Ontario

'Echo Boomers' Transform Toronto

A new report documents the tremendous growth of Toronto's core, as it outpaces the surrounding suburbs. Downtown's growth is welcome news, but it won't come without substantial challenges.

January 25, 2013 - The Toronto Star

As Canada Heats Up, Officials Scramble to Keep Up

"Canada is getting hotter faster than ever before and at a faster rate than almost any other country," reports Anna Mehler Paperny, and the country's infrastructure, public health, and economy are vulnerable to unforeseen impacts.

January 24, 2013 - The Globe and Mail (Toronto)

Build More Bike Lanes to Save Lives, Say Toronto Doctors

Following the arrest of Dr. Tomislav Svoboda for obstructing the removal of Jarvis Street's bike lanes last November, the doctor and his colleagues have joined together to ask Toronto to speed up the installation of bike lanes to save lives.

January 22, 2013 - Torontoist

A Model for How to Transform a Cherished Sports Landmark

The decade-long transformation of Toronto's historic Maple Leaf Gardens into a new centerpiece for its neighborhood may serve as a model for one of the trickiest types of adaptive reuse, reports Mark Byrnes.

January 18, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

Some in Toronto Cling to Promise of Back Alley Living

A decade ago, a landmark study proposed alley-side infill development, or laneway housing, as a way to provide Toronto with thousands of affordable units. Despite significant obstacles, some developers and architects remain committed to the idea.

December 28, 2012 - The Toronto Star

Light Rail Seen as Route to 'Big City' Status for Ottawa

By unanimous vote, Ottawa's city council approved the contract to build a $2.1 billion light rail system for the Canadian capital this week, reports David Reevely. The vote comes after the failure of a similarly bold rail plan approved six years ago.

December 21, 2012 - The Ottawa Citizen

CN Tower rises above Gardiner Expressway on Toronto Waterfront

Toronto's Crumbling Elevated Expressway: Repair or Remove?

As the full extent of the instability of Toronto's elevated Gardiner Expressway, and the city's apparent cover-up of the information, becomes clear, the new chief planner has weighed in on what the priorities should be in addressing the problem.

December 19, 2012 - The Toronto Star

What Does Toronto Need from its Next Mayor?

In the aftermath of controversial Mayor Rob Ford's ouster this week, architecture critic Christopher Hume looks at how Toronto's next mayor can begin to "deal with issues that matter."

November 29, 2012 - The Toronto Star

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Controversial Toronto Mayor Removed From Office

After two years of making enemies in the city's planning, design, and transit communities, Toronto's Mayor Rob Ford has been given the boot for violating the city's conflict-of-interest law.

November 26, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

The Boulevard Makes its Comeback Along Toronto’s Waterfront

“Despite long ago having fallen from favour among North American city planners and traffic engineers, the multi-lane, multi-use, tree-lined avenue will soon return to our fair burg,” writes Christopher Hume.

November 24, 2012 - The Star

Protesters Take Toronto Bike Lane Removal Lying Down

Efforts to remove a bike lane from Toronto's Jarvis Street did not go exactly as planned this week, as protesters prevented city crews from completing their work by blockading the street, reports Lissette Valdez.

November 14, 2012 - The Architect's Newspaper Blog

Official Panel Examines the Merits of Toronto's Street Art

An official body - the Graffiti Panel - made up of five Toronto city staffers met for the first time this month to try to answer the long debated question: what is art and what is vandalism?

November 13, 2012 - The Art Newspaper

Toronto: Pay Attention to the Pedestrians

The intersection of Yonge and Harbour is just one example of the dangerous conditions that confront Toronto’s pedestrians daily. Are the police to blame for the city’s lack of pedestrian safety?

November 7, 2012 - The Star

Toronto Towers Not Exactly Birds' Best Friends

A lethal combination of a rapidly expanding modern skyline and the intersection of several major migratory flight paths have rendered Toronto one of the world’s most deadly cities for migratory birds, reports Ian Austen.

October 29, 2012 - The New York Times

Despite NIMBY Opposition, Density is the Only Option for a Prosperous Toronto

Christopher Hume delivers a forceful argument for why density is necessary for maintaining a prosperous Toronto in the decades ahead, and why the alternative, sprawl, is environmentally unsustainable and economically ruinous.

October 26, 2012 - Toronto Star

Toronto's Skyline Has High Ambitions Despite Housing Bubble Concerns

By a ratio of two-to-one, Toronto is far outpacing NYC in terms of high-rises and skyscrapers currently under construction. As other Canadian cities follow suit, Jim Flaherty, Canada's Finance Minister, is taking measures to cool the market.

October 24, 2012 - The Globe and Mail

Toronto Suburbs Tackle Obesity Through Design

The role of the physical environment in promoting healthy living was the focus of a gathering last week in the Peel Region, which encompasses three of Toronto's western suburbs. Participants discussed the challenges of adapting suburban environs.

October 24, 2012 - Toronto Star

New Study Supports Advocates of Bike Infrastructure

Emily Badger discusses new research showing that dedicated bike infrastructure has a demonstrated impact on reducing the risk of injury for cyclists.

October 23, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Massive Redevelopment Planned Around Toronto Convention Centre, and Controversial Casino

Last week, Oxford Properties Group released plans by Foster + Partners for redeveloping Toronto's Convention Centre and the surrounding area. With 7.35 million square feet proposed, the project is one of North America's largest redevelopment efforts.

October 18, 2012 - Urban Toronto

Friday Eye Candy: Toronto Grows Up

The CBC has compiled a selection of 8 interactive before and after images of Toronto's skyline that dramatically document the city's condo boom over the last decade.

October 12, 2012 - CBC

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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

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