CORNELL CRP 384 - An Adaptable Green City for Future Planning

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Vancouver, Canada: An Adaptable Green City for Future PlanningFinal Paper AssignmentDepartment of City and Regional PlanningInstructor: Stephan Schmidt and Elan ShapiroCRP 384: Green CitiesFall 2008Submitted On: December 4, 2008Submitted By: Barrett Lane, Justin Queirolo and Peter YoungLane, Queirolo, and Young! Page 1 of 22Table of Contents:Introduction……………………………………………………………..……………...…Page 3Looking at the Built Environment as a Guide for the Future of City Development……...Page 3Sustainable Transit Practices of Vancouver and their Adaptability…………………….….Page 10Sustainability at a Local Level: Policies and Practices for a Sustainable City…………….Page 14Conclusion……...…………………………………………………………………………..Page 20Bibliography………………………………………………………………………………..Page 21Lane, Queirolo, and Young! Page 2 of 22Vancouver, Canada: An Adaptable Green City for Future PlanningIntroduction: Considered to be a worldwide leader in architecture, land use, urban design, and sustainability, Vancouver, Canada, has successfully integrated all facets of city planning. Recently, Vancouver has attempted to build in a way that reduces energy emissions and ecological impact while ensuring a higher quality of life in a more beautiful city. The projects, programs and the policies that are taking place in Vancouver can provide a framework and resource for the development and redevelopment of cities worldwide. Projects and policies involving the built environment, the development of sustainable transit practices, and sustainability at a local level were researched to examine practices that can provide a framework to other cities.Looking at the Built Environment as a Guide for the Future of City Development: The Vancouver Planning Commission controls urban growth with comprehensive guidelines which specify, in each city zone, the number of affordable, family-friendly units, the number of businesses and when and where to have mixed land use, as well as required building codes. In Vancouver, “buildings are oriented toward the street, and great importance is given to promoting a vibrant street life and amenity-rich urban environment” (Wheeler, 309). Subsequently, Vancouver has implemented a protection for agricultural land in the greater districts of Vancouver thus inhibiting the potential for urban sprawl. The lack of interstate highways also adds to Vancouver’s dense neighborhoods. As a result of having such a strong framework for planning, initiatives such as affordable housing, revitalization projects, parks, recreational facilities, and even bicycle lanes have led to economic development and social Lane, Queirolo, and Young! Page 3 of 22harmony. This revolution in Vancouver urban planning will also be showcased in the future 2010 Olympic Games and may act as a model for cities around the world to follow. This portion of the research paper will cover the most recent projects in Vancouver while explaining the significance of each which can be viewed as a model for future development in cities worldwide. The City of Vancouver owns much of the community in a sense that it owns most of its community centers, theaters, museums, gardens, daycares, sport facilities and so forth. Some of these establishments are directly operated by the city and others are simply put into the management hands of non-for-profit agencies. These institutions are a major asset to the communities they serve and were, due to dilapidation, in major need for upgrading. However, the city did not make any profit from these establishments, and they were short on their financial funds. A seemingly feasible solution was a “Naming Rights Policy,” where buildings and rooms were named after people who made significant monetary contributions (Vancouver, 2007). The City of Vancouver sought to keep these facilities around for the long haul. Consequently, the communities in Vancouver were well informed of the need for renovation and have stepped up to aid in the effort. This planning method exemplifies both the necessity for communication as well as the need for public services available to city residents. In addition to the “Naming Rights Policy,” there is the Carrall Street Initiative. Carrall Street is considered a greenway as well as a popular route for pedestrians. The route will link North False Creek with the Burrard Inlet, completing a seawall loop around Downtown and Stanley Park, while connecting a series of historical sites, plazas and green spaces to Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (Vancouver, 2007). Besides providing a pedestrian and bicycle-friendly environment the city plans on using this greenway for community development, Lane, Queirolo, and Young! Page 4 of 22historical revitalization, and economic amplification. The City of Vancouver has budgeted five million dollars for the Carrall Street Greenway Initiative. Additionally, this project has received financial support from the Vancouver Agreement and local communities as part of the Downtown Eastside Economic Revitalization Plan (Ibid). Consequently, Vancouver is pushing for green communities and business districts, thus supporting sustainable city planning. Vancouver’s Chinatown district, given its cultural and historical significance, is also being targeted as an area of dilapidation. Throughout the last few decades community conflicts, fluctuations in population, and the economic decline of nearby areas has suppressed Chinatown’s potential for success. Today, however, the City of Vancouver has created a proposal for the revitalization of Chinatown in an effort to preserve its heritage while bringing new promising businesses to the area. Though Chinatown is a primary focus, it is one feature of the Downtown Eastside. In its entirety, the Downtown Eastside is one of Vancouver’s oldest districts. Traditionally being a lower-income neighborhood, the Eastside has been challenged by unemployment, drugs, violence, housing shortages, and economic loss. The city is undertaking work with a number of key partners such as the federal and provincial governments through the Vancouver Agreement, the Downtown Eastside community and its adjoining neighborhoods, the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, the Four Pillars Coalition, the National Crime Prevention Strategy, and the


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