The Value of Investing in Canadian Downtowns - International ...

comprehensive planning processes to bring together and unify
downtown stakeholders. Moreover London, Saskatoon, Ottawa
and Fredericton are in the process of developing and/or releasing
a new downtown specific master plan. There was a general
impression from interviewees that these planning processes were
highly beneficial and were able to unify stakeholders, particularly
the private sector with the public sector. Yet it was also
emphasized that it is critical these downtown plans are
underpinned by an investment strategy to make sure they can be
implemented on the ground.
Zoning and regulatory tools can also offer municipalities with a
strong tool to realize its plans. For example Downtown Edmonton
addressed its large supply of parking by creating an innovative bylaw
package that limits additional downtown parking from being
built. Similar moves have been made by other cities in North
America and Australia. These tools also influence the type of use
that can be developed on site. For example, the City of
Vancouver undertook its Metro Core Jobs and Economy Land Use
Plan and implemented a series of policies to help protect land for
commercial uses into the future.
Planning processes can also deal with issues of contention in a
community. One issue that was frequently raised was the height
of new developments in the downtown. This issue seems to
routinely aggravate the relationship between the public and private
spheres and imposing building height regulations is a common
response. Vancouver and Toronto have both addressed this issue
through the Downtown Vancouver Skyline Study 1 and Toronto’s
Tall Buildings Plan, 2 respectively. These planning processes have
helped bring together the community and the private sector to
ensure that the new development does not come at the cost of
what the community most strongly values.
Affordable housing with protected open spaces can help attract
families to the city centre. Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
New development goes ahead in downtown Halifax
Creating Complete Communities
There is a trend in North America for young people, professionals,
and older couples to move to the city centre to experience an
urban lifestyle. Cities are generally trying to capitalize on this trend
and going to great lengths to attract the lucrative youngprofessional
demographic. Yet sometimes downtowns may be
1
City of Vancouver. (2007). Downtown Vancouver Skyline Study. Retrieved from:
http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/planning/archives/skylinestudy/. Accessed 2012 March 18.
2
Urban Strategies, Inc. (n.d.) City of Toronto: Tall Buildings Bibliography. Retrieved from:
http://www.toronto.ca/planning/pdf/Tall-buildings-Final-a4.pdf. Accessed 2012 March 16.
194
Halifax’s side walk cafes offer an exciting point of interest for new
residents of visitors to the core