Michael Geller's Avatar

Michael Geller

@michaelgeller.bsky.social

An aging Vancouver-based urban planner, developer, retired architect, writer and SFU Adjunct Professor with a longstanding interest in urban design and affordable housing.

1,318 Followers  |  263 Following  |  162 Posts  |  Joined: 18.11.2024
Posts Following

Posts by Michael Geller (@michaelgeller.bsky.social)

So true. Pleased to read I am not the only one who finds it absurd we expect those who DON'T own homes to finance the cost of growth rather than those who DO own homes (often mortgage free).

25.01.2026 00:37 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Developers’ community gardens questioned | Watch News Videos Online Watch Developers’ community gardens questioned Video Online, on GlobalNews.ca

I don't think @cityofvancouver.bsky.social should forego more than $1 million in property taxes to create community gardens like this. Do you? globalnews.ca/video/115898...

24.12.2025 17:37 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I only mentioned you because you are an authoritative voice!

20.12.2025 17:30 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Michael Geller: How B.C. real estate is shaping up for the year ahead Vancouver real estate commentator: 'During the past year, I was often asked what I thought would happen to Vancouver’s housing market.'

I am pleased to share this housing forecast from today's @vancouversun.bsky.social vancouversun.com/homes/michae...

20.12.2025 16:37 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
Post image

I thought Paul Kershaw's Generation Squeeze and young people hoping to purchase their first home would appreciate this early response to tomorrow's Vancouver Sun real estate outlook column vancouversun.com/homes/michae...

19.12.2025 16:32 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Proposed new DTES Plan. Sadly, I predict this will fail just as I correctly predicted the 2014 plan would fail My letter to senior staff, Mayor and CouncilΒ  In advance of tonight's Public Hearing on a new DTES plan, I would like to confirm a couple of...

The new DTES Area Plan going to Public Hearing this week is going to fail just like the 2014 plan failed unless there are major changes. Why? This is why. gellersworldtravel.blogspot.com/2025/12/prop...

10.12.2025 00:30 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

Pleased to hear @cbcstephenquinn.bsky.social is as sceptical as me when it comes to getting from Fletchers dry cleaning at Arbutus & Broadway to UBC. What a ridiculous decision that was!

08.12.2025 14:00 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

You must own a house. Because one day you will be old and owning a house is the best way to obtain some financial security. Just don't by and sell within three to five years.

08.12.2025 02:00 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Vancouver's Social Housing Initiative Public Hearing - Geller Speaking Notes - November 27, 2025 While the Social Housing Initiative is proposing the blanket rezoning of a third of the city for highrises, you wouldn't know this from the ...

On Tuesday morning, Vancouver City Council will be voting on the staff recommendations regarding the Social Housing Initiative. For the life of me I don't understand why they would approve this. It makes absolutely no sense at all. gellersworldtravel.blogspot.com/2025/11/vanc...

08.12.2025 01:59 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

Still waiting to know why Vancouver police are not arresting and charging with manslaughter more known drug dealers who are essentially killing people.

02.12.2025 17:20 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Listening to @sarahblyth.bsky.social & @cbcstephenquinn.bsky.social discussing overdoses and drug-related deaths in the DTES and elsewhere. How many of the dealers who police know are selling these drugs ever been charged with manslaughter?

01.12.2025 15:17 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT! My letter and speaking notes in opposition to Vancouver's Social Housing Initiative
gellersworldtravel.blogspot.com/2025/11/vanc...

27.11.2025 16:41 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
Post image

Hey @cbcstephenquinn.bsky.social how dare you suggest the Saab convertible looked like a bathtub? It was a beautiful car. We were the proud owners of one for more than a decade.

12.11.2025 14:47 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Interesting interview between former mayor now, housing minister Gregor Robertson and @cbcstephenquinn.bsky.social this morning. As a former CMHC Program Manager Social Housing, overseeing 1000s of nonprofit homes I can't understand why federal government wants to create a NEW ENTITY to build homes.

10.11.2025 16:31 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
I fear the City of Vancouver is about to make a terrible mistake - URGENT - Establishing a Wholly Owned Government Business Enterprise for the purpose of developing market rental housing Michael Geller Β  <...

I fear the city of Vancouver is about to make a terrible and expensive mistake. gellersworldtravel.blogspot.com/2025/10/i-fe...

20.10.2025 22:08 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
CTV Interview regarding Vancouver's forthcoming Official Development Plan - October 8, 2025 Yesterday morning a got a call from a very delightful Demetra Maragos, a journalist with CTV. She was doing a story about the City of Vancou...

Were you aware the City of Vancouver has issued a Draft Official Development Plan for public review and comments? Nor was I until I received a call from a delightful @ctvnewsvancouver.bsky.social journalist yesterday morning. You can find details here: gellersworldtravel.blogspot.com/2025/10/ctv-...

09.10.2025 15:13 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
"WE ARE IN DIRE STRAITS" || Developer Michael Geller on layoffs in the housing sector || 730 CKNW
YouTube video by 730CKNW "WE ARE IN DIRE STRAITS" || Developer Michael Geller on layoffs in the housing sector || 730 CKNW

I recently discussed with Jas Johal the sad reality that we are losing 20,000 development/construction industry jobs in Metro. Why? You can find out here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFYY...

08.10.2025 18:51 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Using Lateral Thinking to solve Housing problems - Vancouver is Awesome October 7, 2019 Edward de Bono Malcolm Gladwell Six years ago I wrote this article for the Vancouver Courier on alternative approaches to addressing the hou...

While I am the first to agree we need to build more housing to bring down rents and home prices, we also need to make better use of the housing we already have. What do I mean? Read on. gellersworldtravel.blogspot.com/2025/10/usin...

08.10.2025 18:39 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Deferring Property Taxes - Vancouver Sun October 4, 2025 Last week I received a telephone call from Dan Fumano of the Vancouver Sun. He was writing a story about deferring property taxes and came a...

So how did I end up on the front page of yesterday's Vancouver Sun? Here's some background. gellersworldtravel.blogspot.com/2025/10/defe...

05.10.2025 16:04 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

at least this proves there are people out there listening to you early in the morning!

03.10.2025 13:09 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

:-)

03.10.2025 13:04 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

thanks for this. now you need to correct yourself since it won't be the Blue Jays playing the Seattle Mariners in the world series. but perhaps in the American League Championship series. they are both American League teams. the World series is the American League versus the National League

03.10.2025 13:02 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

@cbcstephenquinn.bsky.social Hang on Stephen. It won't be the Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners in the World Series. They may be playing for the American League Championship. The World Weries is an American League Team against a National League team. See below.

03.10.2025 12:54 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1

One problem is that if too many ugly multiplex homes are built, neighbouring residents will ultimately convince politicians to shut down the multiplex program. Also, if the ugly homes don't sell, builders will be liable for Empty Home Taxes. So better designs will be in everyone's best interest

10.09.2025 16:17 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

for some reason nearly all the multiplexes I have seen are big boxy ugly structures

10.09.2025 03:39 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 6    πŸ“Œ 0

How to advance housing affordability in BC? Some background and a link to this morning's CBC Early Edition interview with David Ley and me.
gellersworldtravel.blogspot.com/2025/08/cbc-...

20.08.2025 18:43 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

Another bad day for America...
An effort to gut another source of reliable, accurate, local news...

www.npr.org/2025/07/17/n...

17.07.2025 13:59 β€” πŸ‘ 91    πŸ” 25    πŸ’¬ 5    πŸ“Œ 3

This is an approval. Not a start!

17.07.2025 13:54 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

I have two things to say about this. I'm sure some of these purchases were due to the fact that foreign buyers are banned in Canada. That said, I'm surprised the second most active buyers were Canadians.

17.07.2025 13:51 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Oh, Honey! America has functioned for 249 years with every president having co-equal branches of government checking their power. It was set up that way on purpose by the Founding Fathers. You really skipped civics class, didn't you?

11.07.2025 23:42 β€” πŸ‘ 2586    πŸ” 751    πŸ’¬ 244    πŸ“Œ 52