“Where Beverly Hills meets Haiti”

18 12 2010

I found a rather interesting and discouraging series of images courtesy of Google Earth on the Skyscraper City forum that show and depict a rather unexpected aerial view of the class separation in Sao Paulo, Brazil.  The Morumbi neighbourhood, with it’s giant mansions, green yards and swimming pools literally sits next to the dense slums of Paraisopolis (meaning “Paradise Town”).  It is an amazing contrast in a country that currently has one of the largest class divides in the world.  Check out the Skyscraper City thread below:

“Where Beverly Hills meets Haiti”


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The Fall of Niagara Falls, New York

15 12 2010

Niagara Falls, New York

Niagara Falls, Ontario

 

Business Week recently posted an excellent and extensive article on the fall of Niagara Falls, New York.   For the past four decades, Niagara Falls has continued to plummet into ever increasing decline.  The city today has both a high level of crime and a high level of unemployment.   While similar decline has taken place in a large number of rust belt cities throughout the United States, what is most remarkable about Niagara Falls, New York is that it sits beside of the world’s greatest natural wonders (Niagara Falls).  The city is visited by more than 8 million people per year, a number that would generally keep the city’s economy fairly strong, yet the city continues to plummet despite all of these tourists.

What is also remarkable is the success of Niagara Falls, Ontario on the other side of the border.  While Niagara Falls, Ontario still has it’s share of problems, the city’s tourism industry is booming with dozens of hotels and attractions.  Having visited Niagara Falls, Ontario several times, I can tell you that many parts of the city are buzzing throughout the year.  The article provides some excellent insight into how such an odd situation has occurred with regards to the two Niagara Falls cities and why Niagara Falls, New York has consistently struggled throughout the decades.


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What can $300 000 get you in real estate?

2 12 2010

With housing prices still deeply depressed throughout the world, I thought i’d take a look and see what $300 000 could afford someone in several of the major cities around the United States (give or take a thousand dollars or so).  Home prices have dropped considerably in some areas (such as Miami) while staying relatively stable (such as Boston).   The difference in quality might just amaze you!  Note that all these listings are in the city proper.  As well, also note that the listings will likely only be up for a few days or weeks.  Therefore, I created a small description of the property along with the link.

Miami: 3 bedroom, 1 bath single level  detached home. with large front yard  1216 square feet – http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/4465-Southwest-13-Terrace_Miami_FL_33134_M51691-35445

Cleveland: 3 bedroom, 3 bath luxury townhome close to the shore of Lake Erie.  2205 square feet – http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/7420-Goodwalt-Ave_Cleveland_OH_44102_M36987-55595

Boston: 1 bedroom, 1 bath apartment in a late 1800′s condo complex.  380 square feet – http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/60-Myrtle-St-Unit-5_Boston_MA_02114_M43540-59341

San Francisco: Studio apartment with large windows  access to a deck.  531 square feet – http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/83-85-Brady-St-Unit-2_San-Francisco_CA_94103_M29615-58768

Chicago: Two bedroom, 2 bath condo in a highrise complex built in the 70′s and including a communal pool. 1300 square feet – http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1415-North-Dearborn-Street-Unit-11b_Chicago_IL_60610_M87440-01602

Honolulu: 1 bedroom, 1 bath condo in a highrise complex with a view of downtown Honolulu and the ocean.  1000 square feet – http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1221-Victoria-St-Unit-1803_Honolulu_HI_96822_M70822-90298


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Creating New Roads as Easy as Rolling Out a New Carpet?

26 11 2010

Photo courtesy of Inhabit.com

 

The creation and maintenance of traditional asphalt roads has always been both time consuming and expensive.  Recently, the environmental movement has reinstagated  the idea of creating brick roads.  Brick’s are generally durable and aren’t nearly as susceptible to cracks due to freezing and thawing.  Yet, once again, paving the roads would be extremely time consuming.  However, a new machine may change how roads are built throughout cities.  An article at Inhabit.com recently showcased a brick laying machine that literally lays out a brick road on a sand bottom like a carpet.  Crazily enough, the machine isn’t somehow magic, but actually uses gravity to pack the bricks tightly together. With a little more polish, this machine could truly help save a lot of time and money for a city while also being far better for the environment.  Seems like something we truly invest in.


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The Old City versus City Arguments

19 11 2010

When I lived in Melbourne, Australia back in 2006, I was shocked by the intense hatred that many Melbourne residents had for Sydney.  I assumed that since everyone was Australian, they would have pride for the whole country and all the cities in it.  Yet, I discovered that both some Melbournians and Sydneysiders would cringe when I complemented any aspect of the other city.  Of course, this is all human nature and these discussions can be very interesting (as long as they remain civilized).  I have linked many online city versus city discussions below (including the Melbourne versus Sydney one of course).  Check them out and enjoy!

Melbourne versus Sydney

Calgary versus Edmonton

Glasgow versus Edinburgh

Los Angeles versus San Francisco

Shanghai versus Beijing

Stockholm versus Copenhagen versus Oslo versus Helsinki

 

 


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The Fate of Ontario Place

10 11 2010

Photo courtesy of Flickr user Canuck with a camera

 

Most adult Toronto residents view Ontario Place with a true sense of nostalgia.    Over the course of several decades, the inner city theme park delighted visitors with it’s water park, IMAX movies and beautiful lake side views.  However, over the last 5 to 10 years, Ontario Place has begun to lost some of it’s lustre.  Despite decent attendance on the weekends, Ontario Place can often be quite empty throughout the week.   Recently, according to this Toronto Star article, the Provincial Crown corporation has started to look at overhauling the entire Ontario Place complex.  The extremely unfortunate thing is that this may mean that all the buildings currently on the Ontario Place property may be torn down.

The Provincial Crown corporation is looking for ideas to redevelop the site and are hoping to make a decision by 2011.   I have heard rumours of such developments as a high end condo complex and a hotel to accommodate all the convention goers at Exhibition Place.  However, it seems quite alarming (and disheartening) that the idea of simply improving the amusement park hasn’t been considered.  There are many buildings on the site already that are considered an icon of Toronto and to destroy all these buildings seem like a somewhat ludicrous thing to do.    Thus, it seems to make more sense that if they want to make better use of the space, they simply need to improve what they already have.

Ontario Place is an extremely popular spot for families and provides Toronto with a central amusement park for everyone to enjoy.  It is also a cheaper alternative to the overpriced Canada’s Wonderland outside of Toronto.   And it seems that there is a growing community who want to make sure that site of Ontario Place continues to be a place for everyone to enjoy.  I have already found (and joined) a Facebook group entitled ‘Save Ontario Place‘ and I urge those who don’t want to lose this important piece of Toronto to join.  And while I am intrigued to hear all the different proposals, I truly believe the best one is one that improves what is already there and not one that takes away a true piece of Toronto history.


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The City Brand Index

5 11 2010

The City Brand Index found at SimonAnholt.com provide individuals with a chance to find out what ordinary citizens of many different countries think of a large number of world class cities in several categories.

These categories include:

  • Overall Importance
  • Attractiveness
  • Services and accommodation
  • People
  • Liveliness
  • Opportunities

It is an interesting tool and I confess to spending about an hour going through all the different categories.  And while it may come across as nothing more than a little fun, there is some true relevance to the findings.


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How to fix the American housing system

27 10 2010

I came across this Cyburbia forum post which offers several suggestions (some rather radical) on how to fix the current American housing system and the in-affordability and risks associated with it.    As a Canadian, I definitely enjoyed the first suggestion of mirroring our Canadian housing system which limits risk.  While our housing system is far from perfect, the percentage of foreclosures over the past two years is certainly much much lower than in the United States.   Although the rest of the conversation degrades throughout the post, it is refreshing to hear several different well thought out and honest suggestions.  Do I think any of the suggestions have any chance of actually coming true?  Probably not, but it’s not without possibility.  If you’re too lazy to click on the link, i’ve listed the different suggestions below:

1) Mirror the Canadian system

2) Nationalize the mortgage subsidy system

3) Re-examine securitization

4) Limit debt of one home purchase per person

5) Focus on financing landlords rather than homeowners


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Categories : General Thoughts, Opinions

Highlight in Urban Planning: Melbourne’s Southbank District

17 10 2010

 

For many forward thinking cities, it has become quite common practice to take old industrial land and change it into a residential and/or commercial space.  There are literally dozens (maybe even hundreds) of examples of this reuse of land and many have become quite successful.  One of my personal favorites is the Southbank District in Melbourne.  With a location across from downtown on the Yarra River, it seemed that such an area would be a perfect candidate for a change into something more hospitable than the factories that used to reside in it.

Starting in the 90′s and continuing into the new millennium, Melbourne has created the Southbank district to be an exciting, walkable and distinct space.  Southbank is such a success that one could argue that it is one of the most popular areas in the city for both locals and tourists alike.  And with the completion of the Eureka Tower (the tallest skyscraper in the southern hemisphere to the roof), the district finally got it’s most distinct landmark.

Having lived in Melbourne for several months five years ago, I can honestly attest to how successful the transition was.  The Southbank district now houses a massive casino and entertainment complex, several hotels, dozens of shops and restaurants and a performing arts centre.  With all these highlights, it is truly remarkable to think the same space was in disrepair several decades before.


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The Venus Project

8 10 2010

The Venus Project culminates the life long work of industrial designer, social systems engineer, and inventor Jacque Fresco, now age 94 (as of 2010).

The Venus Project presents a bold, new direction for humanity that entails nothing less than the total redesign of our culture. There are many people today who are concerned with the serious problems that face our modern society: unemployment, violent crime, replacement of humans by technology, over-population and a decline in the Earth’s ecosystems.

As you will see, The Venus Project is dedicated to confronting all of these problems by actively engaging in the research, development, and application of workable solutions. Through the use of innovative approaches to social awareness, educational incentives, and the consistent application of the best that science and technology can offer directly to the social system, The Venus Project offers a comprehensive plan for social reclamation in which human beings, technology, and nature will be able to coexist in a long-term, sustainable state of dynamic equilibrium.

Although it appears to be nothing more than a pipe dream, the Venus Project does sound like an interesting project.  It has certainly stimulated some discussion over at Skyscraper City.  The obvious problem with such a concept is the economic impact of it all – it doesn’t make any current economic sense.  If anything, the Venus Project seems to look like the ‘World of Tomorrow’ visions from the 50′s, 60′s and 70′s.  Regardless, some of the photos and renderings of the Venus Project do look stunning and if you take it with a grain of salt (who wouldn’t want some kind of utopia where all our current problems are eliminated?), then it is a cool distraction.  You can check out the Venus Project by clicking on the link below:

The Venus Project Design


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