BC's foremost voice for urban development and related professions since 1972. Non-partisan, non-profit, and paving the way for tomorrow's cities.
Vancouver, BC Canada
Joined July 2009
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“When market developers and non-profit housing providers are asking for the same thing, it should tell every party how serious the cost of delivery crisis is.”
@udibc, @BCNPHA, AHMA & @chfbc call on all parties to commit to measures aimed at making housing development viable.
B.C. developers and housing non-profits unite in election push to cut construction costs
dailyhive.com/vancouver/bc-d…
Urban Development Institute retweeted
B.C. developers and housing non-profits unite in election push to cut construction costs
dailyhive.com/vancouver/bc-d…
When unlikely allies agree, govts should listen.
UDI & Housing Central call for lower housing costs.
Land, construction, fees, financing & delays are stalling projects across BC.
Different sectors. Same problem. Fewer homes get built.
Read the PR: shorturl.at/wXupf
ALT Graphic featuring a blue-toned Vancouver skyline with the headline “Unlikely Allies. Same Message.” and the statement “The cost of building homes must come down.” The UDI and Housing Central logos appear at the bottom, highlighting their joint call to reduce housing construction costs in BC.
Direct construction costs for typical #MetroVan housing projects rose 104%-112% between 2014 & 2025, according to a new study.
Findings show how labour, materials, code, seismic & soil costs are affecting housing delivery.
Read the study: udi.org/knowledge/research/l… #bchousing
ALT Graphic showing direct construction costs more than doubled between 2014 and 2025 across three Metro Vancouver housing types studied by UDI and Altus Group. Vancouver concrete rental costs rose from $258 to $547 per square foot, Burnaby high-rise condo costs rose from $285 to $581 per square foot, and Surrey wood-frame rental costs rose from $194 to $397 per square foot.
Urban Development Institute retweeted
McQuarrie’s Adam Van Noort and Greg Scott had a fantastic time attending the UDI Fraser Valley Golf Tournament. We were proud to support this wonderful event as a Community Sponsor! It was a great day filled with golf, connection, and community spirit.
@udibc
Urban Development Institute retweeted
B.C. Premier David Eby pauses PST expansion, adds $90M tariff relief package dlvr.it/TVY204
A pause is welcome. A repeal is still needed.
BC’s planned PST expansion on professional services would add costs to businesses, local governments & housing delivery.
The tax should not come back.
UDI will keep advocating for policies that reduce the cost of delivery. #bcpoli
The B.C. government says it is pausing the previously announced PST expansion to professional services. vancouver.citynews.ca/2026/0…
Vancouver housing starts fell sharply in July compared with last year. While one month does not tell the whole story, it points to a larger issue: fewer projects are moving forward, and the cost to deliver new housing is still too high. cbc.ca/news/canada/british-c… #bcpoli
Vancouver housing starts fell 42% this July compared to last year.
One month can be noisy, but the broader trend is clear: BC starts are down 10% so far this year, and fewer projects are moving forward.
@udibc CEO Michael Drummond joined CBC’s On The Coast to explain why.
Ontario cut taxes on new homes. Sales jumped 130%.
When governments reduce the cost of buying a new home, buyers respond.
BC should be paying attention.
Builders group credits HST rebate for 130% jump in new home sales in Ontario financialpost.com/real-estat…
Inclusionary zoning is sold as a no-cost way to deliver affordable housing. But it still has to be funded.
Director of Policy & Advocacy, Jay Chadha, looks at what Portland learned the hard way & what @MetroVancouver can still get right.
linkedin.com/feed/update/urn… #vanpoli
B.C.’s middle class needs a real path to homeownership, not another complicated government program.
In @VancouverSun, UDI Board Chair @rickilich argues that governments should focus on practical tools that help people buy homes.
Read the op-ed: vancouversun.com/opinion/op-… 1/2
The proposed condo purchase program is not what we asked for; rather, we asked for simpler, more direct tools to support affordability & help new housing move forward. Broader GST relief, similar to what ON introduced, is the better path.
B.C. developers say they don't want a buyout for empty condos dlvr.it/TTLYyn
CBC News covered UDI’s decision to cancel the 2026 Awards for Excellence amid one of the worst housing markets in decades.
Projects are stalled, investment is constrained, and the impacts are spreading across the industy.
Read more: cbc.ca/news/canada/british-c…
#bchousing
Urban Development Institute retweeted
Prime Minister Mark Carney was in Vancouver Thursday to announce new housing and transit measures with Premier David Eby. Ottawa is putting $3.2B over 10 years toward lowering development charges for multi-unit housing, with B.C. expected to match it.
Today’s Canada-BC housing deal includes up to $3.2B for DCC relief and housing infrastructure.
These costs affect whether projects move forward.
Key gap: no broader GST relief for new home buyers.
UDI will keep pushing for measures that improve viability and get homes built.
The #GC announced new measures to increase housing supply in British Columbia.
Learn more: pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releas…
ALT Expanding affordable housing in British Columbia