Rural communities in Ottawa are being wiped out as urban trends take over the minds of developers and consumers. Rural residents are looking at ways to preserve the character of their communities.
"Rural leaders such as Mr. Webster, who has lived in Richmond for 37 years, fear their communities are being driven down a slippery slope toward complete urbanization."
"'I have seen Ottawa change and much of the development has been good,' said Mr. Webster, president of the Richmond Village Association. 'But I just feel that if the Mintos and Mattamys move in, the rural life as we know it is gone.'"
"Stittsville resident Metin Akgun agreed. He has watched explosive growth virtually wipe out the dividing line between Stittsville and Kanata, making it difficult to tell one from the other. Even the city now describes the two communities as one growth area, acknowledging the reality on the ground."
"The city's rural areas developed very slowly for nearly 150 years, as many villages fought successfully to preserve their distinct, historical characters. But by the 1970s, as the population increased and suburban growth spurred rural development, things began to change."
"Barry Wellar, an urban planner and professor emeritus at the University of Ottawa, said as the desire for "country living" increased, developers cashed in. Because urban land was more expensive, developers bought acres of farmland at relatively cheap prices and waited for the right moment to start development."
FULL STORY: Rural is the new urban
Urban, Suburban, or Rural?
The Pew Research Center digs into a question of definitions, fraught with exceptions and subjectivity.
Is the Urban-Suburban Divide Destined to Disappear?
In a new book, Hans Westlund and Tigran Haas argue that the global knowledge economy is radically reshaping urban development. Eventually, they say, it'll render meaningless our present notions of "urban," "suburban," and "rural."
You Weigh Where You Live
A new study to be published in the fall issue of the Journal of Rural Health finds evidence that rural Americans are more likely to be overweight than their urban cohorts, reports Mary MacVean.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
Minneapolis as a Model for Housing Affordability
Through a combination of policies, the city has managed to limit the severity of the nationwide housing crisis.
Indy Bikeshare System Turns 10, Expands to E-Bikes
Pacers Bikeshare riders logged over 700,000 rides since the system launched in 2014.
Coming Soon to Ohio: The Largest Agrivoltaic Farm in the US
The ambitious 6,000-acre project will combine an 800-watt solar farm with crop and livestock production.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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