cityplanner.ca
Discussing big picture urban/city planning and design issues.
Aug 15, 2009
I will be taking a break from blogging for the next few months to study for my planning certification exam.
I will be collecting articles and ideas to write about here, and I will be catching up on my entries following my exam in late November.
Please feel free to search my approximately 200 articles for any urban planning or design topic you are interested in.
Thanks!
Myron
I will be collecting articles and ideas to write about here, and I will be catching up on my entries following my exam in late November.
Please feel free to search my approximately 200 articles for any urban planning or design topic you are interested in.
Thanks!
Myron
Aug 03, 2009
Municipalities typically draw their operating expense dollars from tax revenues. Few people actually enjoy paying taxes, and even fewer want to see their tax rates increase, yet they keep increasing.
Inflation, cost overruns, emergency projects, population growth and the growth of associated services are often blamed, but this represents poor planning...
Inflation, cost overruns, emergency projects, population growth and the growth of associated services are often blamed, but this represents poor planning...
Jul 30, 2009
Famed architect Santiago Calatrava has been commissioned to produce a new bridge design for the City of Calgary. Renderings by Calatrava (such as the image below), external links, and other information are available from CBC.
Some aren't impressed, saying the design looks like a drinking straw, while others marvel at the colour, curves and lines, and say it is just what Calgary needs. Whatever you call it, it's a conversation piece...
Some aren't impressed, saying the design looks like a drinking straw, while others marvel at the colour, curves and lines, and say it is just what Calgary needs. Whatever you call it, it's a conversation piece...
Jul 26, 2009
Imagine the difference a word can make.
Both of the signs shown above may achieve the desired effect - keeping people off the new grass - then again, they may not...
Both of the signs shown above may achieve the desired effect - keeping people off the new grass - then again, they may not...
Jul 24, 2009
Maclean's Magazine has featured an interesting review in their "July 27, 2009" issue about "Canada's best and worst run cities".
Burnaby, B.C. came out on top, followed by Saskatoon; Surrey, B.C.; Vancouver, and Longueuil, QC to round out the top five...
Burnaby, B.C. came out on top, followed by Saskatoon; Surrey, B.C.; Vancouver, and Longueuil, QC to round out the top five...
Jul 21, 2009
You are walking down the hall, and the General Manager turns the corner. As you both start up a conversation, he/she asks “So what do they have you working on these days?” “Uh. Ur. Transportation planning.” you stutter.
It’s not exactly an answer which will impress anyone, but with that, the GM says “Ok, well good luck with that. Have a great day." You have just missed a valuable opportunity...
It’s not exactly an answer which will impress anyone, but with that, the GM says “Ok, well good luck with that. Have a great day." You have just missed a valuable opportunity...
Jul 18, 2009
While out for a drive during the past week, I was passed by two SUVs with plastered with OMNI Television logos and a slogan which touted the “green” character of the vehicles.
With only one person driving each vehicle, even though they were heading the same direction, and the fuel economy being typically worse for larger vehicles, these vehicles could hardly be described as "green". The dominant colour wasn't green either; it was mostly shades of blue...
With only one person driving each vehicle, even though they were heading the same direction, and the fuel economy being typically worse for larger vehicles, these vehicles could hardly be described as "green". The dominant colour wasn't green either; it was mostly shades of blue...
Jul 15, 2009
Roads are expensive to build. Over time, they will crack and develop potholes. The cracks and potholes can only be fixed so long before they need to be completely replaced. Times how many roads in a city, and this is just one example.
In our city environments, much of our infrastructure depreciates in value over time and is very costly to replace. These replacement costs are not always budgeted for. And because much of our most expensive infrastructure does not bring in any revenue (e.g., sewers, interchanges), paying more for a higher quality capital product up front, or not building it at all, makes more financial sense...
In our city environments, much of our infrastructure depreciates in value over time and is very costly to replace. These replacement costs are not always budgeted for. And because much of our most expensive infrastructure does not bring in any revenue (e.g., sewers, interchanges), paying more for a higher quality capital product up front, or not building it at all, makes more financial sense...
Jul 11, 2009
Good planning involves finding the balance between multiple perspectives - the development industry, environmental groups, advocates for historic preservation, investors, designers, and members of the general public.
Just for fun, here are some different views of the landscape which you may encounter...
Just for fun, here are some different views of the landscape which you may encounter...
Jul 09, 2009
Working as a planner can be difficult sometimes. You put your heart and soul into a report, a proposal, or other solid research, and at the end of the day, the decision is not yours to make.
A great many planners report to more senior planners who report to a variety of directors and/or managers. Many municipal planners make recommendations which can be ignored by other civic departments. Planners may produce reports and designs for their clients which are never acted upon or built.
Political motivations or pressure from business interests and well-organized lobby groups can completely sway decisions, for better or for worse, and the media may not pick up your story, irrespective of what your qualified recommendations may be and what they may have reported in the past...
A great many planners report to more senior planners who report to a variety of directors and/or managers. Many municipal planners make recommendations which can be ignored by other civic departments. Planners may produce reports and designs for their clients which are never acted upon or built.
Political motivations or pressure from business interests and well-organized lobby groups can completely sway decisions, for better or for worse, and the media may not pick up your story, irrespective of what your qualified recommendations may be and what they may have reported in the past...
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