Dorlisa Cassanova & Lorna Walters 1

Hamilton, Toronto, Brantford, ReginaFour Cities with Similar

Problems; Seeking Solutions

Dorlisa Cassanova & Lorna Walters 2

Important Terms

Urban Development is defined as a, “technical and political process concerned with the control of the use of land and design of the urban environment, including transportation networks, to guide and ensure the orderly development of settlements and communities. It concerns itself with research and analysis, strategic thinking, architecture, urban design, public consultation, policy recommendations, implementation and management”.

http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_planning

Dorlisa Cassanova & Lorna Walters 3

Toronto: Issue Identified

According an article in The Hamilton Spectator, in 1996 Toronto identified a potential eye sore. Two historic, manufacturing districts on both the east and west edges of Toronto’s downtown and were centred on King and Parliament, needed major redevelopment.

http://www.thespec.com/opinion/article/848490--hamilton-a-city-fit-for-a-king

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Toronto: The Solution/Strategy for Change

Enlisted were a team of Toronto planners, urbanists and politicians, who were brought together to bring about redevelopment to this city. At the time the major players involved with this endeavour were Barbara Hill (former Mayor of Toronto), former Planning Chief, Paul Bedford and internationally renowned Urbanist, Jane Jacobs. “The strategy was centred on the simple concept that the city should reward development it wants by giving developers more of what they want. In Toronto, this meant, in part, historic preservation in exchange for more density, or the ability for developers to build higher than they would normally be allowed under the old zoning rules.”

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Toronto: The Results of Solution

Vacant warehouses and factory buildings were restored, repurposed and filled with new users

Conservation of 16 heritage structures that might have been lost.

The development of the Distillery District. This is a unique mix of shops, services, galleries and breweries all housed in a restored industrial complex complete with cobblestone streets.

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Brantford: Issues Identified

According to the article, http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca, from a socio-economic/urban planning standpoint, this city was in desperate need of revitalization. In the 1980’s, Brantford was once known as the Nation’s, “most important industrial-manufacturing centres”, this was based on farm equipment manufacturers such as: White Farm and Massey Ferguson. However when these plants closed down, the city then became known for “unemployment and hard luck and, for 20 years, the downtown was in steep decline”.

http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2010/01/11/how-campus-helped-revitalize-corehttp://www.brantford.ca/business/revitalization/Pages/CommunityImpact.aspx

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Brantford: The Solution/Strategy for Change

The strategic plan used was utilizing education as a catalyst and the development of post-secondary education in the city's downtown core. This has led to urban renewal and economic transformation for the City of Brantford.

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Brantford: Results of Solution Brantford has been able to attract strategic investment

from post-secondary institutions, the business community and other regional partners.

Engaged and supported by the City of Brantford, Wilfrid Laurier - the first post-secondary institution in Brantford - opened its doors with 39 students in September 1999.

Strategic partnerships have grown to include Nipissing University and Mohawk College, with the addition of Conestoga College and McMaster University this fall. In the next 12 years, post-secondary institutions' enrollment is expected to grow from 2500 students in 2011 to over 15,000 students.

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Regina: Issues Identified

The downtown core, specifically along Twelfth Avenue along the north side of the Victoria Park is in need of revitalization. The intention of this city renewal proposal is to transform the city in livable, pedestrian-friendly and attractive downtown.

http://metronews.ca/news/regina/343674/city-adopts-regina-downtown-neighbourhood-plan/http://renewcanada.net/2010/a-tale-of-three-cities/

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Regina: Solution/Strategy for Change

Putting money into the entertainment industry, by proposing a $386-million entertainment facility that would be built across the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks in a space currently filled with shipping containers. New public spaces would be developed around the entertainment facility. The area would link to the downtown via three new pedestrian connections, including one bridge that could become a destination itself.

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Regina: Results of Solution Regina City Council approved the downtown

development plan on Monday February 4, 2013.

Office for Urbanism’s Jennifer Keesmat says, ”Regina’s master plan took the city from having a very weak regulatory framework to a very strong one, something that actually attracted developers, rather than turned them away”.

The city has had interest from Vancouver and Toronto developers because they see the promise of an environment where quality will be expected.

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Lessons for Hamilton Have a master plan/long term plan: Toronto, Brantford,

Regina all had theirs Engage, engage and engage! Dialogue with business and

community persons is crucial Both private and public funding: taxpayers alone should

not bear the economic cost. Think outside of the box; like Toronto did by relaxing their

by-laws (the carrot) to attract businesses while holding them to a type of development which saw the preservation of the city’s historical buildings/heritage

Execute, execute, execute! Plans are useless if they are not put into action