit
I could go on but the real question is how the hell could you have an operational society if you didnt build these things.
*housing for poor or middle class ppl
*housing for the elderly
*daycares
*schools
*power plants & transmission lines
*transit
I could go on but the real question is how the hell could you have an operational society if you didnt build these things.
Nothing about the current collpase in housing starts is shocking to me
For years people warned cities not to cook the golden goose with high DCs and onerous application processes because they needed the eggs not the meat!
All the meat is eaten, the feast is over, and now we suffer empty stomaches
For years people warned cities not to cook the golden goose with high DCs and onerous application processes because they needed the eggs not the meat!
All the meat is eaten, the feast is over, and now we suffer empty stomaches
October 20, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Nothing about the current collpase in housing starts is shocking to me
For years people warned cities not to cook the golden goose with high DCs and onerous application processes because they needed the eggs not the meat!
All the meat is eaten, the feast is over, and now we suffer empty stomaches
For years people warned cities not to cook the golden goose with high DCs and onerous application processes because they needed the eggs not the meat!
All the meat is eaten, the feast is over, and now we suffer empty stomaches
Maybe it's just me but I feel like trying to get data from the province has never been worse and the quality of the data you can get is abysmal.
How have only half of municipalities submitted their financial information returns (FIR) when they were due back at the end of May but its October.
How have only half of municipalities submitted their financial information returns (FIR) when they were due back at the end of May but its October.
October 17, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Maybe it's just me but I feel like trying to get data from the province has never been worse and the quality of the data you can get is abysmal.
How have only half of municipalities submitted their financial information returns (FIR) when they were due back at the end of May but its October.
How have only half of municipalities submitted their financial information returns (FIR) when they were due back at the end of May but its October.
For years, my colleagues and I warned everyone within ear shot in study after study that the situation with DCs was untenable and unsustainable.
Now the city has killed the golden goose despite the warnings. I take no pleasure as a Torontonian in saying this but we're in the FO stage of FAFO.
Now the city has killed the golden goose despite the warnings. I take no pleasure as a Torontonian in saying this but we're in the FO stage of FAFO.
Imo you should ignore the drop in DC contributions. One because of the $2.9B buffer which I think will last us through to a resumption of building and two because DCs (should) fund growth related projects so if the growth isn't manifesting then delaying is fine.
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Matt Elliott: How the popping of the condo bubble led to a looming budget crisis in Toronto
Toronto’s condo boom finally going bust isn’t just a concern for developers and investors. The collapse is also causing major financial woes for the city.
www.thestar.com
October 7, 2025 at 10:29 PM
For years, my colleagues and I warned everyone within ear shot in study after study that the situation with DCs was untenable and unsustainable.
Now the city has killed the golden goose despite the warnings. I take no pleasure as a Torontonian in saying this but we're in the FO stage of FAFO.
Now the city has killed the golden goose despite the warnings. I take no pleasure as a Torontonian in saying this but we're in the FO stage of FAFO.
It's not that boomers are any more nimby than any other generation, it's that they have more time than any other generation to spend on opposing housing.
Just look at the nimbys of a new rental project downtown Toronto, or 5 new single-family homes in Aurora - lots of abundance in grey hairs.
Just look at the nimbys of a new rental project downtown Toronto, or 5 new single-family homes in Aurora - lots of abundance in grey hairs.
October 7, 2025 at 3:38 PM
It's not that boomers are any more nimby than any other generation, it's that they have more time than any other generation to spend on opposing housing.
Just look at the nimbys of a new rental project downtown Toronto, or 5 new single-family homes in Aurora - lots of abundance in grey hairs.
Just look at the nimbys of a new rental project downtown Toronto, or 5 new single-family homes in Aurora - lots of abundance in grey hairs.
*When* the city wins this case, they better be demanding costs. Historically the city avoids doing this, but screw that, I'm so sick of this as a taxpayer.
If the case is found frivolous, then we the taxpayers should get every dime back as is the right to ask for in court.
If the case is found frivolous, then we the taxpayers should get every dime back as is the right to ask for in court.
October 6, 2025 at 7:42 PM
*When* the city wins this case, they better be demanding costs. Historically the city avoids doing this, but screw that, I'm so sick of this as a taxpayer.
If the case is found frivolous, then we the taxpayers should get every dime back as is the right to ask for in court.
If the case is found frivolous, then we the taxpayers should get every dime back as is the right to ask for in court.