Bryn Davidson - Lanefab
@lanefab.com
Vancouver, BC
Co-owner & Lead Designer
Lanefab Design/Build
Oori Architecture
B.Eng M.Arch
Build beautiful.
Build for a livable climate.
www.Lanefab.com
#ThickWallsAreSexy / #SingleStair #ElectrifyEverything / #Passivhaus #NetPositive
Co-owner & Lead Designer
Lanefab Design/Build
Oori Architecture
B.Eng M.Arch
Build beautiful.
Build for a livable climate.
www.Lanefab.com
#ThickWallsAreSexy / #SingleStair #ElectrifyEverything / #Passivhaus #NetPositive
Pinned
Bryn Davidson - Lanefab
@lanefab.com
· Nov 22
A short thread on going beyond #NetZero to build projects that are #NetPositive
First, I like to talk about "Projects" vs "Buildings".
It's an important distinction, because its not just about the physical artifact, but also:
where it is located?
what does it replace?
First, I like to talk about "Projects" vs "Buildings".
It's an important distinction, because its not just about the physical artifact, but also:
where it is located?
what does it replace?
Despite a lurch toward fossil fuels in the U.S., the rapid growth of #CleanEnergy worldwide was still @science.org's 2025 Breakthrough of the Year. Much of that progress was due to plummeting costs for #solar, #wind and battery storage.
Read more 👇 buff.ly/cvjjWKX
Read more 👇 buff.ly/cvjjWKX
January 11, 2026 at 5:22 AM
In the ‘hood
Come say hi! I'll be at The Lido tomorrow, Sunday Jan 11, from 3-5pm. More information and RSVP here: www.williamforvancouver.ca/meet_william...
Meet William Azaroff
I'm seeking the mayoral nomination with OneCity
www.williamforvancouver.ca
January 10, 2026 at 4:53 PM
In the ‘hood
Yeah, our pricing estimate is probably a bit high, but after you put in an elevator, PMT and crazy high DCL / Permit fees it adds up.
January 9, 2026 at 11:05 PM
Yeah, our pricing estimate is probably a bit high, but after you put in an elevator, PMT and crazy high DCL / Permit fees it adds up.
In Vancouver? Your land / design / build / finance costs will be higher.
Probably $600psf for hard and soft costs, n/i land or finance costs (const loan and land mortgage)
Probably $600psf for hard and soft costs, n/i land or finance costs (const loan and land mortgage)
January 9, 2026 at 10:19 PM
In Vancouver? Your land / design / build / finance costs will be higher.
Probably $600psf for hard and soft costs, n/i land or finance costs (const loan and land mortgage)
Probably $600psf for hard and soft costs, n/i land or finance costs (const loan and land mortgage)
Maybe I need to hire someone for this role… but first:
1. easy zoning first and foremost.
2. Finance will follow as it did with lane houses and multiplex.
3. need a non-speculative ownership structure that can qualify as equivalent to rental vis a vis fees, zoning and finance.
1. easy zoning first and foremost.
2. Finance will follow as it did with lane houses and multiplex.
3. need a non-speculative ownership structure that can qualify as equivalent to rental vis a vis fees, zoning and finance.
January 9, 2026 at 9:04 PM
Maybe I need to hire someone for this role… but first:
1. easy zoning first and foremost.
2. Finance will follow as it did with lane houses and multiplex.
3. need a non-speculative ownership structure that can qualify as equivalent to rental vis a vis fees, zoning and finance.
1. easy zoning first and foremost.
2. Finance will follow as it did with lane houses and multiplex.
3. need a non-speculative ownership structure that can qualify as equivalent to rental vis a vis fees, zoning and finance.
Vancity has good multiplex financing but I think it’s limited to 4 units.
Also CNV is now allowing deferral of 3/4 of DCL fees until completion (if I recall)
Also CNV is now allowing deferral of 3/4 of DCL fees until completion (if I recall)
January 9, 2026 at 8:40 PM
Vancity has good multiplex financing but I think it’s limited to 4 units.
Also CNV is now allowing deferral of 3/4 of DCL fees until completion (if I recall)
Also CNV is now allowing deferral of 3/4 of DCL fees until completion (if I recall)
There's probably a role for a development manager / consultant if you wanted it to be replicable.
January 9, 2026 at 8:32 PM
There's probably a role for a development manager / consultant if you wanted it to be replicable.
If it's 2 parties you can probably do a TIC for the land during development. If more then you'd probably set up a corporation with shares, where the corp buys the land from the existing owner, pays the design soft costs, and gets the construction loan. At completion you get separate mortgages.
January 9, 2026 at 8:09 PM
If it's 2 parties you can probably do a TIC for the land during development. If more then you'd probably set up a corporation with shares, where the corp buys the land from the existing owner, pays the design soft costs, and gets the construction loan. At completion you get separate mortgages.
yes... just a question of the permitting etc being predictable enough to offset the challenge / uncertainty of the unusual ownership.
January 9, 2026 at 7:38 PM
yes... just a question of the permitting etc being predictable enough to offset the challenge / uncertainty of the unusual ownership.
We’ve seen some single family homes that are 5 yrs old get demo’d when the lot was upzoned.
This is one of the problems with pocket or corridor rezoning vs citywide incremental upzoning (where development naturally goes where more appropriate)
This is one of the problems with pocket or corridor rezoning vs citywide incremental upzoning (where development naturally goes where more appropriate)
January 9, 2026 at 4:43 PM
We’ve seen some single family homes that are 5 yrs old get demo’d when the lot was upzoned.
This is one of the problems with pocket or corridor rezoning vs citywide incremental upzoning (where development naturally goes where more appropriate)
This is one of the problems with pocket or corridor rezoning vs citywide incremental upzoning (where development naturally goes where more appropriate)
Vancouver is a young city overall but we still demo a lot of buildings because we have no greenfield space to sprawl into, and our single family zoning has suppressed densification while pumping land values to a point where existing buildings have almost no value relative to the land.
January 9, 2026 at 4:35 PM
Vancouver is a young city overall but we still demo a lot of buildings because we have no greenfield space to sprawl into, and our single family zoning has suppressed densification while pumping land values to a point where existing buildings have almost no value relative to the land.
Interesting research on building age and demolition - covered by @amypeacock.bsky.social @dezeen.com
www.dezeen.com/2026/01/08/d...
www.dezeen.com/2026/01/08/d...
Demolished buildings 16 years older in US than in Europe, report finds
Researchers have found that buildings demolished during the 21st century in European cities had a shorter lifespan than those in US cities.
www.dezeen.com
January 9, 2026 at 4:01 PM
Interesting research on building age and demolition - covered by @amypeacock.bsky.social @dezeen.com
www.dezeen.com/2026/01/08/d...
www.dezeen.com/2026/01/08/d...
💪
Just left the House floor after we passed my bill to extend the health care tax credits for three more years!!
January 9, 2026 at 3:42 PM
💪
👍🏻
A golf course next to the Fraser River in northeast Metro Vancouver will be transformed into a public park with sport and playing fields.
It is part of the City of Maple Ridge's strategy to build a new major aquatic & community centre. #vanpoli #vanre
dailyhive.com/vancouver/ma...
It is part of the City of Maple Ridge's strategy to build a new major aquatic & community centre. #vanpoli #vanre
dailyhive.com/vancouver/ma...
Metro Vancouver golf course to become a park as new aquatic centre advances | Urbanized
Maple Ridge Golf Course will be transformed into a public park with outdoor recreational uses, as part of a broader new aquatic centre plan.
dailyhive.com
January 8, 2026 at 9:51 PM
👍🏻
The 3 storey update allows the ground floor to be built at-grade vs the previous rules that incentivized basements.
January 8, 2026 at 6:19 PM
The 3 storey update allows the ground floor to be built at-grade vs the previous rules that incentivized basements.
yes
Previously 2.5 storey houses were allowed everywhere.
Previously 2.5 storey houses were allowed everywhere.
January 8, 2026 at 6:15 PM
yes
Previously 2.5 storey houses were allowed everywhere.
Previously 2.5 storey houses were allowed everywhere.
Todd, TEAM, the Sun etc. never look at the downside of having pumped a @#$% ton of money into single family land values through decades of lax money policy combined with tight zoning policy.
January 8, 2026 at 6:13 PM
Todd, TEAM, the Sun etc. never look at the downside of having pumped a @#$% ton of money into single family land values through decades of lax money policy combined with tight zoning policy.
yes, most lowrise housing here is wood framed.
January 8, 2026 at 6:07 PM
yes, most lowrise housing here is wood framed.
If the worst single-family house in your n’hood costs over $1 million, then your n’hood should be zoned for apartment buildings.
(It’s pretty much that simple)
(It’s pretty much that simple)
January 8, 2026 at 6:03 PM
Yeah - I always love demeaning language for small homes.
January 8, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Yeah - I always love demeaning language for small homes.
More hand wringing from Douglas Todd at @vancouversun.bsky.social
No mention of the fact that the adjacent single family lot is probably valued at $2.5m. DT chooses to focus on aesthetic angst instead.
vancouversun.com/business/dou...
No mention of the fact that the adjacent single family lot is probably valued at $2.5m. DT chooses to focus on aesthetic angst instead.
vancouversun.com/business/dou...
There's a growing backlash against the outsized, 'boxy' apartment blocks being built in B.C.
"They’re untenable.," says one mayor. 'They don’t fit in with neighbourhoods. I know there are lot of upset people out there, and rightly so."
vancouversun.com
January 8, 2026 at 5:54 PM
More hand wringing from Douglas Todd at @vancouversun.bsky.social
No mention of the fact that the adjacent single family lot is probably valued at $2.5m. DT chooses to focus on aesthetic angst instead.
vancouversun.com/business/dou...
No mention of the fact that the adjacent single family lot is probably valued at $2.5m. DT chooses to focus on aesthetic angst instead.
vancouversun.com/business/dou...
We’ve used all varieties. This job is using exterior mineral wool.
January 8, 2026 at 5:20 PM
We’ve used all varieties. This job is using exterior mineral wool.
Net zero duplex concept for a small sloping site
January 8, 2026 at 12:09 AM
Net zero duplex concept for a small sloping site