was novel but it is less interesting when it accounts for 90% of new condos. One difference that might make the older buildings better on average is that there tend to be more facade improvement projects in Vancouver. A lot of bunker-like buildings have been redone with storefronts and glass awnings. I think the city facilitates these improvements somehow but I am not sure how the process works. In Halifax, buildings like the Maritime Centre are pretty much left as-is unless there's some structural problem with them that might threaten the ability of their owner to lease out space. You pretty much summed it up for me right there. One thing that I found discouraging was how unaffordable living in Vancouver was. Having a solid Bus and LRT system saved me though. I last lived in Queensborough, New West when I was there and it took me no less than 20-25 minutes commute to MetroTown for work via bus, then skytrain. Could you imagine commuting from Lower Sackville to Downtown in 20 minutes every work day? Halifax needs to get its priorities solved __________________ "It's called an American Dream, because you have to be asleep to believe it" -George Carlin I've lived all over Canada since completing high school (BC twice, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and spent alot of time in PEI). Honestly, nothing compares to Halifax... but the scariest thing about living in some of those other places was watching them become better before my eyes. This