In this episode, we wrap up our special series on 1789 Emerson — Victoria’s first six-unit Missing Middle development — by zooming out and asking a bigger question: What makes a community truly livable?
We’re joined by Dr. Victoria Barr, an urban planner with 30 years of experience connecting equity, public health, and community design. Victoria brings a thoughtful, human-centred lens to how cities grow, who housing is built for, and why good planning goes far beyond density debates.
Together, we explore:
Why well-being and equity are often overlooked in development
What a “complete community” actually looks like
How design choices can unintentionally exclude people
Why Missing Middle housing matters for Victoria’s future
What 1789 Emerson represents in the bigger picture of smart growth
How affordability, health, and livability intersect
What an equitable Victoria could look like 10 years from now
If you’ve ever wondered how planning, people, and real estate all fit together — or what it takes to build homes and neighbourhoods that genuinely support quality of life — this episode is for you.
For more information about 1789 Emerson: https://www.1789emerson.ca/
250-800-4555 / Email: hello@1789emerson.ca
The Developer: https://missingmiddlesolutions.ca/
Your Hosts:
Produced by: The CityNest Real Estate Group
Citynest.ca
Adrian Maclaren:
250-464-4122
adrian@citynest.ca
@adrianrealestatevictoria
Vincent Baart:
vincent@citynest.ca
