Neil Young, The Crow

Neil and his companion, Nellie, are new to the neighbourhood, and their story is one of a young couple in a highly competitive real estate market. This may be a familiar tale to many. I first noticed them this spring, when they seemed all set to start a new family in an area that was once a very desirable crow property, close to Fearless Fred and Florence’s block. So, how did Neil and Nellie come to command such a sought-after piece of territory? This is a two-part puzzle. PART ONE — THE REAL ESTATE SITUATION Good crow breeding areas in Vancouver are highly sought after — by crows, mostly. The history of Neil and Nellie’s territory is a tale as old as real estate — a once-sought-after area fallen on hard times. It’s a venerable crow neighbourhood, once favoured by now-departed local celebrities such as the Wings and and the Walkers, with lots of big leafy trees and friendly human neighbours who leave bowls of water out in the dry season. Property values, however, took a tumble when…