Urban Form Case Studies Elana Horowitz Ontario Growth Secretariat Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 1
Presentation Structure Role of the Ontario Growth Secretariat Background on the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe Background on the Urban Form Case Studies Case studies highlights Lessons learned Where to find them MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 2
Ontario Growth Secretariat Responsible for coordinating Places to Grow Places to Grow is Ontario s initiative for managing growth 4 million people over the next 30 years. Backed by Legislation Places to Grow Act, 2005 Growth Plans: Greater Golden Horseshoe Northern Ontario MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 3
Ontario Growth Secretariat A diverse group of 35 people, including planners, architects, engineers, and other professionals. Three teams: Growth Policy Growth Planning and Analysis Partnerships and Consultation MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 4
Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 5
Growth Plan Density Targets 150 25 existing and emerging downtowns as urban growth centres with three density targets Designated greenfield areas density target of 50 residents and jobs per hectare. 200 50 400 MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 6
Urban Form Case Studies The case studies: Help illustrate the density targets and policies Are the latest tool Can be used to spark broader discussion MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 7
Selection Criteria The nine projects were selected from a list of over 50 projects around the world, because they: Best represent a range of land uses and designations addressed in the Growth Plan and diverse development scales that may be appropriate across the Greater Golden Horseshoe Demonstrate infill and intensification and many are brownfield and greyfield redevelopments Illustrate density targets established in the Growth Plan Support nearby transit, encourage walking, and are mixed use Demonstrate high quality urban design and built form Are highly marketable, economically successful, and award-winning Are in climate zones similar to the Greater Golden Horseshoe MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 8
Format The case studies: Are full-colour pdfs, ranging from four to seven pages each List the relevant Growth Plan policies Describe the project, its planning context, transportation and transit, and public realm and built form, as well as other features, such as energy and environmental sustainability and innovative funding strategies Contain a context map, a project data table, a site plan, and photos. MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 9
Residential/Mixed Use: 150+ Residents and Jobs/Hectare Portico Vancouver, British Columbia 322 residents + jobs/ha 1 job to every 18 residents 18 residential units/ha 4.05 ha site area condo apartments and townhouses; + retail units 20 storeys maximum height MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 10
Portico Key Features Re-established street grid Granville Loop Park Mid-block walkway Range of building types and heights transitioning to surrounding neighbourhoods MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 11
Residential/Mixed Use: 150+ Residents and Jobs/Hectare Selkirk Waterfront Community Victoria, British Columbia 245 residents + jobs/ha 1 job to every 0.4 residents 32 residential units/ha 9.7 ha site area Condo apartments and townhouses, nonmarket housing, retail units, office space, light industrial facilities, + Montessori school MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 12
Selkirk Waterfront Community Key Features High proportion and wide range of employment Transition of land uses Extensive community consultation, Comprehensive Development Plan and Form Based Code MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 13
Selkirk Waterfront Community Key Features Passive traffic calming Open space and trail connecting to the waterfront and beyond Green site design MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 14
Residential/Mixed Use: 50-150 Residents and Jobs/Hectare Port Credit Village, Phase 1 Mississauga, Ontario 119 residents + jobs/ha 1 job to every 6 residents 39 residential units/ha 10.5 ha site area Condo apartments, townhouses, and live/ work units; retail units; office space 6 storeys maximum height MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 15
Port Credit Village, Phase 1 Key Features Live/work and retail and office uses rebuilding main street fabric Public access to the waterfront High quality neo-traditional architecture and public realm MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 16
Port Credit Village, Phase 1 Key Features Programmed open spaces Range of building types and heights transitioning to surrounding neighbourhoods MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 17
Residential/Mixed Use: 50-150 Residents and Jobs/Hectare Holiday Neighborhood Boulder, Colorado 81 residents + jobs/ha 1 job to every 5 residents 30 residential units/ha 10.9 ha site area Market rate apartments, townhouses, single family homes, and live/ work units; non-market and co-housing units; commercial space 3 storeys maximum height MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 18
Holiday Neighborhood Key Features Low-rise Green building and site design Developed by an arm s length public entity MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 19
Holiday Neighborhood Key Features 40% of housing is affordable Central pedestrian spine Connection to city bike trail system MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 20
Residential/Mixed Use: 50-150 Residents and Jobs/Hectare Garrison Woods Calgary, Alberta 64 residents + jobs/ha 1 job to every 11 residents 25 residential units/ha 65 ha site area apartments, townhouses, single family homes; retail units; private schools; existing museum and hockey arena 4 storeys maximum height MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 21
Garrison Woods Key Features Low-rise Developed by an arm s length public entity Extensive public engagement High quality neo-traditional architecture and public realm MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 22
Garrison Woods Key Features Significant open space system MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 23
Employment Lands Technology Square Cambridge, Massachusetts 1,114 jobs/ha 4.05 ha site area Office, laboratory, retail 10 storeys maximum height MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 24
Technology Square Key Features Transformation and intensification of a caroriented development Developed by a partnership between city, university, and private developers MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 25
Employment Lands Technopôle Angus Montreal, Quebec 60 jobs/ha (125 at completion) 20 ha site area Commercial, office, light industrial, retail 4 storeys maximum height (2 storeys minimum) MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 26
Technopôle Angus Key Features Part of a much larger, long-term redevelopment of former railway lands into a mixed-use community. Community-led initiative to provide local jobs MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 27
Technopôle Angus Key Features Developed by a non-profit development corporation Green building and neighbourhood design MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 28
Intensification Corridors Rosslyn-Ballston Metro Corridor Arlington, Virginia 397 residents + jobs/ha 414 ha site area Residential, office, retail, hotel, institutional Subway with connecting regional and local bus service MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 29
Rosslyn-Ballston Metro Corridor Key Features Transformed a deteriating, low-density corridor into a vibrant mixed-use corridor Station area plans concentrate high density development within the corridor while protecting and preserving adjacent neighbourhoods MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 30
Rosslyn-Ballston Metro Corridor Key Features Extensive consultation and partnerships with community groups MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 31
Intensification Corridors Portland Downtown Streetcar Portland, Oregon 134 residents + jobs/ha (since 1977) 290 ha site area Residential, office, retail, hotel, institutional 13 km streetcar loop MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 32
Portland Downtown Streetcar Key Features Minimum density requirements linked to public infrastructure improvements Large parts developed by an arm s length public entity before after MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 33
Portland Downtown Streetcar Key Features Designed to serve existing communities and areas with significant development potential Innovative funding strategies: public/private agreements, local improvement districts, etc. before after MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 34
Common Success Factors Engaging and consulting with the public and stakeholders early in the planning process is essential, and their support helps ease the approvals process. Increasing density allowances has a number of benefits, including supporting transit, making more compact, cost-effective projects, providing a range of housing types, using infrastructure more efficiently, and adding vitality to the neighbourhood. Providing shops and services is key to building complete communities and reducing dependency on automobiles. MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 35
Common Success Factors Creating a finely-grained grid or modified grid of streets and walks to encourage and support walking. Establishing clear urban design requirements for walkable, compact development results in high quality urban design and built form. Partnering and collaborating with governments, institutions, landowners, community groups, private developers, and community development corporations can result in higher quality urban design and built form, innovative funding strategies, and more environmentally sustainable projects. MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 36
Download the Case Studies Placestogrow.ca > Tools and Resources > Discussion and Education Tools > Urban Form Case Studies Send feedback and suggestions for future case studies to: placestogrow@ontario.ca MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 37