I've been involved in development applications in my community, Beaverbrook, the original part of Kanata, since the early 2000s. What I have seen is focus on residential intensification with no community or infrastructure Planning. Focusing on only the 'highest and best use of land' re: housing, is not building better Canadian cities.
Schools in Ontario, key to community, are being treated as cost centre's, existing ones expanded to the point where in-community schools are no longer safe to walk or bike to. New elementary schools are 3 times the size (1000 students) and located like big box stores, on major collectors.
New subdivisions are people barracks; no services, schools, retail, or transit. It's a 10 min drive for a bag of milk. Tenancy is under 24 months. Pure stepping stone to something better.
The only apts being built are for downsizing seniors, priced for those with cash in their pockets from selling their family home.
Talking about the "Housing Crisis" alone is making Ottawa a less livable place.
Good feedback. Urban Planning should absolutely be considering all the required elements of a diverse community. We are in this housing pickle because Urban Planning has historically been about the vehicle and suburban single-family housing. As urban landscapes and the people in them change (age, increased numbers, differing requirements etc) Urban Planning needs to take the entirety of systems into account when planning densities. And ... out-of-sight, out-of-mind is infrastructure maintenance and renewal.
Fredericton NB has the 4 Units by right... we got the funding, but are things moving? meh... There is still a huge "protect neighbourhood character" crowd shouting down projects in council and PAC. So our tiny city is doing a greenfield expansion... why learn from the past?; Go boldly and stupidly into the future... lol. We'll be watching how this fight goes in the big cities. I think y'all are jealous of the Habs... Montreal has the middle you are missing! Go Triplexes!
I am not against infill but Edmonton has gone too far with 8 plexes on corners and mid block also. Now we are actually seeing 10 plexes and 30 bed and bath rooming houses. Skinny house with basement suites-ok. Plus laneway suite above garage- ok.
Should be more townhouses for efficiency.
4 plexes in would largely be supported mid block, thoughtful 6 plexes on corner lots also.
You should get out and see some of the absolute crap being built
The notion that it is only a small fraction of super scale / mass build is non sense if you have one built next to you. It is devastating
This would be a settled issue in Edmonton if it was meaningful and respectful, like 1 household into 4 not 8, 10 or more.
The wide open free for all here is not proving to be good for pricing. Land speculation is driving up base cost.
It also frustrates development in the core where you need people to work play and live.
I've been involved in development applications in my community, Beaverbrook, the original part of Kanata, since the early 2000s. What I have seen is focus on residential intensification with no community or infrastructure Planning. Focusing on only the 'highest and best use of land' re: housing, is not building better Canadian cities.
Schools in Ontario, key to community, are being treated as cost centre's, existing ones expanded to the point where in-community schools are no longer safe to walk or bike to. New elementary schools are 3 times the size (1000 students) and located like big box stores, on major collectors.
New subdivisions are people barracks; no services, schools, retail, or transit. It's a 10 min drive for a bag of milk. Tenancy is under 24 months. Pure stepping stone to something better.
The only apts being built are for downsizing seniors, priced for those with cash in their pockets from selling their family home.
Talking about the "Housing Crisis" alone is making Ottawa a less livable place.
Good feedback. Urban Planning should absolutely be considering all the required elements of a diverse community. We are in this housing pickle because Urban Planning has historically been about the vehicle and suburban single-family housing. As urban landscapes and the people in them change (age, increased numbers, differing requirements etc) Urban Planning needs to take the entirety of systems into account when planning densities. And ... out-of-sight, out-of-mind is infrastructure maintenance and renewal.
I find most places are not doing enough to combine transit planning and development planning. Cities need to get those two groups out of their silos!
Fredericton NB has the 4 Units by right... we got the funding, but are things moving? meh... There is still a huge "protect neighbourhood character" crowd shouting down projects in council and PAC. So our tiny city is doing a greenfield expansion... why learn from the past?; Go boldly and stupidly into the future... lol. We'll be watching how this fight goes in the big cities. I think y'all are jealous of the Habs... Montreal has the middle you are missing! Go Triplexes!
I am not against infill but Edmonton has gone too far with 8 plexes on corners and mid block also. Now we are actually seeing 10 plexes and 30 bed and bath rooming houses. Skinny house with basement suites-ok. Plus laneway suite above garage- ok.
Should be more townhouses for efficiency.
4 plexes in would largely be supported mid block, thoughtful 6 plexes on corner lots also.
You should get out and see some of the absolute crap being built
The notion that it is only a small fraction of super scale / mass build is non sense if you have one built next to you. It is devastating
This would be a settled issue in Edmonton if it was meaningful and respectful, like 1 household into 4 not 8, 10 or more.
The wide open free for all here is not proving to be good for pricing. Land speculation is driving up base cost.
It also frustrates development in the core where you need people to work play and live.