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Urban Planning Blog
Architecture and Urban Planning Blog for forward-thinking developers and innovative municipalities who want to achieve smarter density.
Financial Incentives for Affordable Housing Part 2
Part 1 was one of our most popular blog posts ever! So we decided to update it with a part 2! Here is a selection of notable funds with a range of incentives, this article navigates through many options, highlighting some key financial pathways to
More than Letter Swaps: how to shift from TODs to TOCs? By Scaling Down
Transit Oriented Developments (TOD) were initially introduced to optimize land use around transit nodes, creating a model for transportation and land use integration. These developments are situated near higher-order transit, with streets mainly lined with mid-rise and high-rise buildings. They offer a mix of uses,
My daughter’s ‘car allergy’: and why it matters for housing and city living
My 4.5-year-old daughter, asked if she’s allergic to anything, confidently says, “I’m allergic to cars.” Hilarious, right? She said that because she easily gets car-sick as we don’t drive very often. Yet, that innocent remark reflects a deeper truth about our cities and their reliance
Israel’s Kibbutz: A Model of Car-Free, Communal Living and Sustainable Urban Planning We Could All Learn From
Small communities called Kibbutzim faced atrocities during the attack by the terrorist organization Hamas on October 7, 2023. The Kibuzt is a peaceful, agricultural community, where resources are shared, not privately-owned, and decision-making is collective. All of the Kibbuztim are located within the pre-1967 border,
Observations from Warsaw
Observations from Warsaw Not a typical European city Warsaw is not a typical European city. The city was almost fully demolished in 1944 by the Germans to destroy the Polish national identity. The Poles put enormous effort into rebuilding their capital, but because of limited
My Letter to Jon Love
Dear Jon, We mostly know each other from LinkedIn, and you were a guest on my webinar series, which I am still grateful for; I appreciate the leadership you clearly demonstrated during the webinar. And that’s why, seeing a leader of your magnitude
ULI Spring Meeting
Hey, are you attending the ULI Spring Meeting? I look forward to showing you the city I love and fortunate to call ‘home’. You can catch me at either of these: WLI Presents: An Evening of Curated Conversations at ULI / Urban Design on Tuesday,
Attending your project’s Urban Design Review is worthwhile, and here’s what to do to get the most out of it
Attending your project’s Urban Design Review is worthwhile, and here’s what to do to get the most out of it Having sat through many Design Review Panels as both a presenter and panel member, I am convinced that it is one of the better parts
Is it Time to Abolish Employment Lands?
Is it Time to Abolish Employment Lands? During the COVID-19 pandemic, people’s relationships with their cities and neighbourhoods shifted. Those fortunate enough to have jobs that could support remote work left their offices and began working from home. For many, this resulted in more time
Is there such a thing as a Bike-Lane NIMBY?
Is there such a thing as a Bike-Lane NIMBY? Written by Robert McQuillan After Smart Density’s recent “Out on the Town” bike tour, I’ve been reflecting on the state of cycling in Toronto. Is there such a thing as a bike lane NIMBY? You’ve heard
Out on the Town with the Smart Density Team
Out on the Town with the Smart Density Team It has been a busy summer at Smart Density! We have been hard at work; collaborating with our clients, planning and designing new concepts, and advancing our mission of changing the conversation about what good development
How Angular Planes Perpetuate Toronto’s Housing Crisis
How Angular Planes Perpetuate Toronto’s Housing Crisis You don’t need to be an architect, urban planner, developer, or realtor to know that Toronto needs more housing. Ask anyone who is trying to find a new home to rent or purchase in the city. It’s competitive,
In a search for a 3-bedroom, family unit
In a search for a 3-bedroom, family unit We love our neighbourhood – it has great shops and restaurants, it’s close to work, it has good transit connectivity, and we’ve developed a lineup of favourite parks that we frequent with our little ones. With a
I am an architect and here’s what my stroller taught me about architecture
My family does a lot of walking. We don’t own a car, but we do own a stroller. When we were expecting our second child, we knew that a flexible stroller was going to be a key component in our new lives as parents
Design will make or break a neighbourhood–building height won’t
Have you ever joined a community meeting about a new development? “It’s too tall,” you’ll hear neighbours proclaim. “The shadows will be unbearable!”Others suggest that mid rise and tall buildings “should only be built in the city’s core or near a highway.” Otherwise,they will “ruin