Intro to Cities Sustainability urban issues urban planning

Intro to Cities Sustainability, urban issues, urban planning

Toronto: Then vs Now https: //oldtoronto. sidewalklabs. com/

Rural vs Urban Rural: any area that has a settlement of people LESS than 1, 000 people Urban: areas that have MORE than 1, 000 people, and a minimum population density of at least 400 per sq km

Locational Factors of Cities form near these 4 things: 1) Fertile land 2) Water 3) Trade Routes 4) Resources

Urbanization Around the World Why do more and more people now live in cities? 1. Most people work in tertiary sector= these jobs are in cities 2. Mechanization of agriculture = fewer jobs in the country 3. Immigrants move to big cities = they settle where jobs and ethnic communities are available

Fastest Growing Cities

Growth in Slums 90% of urban growth is in developing countries, where more people are moving to cities due to draughts, loss of farmland, lack of rural jobs Many of these people end up in slums In the next 30 years, 2. 5 billion more people will be moving into slums around the world These places are crowded and lack sanitation

Population Density A measurement of how many people live in a certain area Population density = population ÷ land area km²

Canada’s Population Density 36 million people ÷ 10, 000 km² = 3. 6 people per km²

Global Population Density Highest in the world = Macau (21, 339); Monaco (18, 589), Singapore (7, 796) India = 405 people Japan = 335 people Global Average = 54 people / km 2 (land only, excluding Antarctica) Lowest = Mongolia (1. 9); Namibia (2. 9), Australia (3. 0)

Population Distribution in the American Midwest

Population Distribution in Canada 75% of Canada’s population lives within 150 km of the border with the USA

Where do Canadians Live? Nearly 80% of Canadians live in urban areas 100 years ago, only 20% of them did

Largest Cities in Canada 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Toronto Montreal Vancouver Calgary Ottawa 6) Edmonton 7) Quebec City 8) Winnipeg 9) Hamilton 10) Kitchener-Waterloo

Settlement Hierarchy Megalopolis - a chain of adjacent cities, consists of more than 10 million people Metropolis – a large city and its suburbs consisting of multiple cities and towns. The population is 1 -3 million. City – a city would have abundant services. The population of a city is above 100, 000 Town – a town has a population of 1, 000 - 100, 000. Village – 100 -1, 000. Not many services, maybe a church or a small shop or post office. Hamlet – less than 100 people, very few (if any) services

Goods & Services High Order Good = a good you can only find in the big cities ex: Italian sports car High Order Service = a service you can only find in the big cities ex: cancer treatment centre Low Order Good = a good that you can find anywhere, even in small towns Ex: milk Low Order Service = a service that you can find anywhere, even in small towns Ex: babysitting

Census Metropolitan Area: formed by one or more adjacent cities centred on a core city The total population is at least 100, 000 (50, 000 at least in the core. )

What is a Zoning By-Law? A zoning by-law controls the use of land in your community. It states exactly: • • how land may be used where buildings / structures can be located the types of buildings that are permitted the lot sizes and dimensions, parking requirements, building heights

Land Use 1. Residential 2. Transportation 3. Commercial 4. Industrial 5. Recreational 6. Institutional

Land Use Breakdown

Residential – Low Density Single family homes

Low density Big yards, quiet streets, large houses

Residential – Medium Density ¢ Rowhouses, townhouses Anyone recognize the “painted lady” houses on Woodbine near the Beach?

Residential – Medium Density Low rise apartments

Residential – High Density Apartment buildings Toronto is second only to New York for the most buildings over 12 storeys in North America. Between the 1950 s and 1980 s, over 1, 000 towers were built around the GTA

Some of the weirder homes of Toronto Leslie and Bond St.

More weird Toronto homes 61 Seaton, is actually wedge-shaped so a little larger at the back

More weird Toronto homes The Cube Homes Eastern Avenue and Sumach Street

The Half House Homes were being demolished, the owner wouldn’t budge So they just cut around it

The Integral House, Roxborough Drive

157 Coxwell Avenue, 2002

Smallest House in Toronto Went on the market for $179, 000 128 Day Avenue near Dufferin and Rogers Rd.

Industrial Examples: factories, warehouses They used to be located near downtowns – close to the harbours, close to the workers Now they are located on the outskirts of towns The land out there is cheaper They are close to big highways Maybe they generate noise/smell

Institutional Examples: school, university, hospital, church, mosque, police station, fire hall University College, U of T

Recreation/ Open Space Examples: parks, cemeteries, golf courses

Transportation Expressways and Roads Parking lots and garages Airport Rail lines Stations Docks

Commercial – Shopping Malls

Offices Central Business District (CBD) : the heart of downtown, tall office buildings

Major Problems with Cities High population density Inadequate infrastructure Lack of affordable housing Flooding Pollution (smog, garbage, contaminated waterways) • Slums • Crime • Congestion (traffic, hectic schedules, crowding) • • •