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

was also collected that examines property market i.e. the types, values and styles of new development for residential,
commercial and institutional sectors. Finally, jobs and household incomes were examined across each city to
measure opportunities for wealth generation.
Indicators to measure performance against principle:
Commercial office, retail, residential and institutional development (value and changes to inventory overtime)
Municipal tax base (changes overtime)
Educational Institutions and Students
Household income
LIVEABILITY
Is the downtown vibrant, liveable and connected?
Presently, downtowns across North America are adopting all manner of tools and policies to stimulate the growth of
residential populations in downtown. This growth is seen as critical to downtown vitality and facilitates activity
beyond the working day. This vibrancy allows the downtown to become more attractive to existing residents, visitors
and newcomers alike, and cement its place as the literal and symbolic heart of the city as a whole. One measure of
liveability is the strength of residential growth in downtown; another is whether there is sufficient infrastructure
available to support a downtown population. A third indicator is the nature of urban form and quality of the urban
fabric to determine if the downtown is offering an interesting urban experience for current and future residents.
Indicators to measure performance against principle:
Population over time (1996-2006)
Population growth (changes overtime)
Migration (domestic and international migration)
Housing (types and household sizes)
Safety (crime counts)
Land use downtown on per capita basis
Car parking spaces (particularly surface parking)
Average parcel size, block size and road width
Transportation mode split
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