Canadian Cities and Urban Development Discussion Thread

[caltrane74]

Framing continues at a rapid rate for the new Video Screen at the Atrium on Bay

By me

[SignalHillHiker]

Happy City St. John's just profiled this new social network, called NextDoor, designed to connect people with their neighbours. Looks like a wonderful idea!

http://nextcity.org/daily/entry/buil...-neighborhoods

[caltrane74]

Mississauga Then and Now





Mississsauga, then and now

But Mississauga was also already demonstrating the characteristics of a complex, diverse city with competing residential interests, foreshadowing what was to come. After all, McCallion had become heir to a brand new, toddling municipality, thanks to the province’s decision to amalgamate Mississauga with former towns Streetsville (where she had been previously been mayor) and Port Credit in 1974.

Central to the quest for self was determining the best urban design to manage growth and create a livable city. Passionate disputes over the use of ample greenfield areas would ensue for years, the debate — between those advocating quick development at any cost, versus those wanting slow, considered city building — ultimately being about the kind of city Mississauga should become.

Which side won is not as simple as looking to Mississauga’s skyline. True, some of the green space is now host to tall, metropolitan buildings, such as the award-winning Absolute Towers, buildings that scream ‘modern metropolis.’
But Mississauga is simultaneously a bedroom community — offering families much-sought suburban seclusion, and patchwork of distinct neighbourhoods that have increasingly carved out their own identities, such as increasingly arts-rich, eco-conscious Port Credit.

In short, few words encapsulate the Mississauga of today except ‘many faceted’ and ‘diverse.’That much is clearer when looking at the demographics, which census data show have shifted dramatically in the 36 years McCallion has been in power.Aside from a population that nearly tripled in size — the city now boasts over 700,000 residents — Mississauga, like much of Ontario, experienced a dramatic inflow of immigrants, many of them from South Asia, and has become one of the most ethnically diverse cities in Canada.

According to 2011 census data, the most recent available, 47 per cent of Mississauga’s residents have a mother-tongue that is neither English nor French, the dominant languages being Urdu, Polish, Punjabi and Arabic.

Read the Article Here

[caltrane74]

Adding small businesses to Toronto's high-rise residential towers



Mixing commercial into residential-only apartment buildings
By Michelle Adelman, CBC News

A wide-ranging proposed re-zoning of her building along with hundreds of others across Toronto could help Iqbal accomplish that dream as early as this summer.

The new Residential Apartment Commercial (RAC) zoning in previously residential-only zones, throws open the door to a myriad of small businesses popping up at the base of as many as 564 apartment towers across the city.

Hair salons to food retail to places of worship are among the many possible commercial uses that could appear in buildings from Rexdale and Etobicoke to North York to East Scarborough. Planners hope this move will help revitalize some of these declining suburban neighbourhoods

The new zoning will only apply to buildings of at least 100 residential units. It allows a range of commercial uses including green grocers, professional offices and services such as hair stylists to establish themselves on the ground floor or basement levels of residential buildings. If the site is large enough, adding onto the existing building or even constructing a new free-standing one is possible.

A tremendous amount of talent among residents is going untapped because of the restrictions of current zoning, he said.

These people have taken the risk of going halfway around the world to come here, only to arrive and be faced with remarkable set of restrictions, said Stewart. “We have heard lots of stories of residents wanting to start businesses, whether a barbershop or to do pedicures or a place to do a market garden…. They hit a wall and realize it is actually against he bylaw.”

Though the tens of thousands of dollars required to set up a store may be too much for some, RAC zoning allows the popping up of temporary commercial ventures such as flea or farmers markets. Moving cars over to one side of a parking lot, may be all the setup required. The ban on selling fruits and vegetables from food trucks on private property would also be lifted.

While Iqbal cooks only for friends and family, others already run catering businesses from their apartments. There’s "a robust grey economy in a lot of these neighbourhoods or otherwise they wouldn’t survive," said Stewart.

Read the entire article Here

[caltrane74]

The new video screen is almost finished up. Back in the day they said once the pedestrian traffic at Yonge and Dundas picked up, the static advertisements at the square would slowly shift to more interesting video oriented and dynamic ads. Even the semi and static ads at the 10 Dundas East buildings seem like they might potentially be a good candidate for more dynamic and intergrated video advertising in the future.

[caltrane74]

Finished!!!

[ue]

Why are there still mini Christmas trees in Dundas Square?

[caltrane74]

They're just pine trees.. - They stay there all year long.

The other potted trees, which they use to have couldn't make it through the winter.

[ue]

Should at least not have red pots...it just makes it look very Christmas-y.

[GreaterMontréal]

Montréal takes top spot in North America for hosting international association meetings

After finishing first in North America for hosting the most international association meetings in 2012, Montréal once again has claimed top honours. According to the 2013 Country and City rankings from the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), the city took first place for a second consecutive year, ahead of other major urban centres, including Toronto, Vancouver, New York, Boston, San Francisco, Washington D.C., San Diego, and Chicago.

http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1354...ation-meetings

[caltrane74]

Seems weird to have the Patios set up on the far end of the sidewalk. Servers will have to navigate busy sidewalk to get the food to you.

The Base of the Aura Tower

[caltrane74]

Construction continues on the Corus Quay/Sugar Beach Promenade



Some shots of what has been completed so far

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by caltrane74

Mississauga Then and Now





Mississsauga, then and now



Read the Article Here

McCallion the Stallion. Toughest biddy here or there. Square one is still horrible, but much improved over 1973 (does not smell like manure any longer, but still an anti-urban environment built for the car, despite the many skyscrapers).

[ue]

^ It's an improvement, at least. Hopefully as Mississauga continues to mature and land prices continue to skyrocket, the Square One area will start to become more urban.

[Chadillaccc]

Originally Posted by caltrane74

Seems weird to have the Patios set up on the far end of the sidewalk. Servers will have to navigate busy sidewalk to get the food to you.

The Base of the Aura Tower

They do that on Stephen Avenue too. Many of the pubs are downstairs, so a few of them have patios on the sidewalk, but between the sidewalk and the roadway, like that.

[caltrane74]

These guys at Red's Tavern, must be from Calgary then.

Seems like most of these afterwork hours bars are based there anyways.

Let's see if they keep the set up, or change it to the more traditional style.

[Chadillaccc]

It's never been a problem here, can't see why it would be there.

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

McCallion the Stallion. Toughest biddy here or there. Square one is still horrible, but much improved over 1973 (does not smell like manure any longer, but still an anti-urban environment built for the car, despite the many skyscrapers).

They are going to kill me here, but given that Metrotown and Mississauga have similar beginnings and history (both built around major malls) I do feel that the urban environment of Metrotown is better than Mississauga, especially with all of the new infill.

Don't get me wrong, Metrotown still has a far way to go, but that pic shown above tells me that Mississauga has an even further way to go.

[LeftCoaster]

^ I don't think too many who have been to both would argue. neither are perfect, far from it in fact, but for all its skyline prowess the on the ground feel of Mississauga is still dreadful.

Originally Posted by caltrane74

These guys at Red's Tavern, must be from Calgary then.

Reds is owned by Sircorp, same owners as Jack astors, Scadabush, Far Niente and a plethora of other mediocre restaurants. This was not their idea im sure, but was the only way they were able to get outdoor seating which is a huge need in Toronto for patio season.

[caltrane74]

Installation of Digital Canopy at Dundas East