Arvind Varshney, PhD’s Post

As a Canadian, I've spent years watching our cities evolve. But today, I'm excited to share a game-changing insight by Mary W. Rowe: we've been missing a crucial piece of the urban puzzle. Our main streets - those vibrant arteries that 85% of Canadians live within a kilometer of - have been largely invisible in our planning data. Yet, they're the backbone of our local economies, hosting 280,000 businesses and providing 1.9 million jobs. That's why the Measuring Main Street platform is groundbreaking. This first-of-its-kind tool maps civic infrastructure at the main street scale, with the capacity to profile 50,000 main streets nationwide. Why does this matter? 🚀 Complete Communities: We can now see what's present and what's missing to create truly livable neighborhoods. 🚀 Local Economic Power: By understanding the "local multiplier effect," we can boost community resilience. 🚀 Preventative Action: Granular data allows us to spot and address issues before they become systemic problems. 🚀 Measurable Impact: For the first time, we can quantify how investments in culture and community initiatives affect social and economic outcomes. This isn't just about data - it's about reimagining how we build our cities. I invite you all to join this conversation. How do you think this data-driven approach will transform your community? Let's discuss in the comments below. Read more from Mary W. Rowe, President and CEO of The Canadian Urban Institute (CUI): https://lnkd.in/gjMmdvc5 #UrbanPlanning #DataDrivenCities #CommunityDevelopment #CanadianInnovation

🌇 **Chapter 2: The Urban Renaissance** 🌇 Continuing with our deep dive into "Shaping Tomorrow's Cities," we now explore the second chapter: "The Urban Renaissance." This chapter delves into the revival of urban living and its implications for communities and businesses. **Question for you:** What do you think are the most significant factors contributing to the urban renaissance in cities today? Stay tuned as we continue to highlight each chapter of our report in the coming weeks! #UrbanDevelopment #CityPlanning #FutureCities #RealEstateResearch #SustainableCities #UrbanGrowth #CBREResearch #CBRE https://lnkd.in/gcchfpzF

Toronto is undergoing a significant demographic shift. With a growing senior population, we must prioritize age-friendly urban planning. By 2041, one in five Torontonians will be over 65. This change highlights the urgent need for accessible, inclusive public spaces and services that cater to all ages. As we envision a future Toronto, it's essential to consider how our city can support its aging population while fostering intergenerational connections. This means more than just adding ramps and benches—it requires a holistic approach to urban design that incorporates diverse needs. For instance, creating walkable neighborhoods with safe, well-maintained sidewalks can improve mobility for seniors while benefiting everyone. Additionally, ensuring that public transportation is accessible and reliable can help older adults maintain their independence and stay connected to their communities. We also need to think about the social aspects of urban design. Inclusive public spaces should offer opportunities for all generations to interact and engage, whether through community gardens, intergenerational programs, or age-friendly recreational facilities. Moreover, access to healthcare services and social support must be integrated into urban planning to address the unique challenges faced by an aging population. This demographic shift is an opportunity for Toronto to lead the way in innovative, inclusive urban design. How can we redesign our city to ensure that everyone, regardless of age, feels welcome and supported? What are the most critical changes we need to make? Share your thoughts on creating a more inclusive Toronto. Let's build a city that embraces all generations and ensures a high quality of life for everyone. (via The Local)

🌆 Transit-oriented development (TOD) is a way of developing that can help our communities thrive. ✍ In our new blog post, Michael Rodriguez, AICP takes a deep dive into some of the findings in the National Institute of Transport and Communities's Transit Station Area Development and Demographic Outcomes report and explains how TOD aligns with our vision of creating more sustainable, inclusive, and economically vibrant places. Read more ⤵ https://lnkd.in/e3caQiJi

We're thrilled to present the final instalment of our Impact Series at Open Data Manchester! Our concluding case study showcases the 'Mapping Mobility Stockport' project, a collaborative effort to improve urban accessibility using data-driven, participatory approaches. 📊 The Challenge: Creating a mobility map of Stockport town centre that truly reflects the experiences of people with restricted mobility. 🤝 Our Approach: We partnered with Stockport Council, Disability Stockport, and Age UK Stockport to: • Co-design workshops and outdoor mapping expeditions • Adapt our Joy Diversion meetups for accessibility mapping • Engage community members with diverse mobility needs • Crowdsource geospatial data on routes, obstacles, and solutions • Analyse collected data for patterns and improvement areas 💡 Key Outcomes: • Developed a methodology for ethical crowdsourcing of mobility data • Created a mobility map of Stockport town centre • Identified permanent fixtures impacting mobility • Gained insights into limitations of current mapping technologies • Laid groundwork for more inclusive mapping standards 🚀 The Impact: This project has provided valuable insights into creating more inclusive urban spaces and highlighted the need for more inclusive approaches to urban mapping and planning. As our case study notes: "The Mapping Mobility project served as a strong pilot for a methodology that can quickly and ethically crowdsource this data — and the OpenStreetMap community is one that is in the best position to push this in the right direction." Interested in inclusive, data-driven initiatives for your community? Read our full case study https://bit.ly/ODM-CASE8 and get in touch to learn how we can support your urban accessibility efforts. #UrbanAccessibility #InclusiveDesign #DataDrivenChange #ODMImpactSeries #MappingMobility 

With more than half the world’s population now living in urban areas (vs rural) - and with that statistic likely even more skewed for internet users - it is highly likely that you’re reading this while browsing from one of the world’s urban areas. The COVID era was probably the only blip in the relentless growth of cities (as many city dwellers sought more space and distance). As the COVID restrictions subsided, the allure of the cities - and the lifestyle they offer - has returned. But what drives the growth of cities? What gives them character? What makes them livable? Here are 5 interesting books - curated by The Economist - on the topic. I particularly recommend 1. The Death and Life of Great American Cities, by Jane Jacobs, one of the earliest thinkers about livable and walkable cities; and 2. The Rise of the Creative Class by Richard Florida about how “creative workers” are helping create new industries, drive innovation, and revitalize cities. Thoughts/feedback welcome. https://lnkd.in/emCfPt_x #urbanization #cities

Transforming Urban Development with CitySync Tech’s Innovative Solutions At CitySync Tech, we are committed to tackling some of Canada's most pressing urban challenges, starting with the housing shortage and affordability crisis. Our dynamic urban planning platform is designed to enable collaboration among urban planners, policymakers, and communities. With real-time data, dynamic zoning, and community engagement features, our platform empowers stakeholders to make informed decisions. This approach allows us to bring innovative solutions to Canada’s housing market, helping to address the urgent need for more affordable and accessible housing options. In addition to housing, we recognize the importance of addressing health challenges stemming from poor urban planning practices. Our platform is engineered to optimize traffic flow, reduce congestion, and minimize traffic-related air pollution—key contributors to rising health concerns. By incorporating sustainability features, we enable planners to prioritize public health in their decision-making processes. With our support, cities can shift towards more sustainable and eco-friendly development practices, fostering healthier environments for their residents. Our approach also focuses on making urban development more cost-effective. By streamlining traditional planning processes, our platform reduces the need for additional investments in navigating bureaucratic red tape. This allows local governments to fast-track housing project approvals and accelerate development timelines. Our advanced urban planning technology is designed to enhance the speed and efficiency of urban projects, ultimately helping to reduce costs and improve outcomes for communities across Canada. CitySync Tech is more than just a technology company—we’re a partner in building the cities of tomorrow. #CitySyncTech #UrbanSolutions #HousingAffordability #HealthyCities #SustainableDevelopment #SmartCityPlanning

Yesterday I read an article by Hamed Nilforoshan, Wenli Looi and Emma Pierson in "Nature" challenging a big assumption about cities and diversity. We’ve often thought that large, cosmopolitan cities naturally mix people from different backgrounds, but this research shows that might not be the case. Using mobile phone data from 1.6 billion interactions, the study found that larger cities like NYC or LA actually have 67% more socioeconomic segregation than smaller cities. Instead of bringing people together, big cities might offer more ways for people to self-segregate. One interesting takeaway: thoughtful urban design could counter this trend. The study suggests that central public hubs—like plazas or shopping centers—can bridge gaps if placed near diverse neighborhoods, encouraging interaction across socioeconomic lines. US elections showed that society today is probably polarized more than ever. With the polarizing effects of growing urban populations and social media, I feel like dealing with polarized society is becoming an added challenge for urban planning.

Check out this useful tool to see if you live in a walkable neighborhood, one defined as having access to amenities and services within an easy 15-minute walk. Americans “prefer” sprawl because often there are no realistic alternatives. Most surveys show that the majority of Americans would actually prefer to live in walkable neighborhoods if they were affordable, attainable, and offer a variety of housing options for all ages and lifestyles. Regulatory, infrastructural, and economic barriers prevent many cities from building walkable communities, and pivoting sprawling neighborhoods can take a bold vision and years of continued investment. But it is not impossible. We work with communities to mitigate these barriers and unlock major improvements in health, safety, and quality of life outcomes, crafting a long-term roadmap to revitalize neighborhoods that have faced years of sprawl and disinvestment. #livablecommunities #15minutecity #transitorientedcommunities https://lnkd.in/gjYDNXxr

The concept of the 15-minute city challenges the traditional notion that time is the sole factor in urban planning. Research suggests that focusing solely on time aspects may not lead to truly livable cities. Instead, a shift towards value-based city planning, considering local population densities, socio-economic, and cultural factors, is crucial. Check out the study for more insights: https://flip.it/KmICVP. #smartcity #urbanplanning #15minutecity #cityplanners #innovation