Robert Walter-Joseph

New research! Equitable Transit Oriented Affordable Housing: A Necessary Complement to Transit Development in Hamilton, ON The Canadian Housing Evidence Collaborative (CHEC) have produced a compelling research report on an equitable approach to transit oriented development. They find: ▶ Canada is lagging behind the United States in recognizing that transit development and transit oriented development are often catalysts for reductions in housing affordability, the displacement of low-income and racialized people from the community, and the loss of local businesses, services and community spaces. ▶ This is especially true for governments responsible for planning and funding transit infrastructure development, which regularly promote the benefits of investment, without recognition of the negative effects it can cause. ▶ The characterization of Canada’s housing affordability problems as simply a problem of inadequate housing supply is a key barrier to the pursuit of equitable transit oriented development. ▶ Collaborator in the Hamilton Lab, the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) last year observed that the Federal Government’s proposed “Permanent Transit Fund represented an important opportunity to tie transit infrastructure funding to affordable housing development and preservation in transit station areas, however the likelihood of the Fund being designed this way was low given that the federal government does not acknowledge the negative impacts of transit development or the need to address them.” This can change! Maximizing the impact of public funds by using them to leverage private capital is a best practice in financing equitable transit oriented development (ETOD). In addition to leveraged capital, many US cities have found that a collaborative approach to equitable development is a common first step in achieving beneficial outcomes. With the Hamilton Transit Oriented Affordable Housing Lab, participants are working to launch a Pilot built on the research provided by the Canadian Housing and Evidence Collaborative above, as well as shared knowledge from participants, non-profit housing providers, people with lived experience, and the learning from past CMHC Solutions Labs including the Financialization of Housing, led by SI Canada. The Lab has been funded by the National Housing Strategy’s Solutions Labs program, administered through CMHC.  Download the full research report by CHEC on our website here: https://lnkd.in/egu2Wfsg

11

1 Comment

Exciting Announcement!! We are excited to announce the launch of Urban Copilot! Supported by a $6.5M investment, including a $2.7M Federal Government grant through the Cooperative Research Centre’s (CRC) Projects Grants program, Urban Copilot harnesses the potential of Generative AI (GenAI) to bring unprecedented clarity and innovation to Australia’s planning and property sectors. Urban Copilot aims to support industry professionals—from developers to local councils—in streamlining regulatory interpretation, planning, and project launches, cutting through common delays. This development in collaboration between City Futures UNSW, Archistar.ai, MapAI, and PEXA, this AI-powered tool simplifies the navigation of property regulations and application processes, for more efficient and effective urban planning. So what can we expect from Urban Copilot? ⏩ Accelerate property development timelines ✅ Streamline workflows, from site selection to planning approval 💡 Facilitate smarter, data-driven decision-making 🛠 Establish a transparent, accountable AI framework Urban Copilot brings together Australian tech expertise, UNSW’s research insights, MapAI’s Geospatial Chat, and PEXA’s robust property data to tackle some of Australia’s toughest challenges in housing and land development. Read the news release here: https://lnkd.in/gn8CSYwV

19

⚠ [Ontario problems] "What maps are coming down, and why? Most of our maps of Ontario, including City of Toronto, Halton Region, York Region (The Regional Municipality of York), Durham Region (The Regional Municipality of Durham), City Of Hamilton, and Region of Peel will be deleted from our website and all access will be REMOVED. Ontario Government | Gouvernement de l’Ontario, unlike most provinces, has privatized their land assessment and title authority. Teranet Inc. and MPAC (Municipal Property Assessment Corporation) hold the title data and parcel geometries respectively of all of Ontario. Some communities have independently mapped land within their jurisdictions, but most communities have to pay a licensing fee to #Teranet and #MPAC for access to their data. HART is no exception to this pay-to-play model, and we disbursed $57,000 for a public display license (note: a license for public display of ONLY government-owned, vacant or underused parcels) over the last two years. HART is grant-funded, and so the maps requiring this license must be removed..." - Housing Assessment Resource Tools (HART) #OpenData #OpenGov #CivicTech

2

1 Comment

As we gather data to help manage growth in our urban centres we’re learning some really interesting things. For example: our Rutland Urban Center has the densest population per hectare in Kelowna but the smallest daytime workforce. Kudos to my Long Range Planning team - led by Manager Robert Miles who are harvesting great data about all our urban centres. This type of data will help staff and Council make informed decisions about the future of Kelowna. #kelowna #citybuilding #citydata #citygrowth #okanagan

90

4 Comments

Another in the continuing series: "Carolyn reads a lot of reports". Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada | Logement, Infrastructures et Collectivités Canada has a good new report on consultations around replicable design. Basically, it works if and only if there are standardized zoning & building codes to enable it, financing for SME nonmarket and market builders, & modular components to reduce time & labour. But the four are connected! https://lnkd.in/gkQzDS7R

35

7 Comments

A clear and overdue path to accounting for natural assets in Canada OPINION: In the face of wildfires and floods, more cities are measuring the financial value of natural assets like wetlands and forests. But there’s still a long way to go. by Joanna Eyquem, Peter van Dijk and James K. Stewart October 8, 2024

1

Feds push for transit oriented development with $30B Canada Public Transit Fund. The goal of the Canada Public Transit Fund (CPTF) is to help communities expand their public transit infrastructure and make it more accessible, and the CPTF will deliver funding through three streams. - The first is through 10 year Metro Region agreements that will "support partnerships between provinces and large urban areas with the largest public transit systems." - The second stream is baseline funding, which will deliver "predictable funding" to communities across the country with existing transit systems based on their population and ridership, in agreements of up to 10 years. - The third stream is what the Government calls "targeted funding," which will be delivered on a project-by-project basis, with periodic calls for applications. #rail, #transit, #infrastructure

53

2 Comments

🌱 Tackling Climate Crisis and Housing Affordability Together in British Columbia 🏡 As BC faces another summer of extreme weather and a persistent housing shortage, the need for innovative solutions is more urgent than ever. Traditionally, climate action and housing affordability have been treated as separate challenges, but Small Housing is proving that they can be addressed simultaneously—and more effectively. With funding from the Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) Codes Acceleration Fund, Small Housing is launching a new project focused on breaking down barriers to high-performance, energy-efficient construction. Our focus? Gentle density and small-scale, multi-unit housing in BC. The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Canada, highlights the impact: "Energy efficiency means cost savings for Canadians. At a time when we are facing challenges with affordability and climate change, we are delivering on the Green Buildings Strategy. This plan meets Canadians where they are at and delivers the action they need, at the pace and scale they are demanding. Canada’s first-ever Canada Green Buildings Strategy is a plan to save Canadians money, create jobs, and seize the economic opportunities that a clean and sustainable economy presents, and Small Housing’s project does just that." Small Housing’s initiative will: 🔧 Develop resources and training for industry stakeholders to achieve top energy and carbon performance standards. 🚀 Drive innovation in housing design, from new products like right-sized heat pumps to enhanced compliance with existing codes. 🏛️ Enhance the capacity of local government planners and building officials to champion Gentle Density Housing (GDH) solutions. By reducing barriers and promoting high-performance building codes, we’re paving the way for a more sustainable and affordable future in BC. 🌍✨ For our full press release: https://lnkd.in/gZsRDAaT Vienna Braux Akua Schatz Jeff Waters, P.Eng. Aina Adashynski David Sisk #Sustainability #HousingAffordability #ClimateAction #GreenBuildings #SmallHousing #BC

10

2 Comments

Urban planners and GIS leads: did you miss our October 2 webinar on tools to address the housing crisis? It’s never too late! Watch the recording to discover a toolbox you can leverage to solve one of Canada’s most pressing issues: https://lnkd.in/g2Tfzn4P #housing #HousingCrisis #MunicipalPlanning #UrbanPlanning #GIS

6

"As Canada tackles both the housing and climate crises, public policies must be pulling in the same direction: we cannot be building dense housing near transit stations while cutting how frequently the service is running [...]. This kind of transit funding can also stop the dreaded downward spiral of service cuts and fare hikes that impact your ability to get to work, school, groceries, social services, and other daily essentials." 👇 📖 Read this beautiful PDF report by Environmental Defence and Équiterre to learn more and act! 🚍 🚶‍♀️ https://lnkd.in/effzfaaG

3

One of the things we uncovered in our HART research is how far from open and transparent land data is, thanks to provincial decisions. A big barrier to affordable housing policy.

12

This Canadian Urban Institute (CUI)’s report outlines financing supports that can help municipalities to build the infrastructure needed for housing ahead of population growth. https://lnkd.in/g6yWfQxa #blackthorn #oppi #planning #CUI #munipalities #blackthorndevelopment

2

Leading with Transit Proposal: https://lnkd.in/ddhpD93r "The long-term future of communities, villages, towns and cities across Nova Scotia depends on re-imagining transit as essential, extraordinary and permanent public infrastructure."

2

I didn't know it made Now Toronto, but a few weeks back, I started a conversation about which streets and neighbourhoods in the City of Toronto should be pedestrianized on X with folks engaging with the ideas of what that could look like in our city and where would be good pilot areas. <https://lnkd.in/g7U_xAiX> Pedestrianization often leads to increased economic activity, property values, environmental benefits, and health and wellness of our city's residents…so why is Toronto so afraid to move toward it? 🤔 We can have a better future for Toronto that prioritizes active transportation and transit that isn't central to the car. A big thank you to Ausma Malik for working toward opportunities for better transit on Spadina and Liberty Village. Imagine if Liberty Village and the soon-to-be Villiers Island were centred around walking/ TTC and biking as their main modes of transportation? We need to leap ahead in these times of changing climate, economic fluctuation, and our city densifying to centre pedestrians in our city and bring to life our city sidewalks, alleyways, streets and walkways. -for the safety of our city residents, 🚲 -for the social capital in a city ridden with loneliness 💌 -for the health & wellness 😀 -for economic value 💴 -reducing emissions 🌳 -to make our city worth living in 🌇 It's moments when I am at a street festival on a closed street with folks all around me that I close my eyes & say "🤗 Now this is what a city feels like!" And it can't be just downtown, ambition is key & needs activations throughout the city. We need to work with our City of Toronto- Business and Economy, TABIA, BIAS, festivals & events, our local communities, & especially transportation to make this happen at a much quicker & more ambitious rate than it currently is. We have two pedestrian-focused festivals that bring tens of thousands out to the streets in May - with Jane's Walk Toronto & Doors Open Toronto & I would love to see some 'movement' on the city level to make some changes happen by then. Here are additional statistics that showcase the benefits & I recommend checking out all the recent articles I have re-shared on my Linkedin about Montreal. - A Report from the Project for Public Spaces (PPS), "Since its conversion to a pedestrian plaza in 2009, Times Square has seen a dramatic increase in foot traffic, with retail rents rising by 71 percent & commercial rents in the area rising by 30 percent" - A study by the Auckland Council, "The introduction of pedestrian zones in Auckland's city center led to a 50% increase in footfall, with corresponding rises in local spending in retail and hospitality sectors" . - A study by the European Environment Agency on the health impacts of urban policies states, "The Superblocks in Barcelona have resulted in a 21% reduction in air pollution and a 25% reduction in noise levels, making these areas more attractive for businesses and residents alike"

82

8 Comments

🔍 Calling all planners working on housing, community planning, and development policy in Canada! We have an incredible opportunity to share. We’re teaming up with Happy Cities and Renewable Cities to host **three** online workshops in 2025, for planners to gain practical tools to unlock the social potential of multi-unit housing. These workshops will tackle two fundamental questions: 💭 What design principles and strategies can enhance social wellbeing in multi-unit housing? 💭 How can planners design and implement policy to enable these social features—while maintaining affordability? These workshops bring together years of research from Hey Neighbour Collective and Happy Cities, building on our recently released Building Social Connections Toolkit. Designed as a series, each will build on the previous sessions. Participants will hear from guest speakers, engage in small breakout group discussions, and connect with planners and professionals across Canada. **All workshops will be hosted online via Zoom.** Thanks to our amazing funders, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Société canadienne d'hypothèques et de logement(SCHL) and the Max Bell Foundation, these workshops are fully free! (PS - did we mention these sessions will be eligible for professional development credits? 😊) Visit our website for all the details and if you're in, please fill out an expression of interest form so we can reserve you a seat. https://lnkd.in/gtRvHBTV #workshop #planners #socialconnected #affordability #developmentpolicy #communityplanning #housingdesign

36

What is GIS, and how is it shaping the City of Sault Ste. Marie? Today on the podcast, we celebrate GIS Day by chatting with Kiera Shan, GIS Asset Management Coordinator. Listen and learn about some real-life examples of how GIS is making our City a safer, more sustainable, and more connected place. Listen now: Saultstemarie.ca/podcast #GISDay 

11

1 Comment

Dear Valued Toronto 2030 District Stakeholders,    We wanted to send a quick update about our Net-Zero Buildings Pathways Tool released in June 2024. We have met with many organizations that are using the data set in their own models and other jurisdictions that would like to emulate the research for their municipality. We are also receiving positive feedback on the Pathways Research and the Open-Source Database: "Big thank you to Toronto 2030 District for a comprehensive overview of your Net Zero Pathways Tool.....A wonderful example of how sharing our tools widely can expedite our #NetZeroGoals!" -Lousie "Excellent work on the new decarb pathways tool and well done to the team..." -Michael  Please note, early use with one of our partners has helped identify a calculation error exists. Upon identification we rapidly investigated the issue, resolved it, confirmed no similar errors exist, and confirmed this had no impact on any research findings or conclusions we have presented. Although the results were not materially different for the set of inputs included in the published version, we believe it is important to notify users of the error.   Moving forward, please using this new updated version of the Tool, and consider migrating past analysis to this file to update your conclusions: Net-Zero Buildings Pathways Tool - FINAL (EXCEL Open Source Database) November 2024_Updated Version.  https://lnkd.in/gNckPZG7   If you have used the tool and wish to reconcile corrections versus past results, note that the corrections apply to ‘Total Cost’ calculations on the FS - Business Case tab for each building occupancy and sub-category.   On behalf of the Toronto 2030 District Team, sincere apologies for any confusion this may cause.  Sincerely, The Toronto 2030 District Team

3