Calgary developer’s caught with pants down - Nenshi white knight or not?

[MarchHare]

Naheed Nenshi took Calgary’s mayoral throne in the 2010 municipal elections thanks to a vote-split by the center-right and an impressive galvanization of the normally electorally apathetic hipster population of Calgary.

It was a legitimate three-way race. One could argue that whichever candidate won would have done so thanks to vote-splitting among supporters of the other two. As for the hipster comment, while that demographic undoubtedly came out for Nenshi more than McIver or Higgens, they alone cannot explain the mayor's near-90% approval rating (survey from November).

I live in a condo now, because it is just me, and it is convenient...for now. But I am getting really tired of walking down a hallway, smelling cigarette smoke from one suite, someones massive crap that is wafting under the door of another, and some rancid cuisine from from unpronounceable island nation from the person next door. I also do not like having to listen to my whale of a next door neighbour getting stuffed like a thanksgiving turkey every second night.

FYI, the situation you described doesn't have to be the case with apartment/condo living. I used to live in a Kensington apartment and shared your complaints; the walls were thin and I could hear everything going on in my neighbours' units. A few years ago, I moved to an apartment-style condo in the Beltline; it has a concrete frame which provides excellent sound-proofing. I never hear my neighbours, and they don't hear me. I'm a guitarist and sometimes crack my amp louder than I probably should in an apartment. I once told my next-door neighbour that if I was ever disturbing him, he should feel free to knock on my door and tell me to turn it down. He responded that he had never even heard my playing before.

With respect to cooking smells (or other odours) wafting throughout the entire building, that can also be controlled. The ventilation in my building is configured such that air pressure is set slightly higher in the hallways than it is in the individual units; this keeps smells isolated to the suites where they're coming from.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Some of the statistics that are missing from this classic he said/she said may be found in this article in the Herald today:

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/ca...870/story.html



So we know Stanley has a reputation for not pulling any punches when he talks, but on the other hand these stats definitely do not show a suburban development freeze is anywhere near in play.

Wasn't Stanley brought in though to "change" the way we grow?

DCU has quite a negative perspective in this column:

Rollin recently put industry on notice by saying that only two area structure plans submitted “have a chance of getting started for at least 10 years”.

Really?

This absolutely has the affect of a “suburban development freeze” and one I take considerable exception to.

This is not his place to make these statements. Council decides these matters, not you, Rollin.

Rollin comes across as being the founder of increased density in established communities, while always implying suburban growth and where Calgarians chose to live is over.

As an elected official that represents the suburbs, I respectfully take exception.

In my communities, we have both high density and beautiful suburban development. It hasn’t been an either-or choice, nor will it be in the future.

Rollin also never misses an opportunity to critique our forefathers and how our beautiful city has been built — how it defines who we are and who we have become.

He says “like it or lump it, change is coming to the way the city grows in the future and we are in for a fundamental culture shift.”

Link: Planning boss' provocative views insult Calgarians and undermine city council

[jammies]

There has to be more to this story than Nenshi just trying to throw his weight around. I'd say it's likely the CBHA is trying to wag the dog, and the dog is not happy about it.

[PsYcNeT]

Reigning in out-of-control suburban sprawl in a city built around "#### it, we'll drive" angers homebuilders?

I for one, am shocked.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by First Lady

Wasn't Stanley brought in though to "change" the way we grow?

I don't know if his hiring was for as simple a reason as that (perhaps this is an area Bunk can expand on further).

He's a smart man, and surely he understands that there will always be a place for greenfield development in Calgary. I think what he is hoping to accomplish is to further intensify existing communities with infill development and other opportunities.

That's not as easy as it sound either, heck even here in the urban latte-sipping paradise of Hillhurst-Sunnyside densification is still fought tooth and nail. However it appears that people are starting to understand that density doesn't necessarily mean the end of all things good and true, and if they actively work with the developers and the city from the start of their projects everyone can get the most out of it.

I have hope that we can stop this terrible urban/suburban divide in this city and get down to the business of making Calgary the best city possible. Who's with me?

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by jammies

There has to be more to this story than Nenshi just trying to throw his weight around. I'd say it's likely the CBHA is trying to wag the dog, and the dog is not happy about it.

Why? We've seen from Nenshi's behavior in the past that he's a bit of a loose cannon when he doesn't get his way and is prone to lashing out?

If there's one flaw to Nenshi is that he's a bit of a baby. I'm not criticizing other aspects of the job he's doing , just that he's a little bit too prone to thrashing about.

[Bertuzzied]

haha. I guess we know for sure when Nenshi runs in provincial politics it won't be for the Wildrose.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

I have hope that we can stop this terrible urban/suburban divide in this city and get down to the business of making Calgary the best city possible. Who's with me?

That ^^ is the approach Nenshi should be taking. Indeed it is what he campaigned on and what many expect of him.

This whole "you can't come to meetings until you apologize" stuff is simply childish.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by jammies

There has to be more to this story than Nenshi just trying to throw his weight around. I'd say it's likely the CBHA is trying to wag the dog, and the dog is not happy about it.

Well Nenshi was already pretty upset with Doug Griffiths for calling him a "purple peacock". Not sure if this CBHA meeting came before or after, but likely the combination of criticism set him off.

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by First Lady

That ^^ is the approach Nenshi should be taking. Indeed it is what he campaigned on and what many expect of him.

This whole "you can't come to meetings until you apologize" stuff is simply childish.

So you think unmitigated outward growth is good for the city?

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by First Lady

This whole "you can't come to meetings until you apologize" stuff is simply childish.

How is calling him silly names any less so?

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

So you think unmitigated outward growth is good for the city?

How did you get that from my comment or the one I quoted?

Originally Posted by Table 5

How is calling him silly names any less so?

Agreed. Doug Griffiths needs to show some maturity too. Mind you Griffiths never campaigned on having "adult conversations."

[jammies]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Why? We've seen from Nenshi's behavior in the past that he's a bit of a loose cannon when he doesn't get his way and is prone to lashing out?

I don't remember much of that, but it's possible that since I usually agree with what he's saying, I don't see "lashing out" so much as "rightfully pissed off".

Anyway, I see this as a power struggle between Nenshi and the builders, and there's no way there isn't a lot more to this than disagreement on philosophy - the builders would usually try to work with the mayor, so if they are openly disagreeing and at war, one or both sides have to have decided their relationship was at an impasse not to be solved through the usual channels. That doesn't happen with one speech, no matter how inflammatory.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by First Lady

That ^^ is the approach Nenshi should be taking. Indeed it is what he campaigned on and what many expect of him.

This whole "you can't come to meetings until you apologize" stuff is simply childish.

He is asking that CHBA recant their statements which he believes are false. He is not looking for an apology.

[Muta]

I don't pretend to know what's going on in this situation, but I agree with jammies - there's probably alot more to this. I'd attribute this mess to the cozy relationships these home builders (and associations) USED to have with the City - now, not so much anymore given we have a mayor focused more on urban development than previous mayors. This was bound to happen, but I can't say I'm displeased - I'm part of that anti-sprawl crowd and always have been.

[crazy_eoj]

Originally Posted by Barnes

He is asking that CHBA recant their statements which he believes are false. He is not looking for an apology.

He could do that without banning the CHBA from meetings.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Barnes

He is asking that CHBA recant their statements which he believes are false. He is not looking for an apology.

He should ask the Herald to print a correction then.

Mayor Naheed Nenshi has punted the top Calgary homebuilders association from city committees, and wants its president to apologize for recent remarks before lifting this formal reprimand.

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/ca...#ixzz2LvXvoYrL

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Some of the statistics that are missing from this classic he said/she said may be found in this article in the Herald today:

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/ca...870/story.html



So we know Stanley has a reputation for not pulling any punches when he talks, but on the other hand these stats definitely do not show a suburban development freeze is anywhere near in play.

I don't think 2012 stats alone are the correct ones to look at in the context of this debate. The housing starts that are occurring now are in development plans that were completed and approved long before Nenshi's and Stanley's time. Rather contrast those stats with what the planning department is up to these days and Stanley's comments that 'maybe only 2 plans actually get started in the next 10 years' and it becomes obvious why an industry that's made a lot of money on slapping up single family homes in record time is having a cow.

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by First Lady

How did you get that from my comment or the one I quoted?

Because there is obviously more to the issue than someone openly mocking another.

Nenshi has been banging the drum for upward building for years now, and that would put a bite in homebuilder profiteering in what is basically a huge network of terribly laid out neighborhoods blobbing out like a fat guys arms pooling on a recliner.

If you're even close to standing with the Home Builder's Association on this, you're completely out to lunch, stand to gain peripherally from it via work contracts, or are some kind of Randian uber-capitalist.

Unmitigated outward growth (and mocking those who support the man trying to contain it by calling them "hipsters" OH GOD YOUNG PEOPLE ARE SCARY) is unsustainable. It's ludicrous. Driving to Cranston is infuriating. In-city commutes should not exceed an hour.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Barnes

He is asking that CHBA recant their statements which he believes are false. He is not looking for an apology.

Apparently that is exactly what is being requested.

A Feb. 21 confidential letter from Nenshi’s chief of staff, Chima Nkemdirim, to Canadian Home Builders’ Association, Calgary Region president Charron Ungar, obtained by the Sun, says CHBA’s “participation in all engagement activities at the City is suspended until satisfactory resolution of the matters I raised in our meeting.”

“The CHBA has damaged its relationship with the City and it is for the CHBA to take substantial steps to fix that relationship,” the letter reads.

The letter demands “a written apology, satisfactory to our office, be sent to each of your members” and posted on its website, the CHBA must also acknowledge they have been an active and supportive participant in City initiatives and they must “commit to working with the City and other industry partners in a constructive and respectful manner.”

http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/02/23...rs-association

I have no idea what else was involved in this whole thing blowing up to the degree it has,but demanding an apology before being allowed back into committee is extremely childish from my perspective.

It's like the city council equivalent of "taking your ball and going home" until someone else says sorry for upsetting you. I agree that some comments were likely out of line before by home bulder reps, but this is no way to handle the situation as the mayor of a major metropolis and a guy that ran a campaign on getting along with others and openness in council.