New Urbanist community in suburban Toronto realized through developer's vision and persistance.
Oak Park was one of the first New Urbanist communities in the Greater Toronto Area. Bringing it to fruition was a significant challenge for developer Metrontario Group, in large part due to the steep learning curve of municipal officials unaccustomed to working with alternative development standards. Eight years after sales started, the community appears to be truly coming into its own as a walkable, mixed-use neighbourhood. However, the population continues to be mostly upper-middle-class and achieving greater economic diversity may take some time, says urban planner Joe Berridge.
Thanks to Geoffrey Singer
FULL STORY: Building for people

Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs
Current state law allows — but doesn’t require — cities to permit accessory dwelling units in single-family residential neighborhoods.

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

HUD Announces Plan to Build Housing on Public Lands
The agency will identify federally owned parcels appropriate for housing development and streamline the regulatory process to lease or transfer land to housing authorities and nonprofit developers.

EPA Terminates $116 Million in Grants for Reducing Emissions from Construction Materials
C-MORE grants were earmarked for industry trade groups and universities.

BART Closes $35 Million Deficit
Cost control and revenue generation measures prevented service cuts.

The New Parisian Hearse is a Bicycle
Sleek, silent, and sustainable, a green trip to the graveyard has hit the streets of the French capital.
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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.
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