Certainly, says Brent Toderian. And with children "the indicator species of a great neighbourhood," he argues that cities should be designed with families in mind.
Toderian considers recent news items and comments by colleagues questioning the suitability of downtowns as places for families, and says the reason such beliefs persist is that cities aren't designed with families in mind. "A city and building industry gives up on kids downtown, so no one
designs and plans for them. No schools. Little daycare. No playgrounds,
facilities or basic public environment to make downtown kid or
teenager-friendly. Most importantly, no homes built to actually fit a
family...This perpetuates the myth that families would never want to
live downtown."
Toderian, former Chief Planner for Vancouver, argues that families are essential to cities as "a big part of complete, mixed, vibrant and lively downtown
neighbourhood. Singles, couples and seniors downtown are great, but kids
and baby-strollers make communities more real, more human. They also
support a broader local economy, and make the community safer."
He goes on to describe the essential elements, including childcare, schools, and family-friendly housing, that are necessary for building downtowns for families. After all, says Toderian, "a neighbourhood that's designed to work for kids, works for everyone."
FULL STORY: Want Families Downtown? Design for Them!
How to Keep Young Families from Fleeing to the Suburbs
Millennials are loving their center cities these days, with their lofts and bars and yoga studios. But what happens when Millennials start to have families and don't quite fit, physically or culturally, into city life anymore?
Families WILL Choose to Live Downtown, If We Design for Kids!
What will it take to keep families in cities?
Braille Signage Now at All Vancouver Bus Stops
The city completed installation of signage for people with visual impairments at over 8,000 bus stops.
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
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
