Erin Anderssen takes a critical look at the role of our cities in the provision of much needed childcare. While municipally-delivered childcare has been successful in Scandinavia, some Canadian cities are left playing with alternative approaches.
While many major cities have prioritized attracting a young and cosmopolitan creative class, what happens when these urbanites become both professionals and parents? In North American cities, childcare seems to be hard to find and even harder to pay for.
Looking to Europe, Erin Anderssen observes that “child care is an essential service and cities may be in the best position to deliver it – with proper funding from higher levels of government. For example, Sweden’s top-ranked programs are managed at the municipal level, where it is easier to monitor demand and to oversee quality.”
While a European-style system is not likely in the cards for most North American cities, Anderssen notes that cities can still play a part, pointing to Vancouver, which, “has created half of its licensed group spaces by giving incentives to developers who include a daycare in their design plan. For example, the 42-storey Shaw Tower has, as well as offices and condos, a regulated, non-profit child-care centre.”
“Nearby New Westminster has adopted similar measures, loosening regulations for centres in apartment buildings, and financing child-care grants through parking fees.”
FULL STORY: The procreative class: How cities can help on the child-care front
'The New Urban Crisis' and the High Line
A PBS NewsHour two-fer: an interview of urbanologist Richard Florida conducted in a walking tour of New York's famed High Line in the gentrifying West Chelsea neighborhood, a fitting backdrop for his new book, "The New Urban Crisis."
Florida, Florida, Florida
In his new book, Richard Florida worries about segregation and redefines "the creative class."
Florida Man Fails to Fix Everything, Reconsiders Position
Richard Florida was right about everything, except when he wasn't. Ben Brown brings us up to speed on the Creative Class.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility
Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.
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.
Eviction Looms for Low-Income Tenants as Rent Debt Rises
Nonprofit housing operators across the country face almost $10 billion in rent debt.
Brightline West Breaks Ground
The high-speed rail line will link Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area.
Colorado Bans No-Fault Evictions
In most cases, landlords must provide a just cause for evicting tenants.
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.
