Canadian cities grant density bonuses in exchange for developer-funded art installations.
In cities such as Toronto and Vancouver, private developers are increasingly including public art in their development proposals in order to secure the right to build bigger or taller than zoning laws would ordinarily allow. Some developers take a very enthusiatic approach to municipal public art policies, even spending more than is required. Others perceive this type of program in more punitive terms as just another tax.'"Public art helps to mediate between the enormous scale of buildings and the human scale," says Karen Mills, managing director of Public Art Management, a Hamilton consulting company. "It's also a great way of stimulating communication. Developers who have done public art before recognize that it really adds value and distinction to a development."'
Thanks to Geoffrey Singer
FULL STORY: Developers build up public art

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

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?
Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

In California Battle of Housing vs. Environment, Housing Just Won
A new state law significantly limits the power of CEQA, an environmental review law that served as a powerful tool for blocking new development.

Boulder Eliminates Parking Minimums Citywide
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Orange County, Florida Adopts Largest US “Sprawl Repair” Code
The ‘Orange Code’ seeks to rectify decades of sprawl-inducing, car-oriented development.
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