Sooner... or is something disingenuous going on?

 Yes it's true, not an April fools joke, aaaaaaaaannnnd we are still waiting for the Building Permit.  I KNOW!  I can't believe it either, especially since what looked like a go ahead was received from the city at the end of March.  It was actually a long threaded e-mail that lead me to believe soon had gone from soonish to done deal -- guess it just meant sooner.

Fingers crossed it will be this week?...  So what to do while STILL waiting?  Guess the time lapse camera needs to be figured out.  Up for the task or recording, playing with timing, downloads and transfers so it can be seen becomes a focus.  Happily something turned out pretty good.  

Here is 4min 17 sec. of viewing what goes on in the back alley from the BIG HOUSE window.  It is a recording of space, time and dimensions of things to change.  That is,  if and when that Building Permit comes through.

A week in the life of Soon-ish...

Tuesday -- Review Contractor change orders, Pay more bills, go to City of Vancouver to Pay DCC & DCL; kaching, kaching...(hesitant smile : note -- and not a shovel in the ground yet). Hmmmm.                                                                                                                                         -- update Architect re: above                                                                                                                                                                           -- visit Big House                                                                                                                                                                                               -- meet with Contractor

Wednesday -- Back and forth with Contractor's office to secure recording system for change orders and billing as we proceed.                                -- visit Big House

Thursday --  visit big house and give appliances to local friend who can use them.                                                                                                       -- connect with Architect to meet tomorrow re: materials for construction.

Friday      -- meet Architect re: construction materials for Octopus (hmmm, 9 inch or 13 inch) .                                                                                    -- visit big house (meet with previous tenants re: mail etc..).

Saturday -- visit big house.                                                                                                                                                                                               --  talk to newspaper person who's interested in the project and following it's development.

Sunday --  visit big house.                                                                                                                                                                                                -- field call from a previous tenant who wants to squat in the house, which quite literally is falling apart while we wait for the building permit.  Explained this is probably not the best idea to be staying there right now.

Monday -- test out the construction time laps camera to see how that works out.

...so what do you think?

I'm a Developer?...

Hmmm?  Well, if a Developer is a person with a naivete and intuitive sense of "doing" based on the right thing, than I guess I'm a Developer.  

Heading, full on, into Project 851 was a journey of  trusting  that all would work out; building homes for family with a focus on aging in place.  There is  a fine balance between steering the boat, yet at the same time,  leaving enough space for the boat to float.  In life, this is the magic formula to truly living and staying healthy and grounded, as I see it.  If you're too rigid, you have no fun, and if you're a flighty delighty you're never grounded or truly connecting with humanity.  

At first, I didn't pay much attention when others referred to me as a Developer but now that we're a year into the "process",  maybe I need to pay attention.  

Marianne , the Project architect, told me, "Mira going through the permitting  process is like having a baby.  It takes 9 months to get a project off the ground in Vancouver.  Just think of it that way, it's like the birthing process."  I love Marianne, but at this point I'm thinking  "This baby is so overdue and should have come out at least 3 months ago".  So we'll just say "Soon... maybe soon-ish would be ideal", as it's getting kind of uncomfortable with this kid still waiting to pop!

Architects and Contractors are super important to work with a project like 851.  I tried looking for good links to dating professionals in these two fields.  There is some good information in the Contractors link but think you'll agree the Architects win this round.

 Reece , the Project contractor,  has the patience of a saint,  wealth of knowledge at his fingertips and can quickly let me know how much more things are costing with all the changes (thanks city planning dept.) and delays.  Reece has been in the business for more than 20 years and is in the know of all the procedural changes the city have gone through and what we are now facing.  He and I have has some good conversations and he has patiently let me vent and blow off steam while waiting for the shovel to hit the ground. 

When it comes to the City, I hesitate to share my experiences as we are still in the "soon" stage of getting that final building permit.  There was no link available for dating a city staff professional.  I will however, say there are two women there that are outstanding in their capacity to reason and understanding how things can move forward; in Development permitting that would be Kaye and in Building permitting there is Kelly.  We can be grateful for their skill set, knowledge and common sense.  

My eyes have been opened during this process and my understanding grows to intimately understand why affordable housing is an oxymoron for Vancouver.  Do we want to be green? Do we want to be affordable? Do we want to be creating communities?  Well having all these good things as goals and then not make it easy to achieve them creates a problem(s).

In my opinion, the demands on professionals is excessive.  I've heard it from all levels; government staff, professionals, trades people and the average "joe" in the community:  Change is coming and this inevitable growth is not the problem but how one is being treated and the cost of attaining it most certainly is problematic.

Walking in this city, on my way to see a movie Kedi, I took stalk of value we have while in the moment; Kedi, is worth seeing and teaches us about what matters in contributing to a city of community.  Here are some photos of my journey to the movie Kedi  --photos by a naivete and intuitive Developer.

p.s. Wolfie, aka as Bigglesworth (my circlle), is a cat living in Strathcona; a character who owns the street and makes no excuses to no one no how!!

Soon...

The word "Soon", still floats in my mind and on my lips.  Soon, it is such a nice sounding adverb don't you think?

soon -- so͞on ; almost like to swooooon in soon-ness...soon, soon, soon, soon.

1. in or after a short time... "everyone will soon know the truth"

synonyms: shortly, presently, in the near future, before long, in a little while, in a minute, in a moment, in an instant, in a bit, in the twinkling of an eye, in no time, before you know it, any minute (now), any day (now), by and by; More

2. used to indicate one's preference in a particular matter... "I'd just as soon Tim did it"

synonyms:  rather, preferably, by preference, by choice, more willingly, more readily "I would sooner stay"

Sometimes it is worth  taking time and re-looking at things we can take for granted, like words for which we know the meaning.  Close looking at anything can give us a different perspective.  It can also lead to giving, what we may take for granted,  a deeper meaning or understanding.  

My plan is to be all consumed in the mantra of "SOON"  until shortly, presently, in the near future, before long, in a little while, in a minute, in a moment, in an instant, in a bit, in the twinkling of an eye, in no time, before you know it, any minute (now), any day (now), by and by is PRESENT.  

 In the twinkling of an eye (I really like that kind of soon), one can look forward to the twinkle of the moment when I'd just as soon the 2 building planners at the city of Vancouver did it...

At this moment what I can do is share some appliances that need new homes as we prepare to love this old home and create new spaces for living breathing souls who will soon be involved in our amazing community.

Oh and these two as well, which are kind of my favourites (see my eye twinklin...)

Up for grabs so make it soon, soon, soon...