#urban-density

#urban-density

This has been a generational mistake. Transit makes it possible to capture the benefits of density - a diversified economy and thriving neighborhoods - while mitigating the bad stuff, namely congestion and its attendant maladies: pollution, car crashes, injuries, fatalities, property damage, noise, road repairs, and more. Any city that hopes to grow its tax base by adding population and jobs without expanding its physical footprint needs a high-capacity transit system that enables anywhere-to-anywhere connectivity without succumbing to density's negative attributes.

"We must build more housing, faster, because building more homes means life can be more affordable," said Mayor Olivia Chow at a news conference announcing details of the plan Thursday. The plan, which would require council to approve bylaw changes, could lead to the building of about 1.5 million homes, according to the province. That could include 53,000 affordable homes, Chow said.

The province has approved a plan for Toronto to allow higher and denser buildings near transit stations, which will enable the creation of 1.5 million homes over 25 years.

As the competition for urban space intensifies, the public realm has seen a shift in its uses and social significance, reflecting evolving patterns of living and travel.