As Toronto's condo-boom continues, condo buyers and councillors alike are calling for developments to be designed with canines in mind. Developers are now looking to include amenities like “pet spas” and rooftop 'dog runs' in their developments.
“Dogs were one of the top issues that came up in consultations...with condo owners about the needs of their communities,” writes Tara Perkins. “Frustrations were divided between dog owners who want more amenities and neighbours who are being forced to get used to the four-legged tenants.”
“’It’s an amazing percentage of people that have dogs in condos, and it wasn’t foreseen,’ says city councillor Adam Vaughan. ‘And now we’ve got to figure out how the next generation of condominiums accommodate dog use, because clearly dogs are part of the community.’”
Condo developers are listening to the requests of local politicians - as well as their dog-loving potential buyers. A number of condo developments have incorporated 'pet spas' into their buildings while one developer, noting a successful precedent in New York City, is looking at adding a podium-level ‘dog run’ to one of its developments.
FULL STORY: Dog owners prodding condo developers to accommodate pets’ needs

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie