That would make sense. There can indeed be a delay between the moment a projet gets approved by the city (by the urban planning committee, where the architecture, volumes, etc are reviewed) and the moment the developer applies for the construction permit (which is a formality by then, but $$$)

… so there is no reason to get a permit and sit on it, really. Why would they pay now if they don’t intend to start the construction, if they can get the same permit at a later time?

I don’t know how it works elsewhere, but here in Quebec, construction permits can be quite expensive and have a time limit. For example, in Verdun, my borough of Montreal, a developer just paid $1.6M for his permit (for a 40 floors condo tower) and has 24 months to start construction, or it expires

Record year in Montreal too, with 14.5M rides
www.ledevoir.com/actualites/t...

Je veux juste tempérer vos attentes si vous venez nous visiter: ce n’est pas Montréal au complet qui est comme ça (pas encore, du moins!). Mais on travaille là-dessus!

J'aime l'expression que vous utilisez, "l'impression de "vide inutile"". C'est vrai que c'est typique des villes nord-américaines. Nous en avions aussi à Montréal (bien que moins qu'aux USA), mais nous essayons d'améliorer ces espaces et de les rendre utiles et agréables, un à la fois!

C’était un plaisir de te recevoir, Sean!

Some context here: ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/210...?

Montréal is asking for 300 speed cameras within city limits. The provincial gouvernement plans to install 250 speed radars in 2026… for the entire province

A very limited number of speed cameras is allowed by the governement of Quebec. The City keeps asking for more - not for the revenues, we don’t really care (I’m a City councillor), but for the additional safety and the reduction of deaths and casualties.

I scrolled through the very same books just a few days ago 🙂

The Plateau Mont-Royal neighbourhood is great if you're looking for an area that's more "local". It had great pedestrian streets starting in June. I've sent friends who were travelling with their teens at this Sonder appartment rentals property and they loved it: www.sonder.com/destinations...

Permanent stormwater and planted curb extensions are indeed being built every time major work is being done in the Verdun borough; but we’re not waiting for major work, we’re also doing a few permanent ones every year to replace the 20+ “transitionary” ones

Réservations are down 75% yoy for the next six months.

People still travelling either had reservations booked months ago, are travelling for business or have family in the USA,

I’ll be there! Looking forward to your keynote!