Are we ready for a revolution? Creating a new future for our Downtowns

Full Panel Transcript

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00:32:28 Canadian Urban Institute: Welcome! Folks, please change your chat settings to “all panelists and attendees” so everyone can see your comments. Attendees: where are you tuning in from today? 00:33:59 Jordan Erasmus: Toronto 00:34:09 Erin Waite: Calgary 00:34:15 Emily McGirr: Ottawa 00:34:49 Michelle Havens: Brantford, Ontario 00:35:28 Jessica Wilczak: London, Ontario, the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak and Attawandaron peoples 00:37:17 Diego Almaraz: Hi from what is known today as Waterloo, ON – land that was granted to the Haudenosaunee of the Six Nations of the Grand River, and are within the territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabe, and Haudenosaunee peoples. 00:37:26 Frank Murphy: Good morning from Nanaimo. 00:38:10 Lisa Landrum: Treaty One Territory, original lands of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and homeland of the Métis Nation (Winnipeg) 00:38:10 Canadian Urban Institute: Connect with our panel: Martine August, Assistant Professor of Planning, University of Waterloo @Martine_August Alkarim Devani, Co-founder, RNDSQR & Co-founder & CSO, CHROMA @DevaniAlkarim https://www.linkedin.com/in/alkarim-devani-45964a24/ Ken Greenberg, Principal, Greenberg Consultants Inc. @KGreenbergTO https://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-greenberg-a8066b/ Michel Lauzon, President and CEO, Laab Collective @MLauzon_LAAB https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellauzon/ 00:41:32 Angela Kiu: Greetings from Calgary!! 00:54:10 Lisa Landrum: Musical Swings: https://www.dailytouslesjours.com/en/work/musical-swings 00:55:30 Lisa Cavicchia: Article about the Calgary guidebook: https://www.sprawlalberta.com/calgary-guidebook-for-great-communities 00:55:57 Lisa Landrum: I swung by once – would be great for Winnipeg 00:57:42 Dunja Lukic: Similar swing idea at the Nobel Lights festival in Stockholm this past winter: https://nobelweeklights.se/installation/sense-light-swing/?lang=en 01:03:09 Angela Kiu: @ken greenberg – totally agree about CBD being obsolete today … 🙂 01:05:13 Angela Kiu: For anywhere to be vibrant 24/7 – we must have residents, mix of uses … amenities to enjoy, hang out. More readily from work to living out our lives, lots of nature and arts!! For all ages! 01:05:25 Angela Kiu: Move readily … 01:05:45 Susan Fletcher: One of the last really social things I did in 2020 was volunteering for the Alszheimer Society Walk for Memories through a couple of kilometers of Toronto’s deserted underground city on a Saturday in February. All those stores, that relied on the people in the offices. 01:06:55 C Kagan: What happened to cities being for people to live, work and play? 01:07:07 Canadian Urban Institute: Reminding attendees to please change your chat settings to “all panelists and attendees” so everyone can see your comments. 01:08:13 ruth mora: But also COVID was a game changer. The ‘needs’ chaged, ergo the spatial needs….and our version of city have to change to adapt. 01:08:16 Laurel Davies Snyder: Great concept @MaryRowe “Reground Downtown” – works on many levels and includes need to address climate crisis by reintegrating natural world into our urban areas. 01:09:23 C Kagan: We really need that regrounding 01:10:05 C Kagan: How can more citizens get involved in taking back our cities? 01:11:20 Susan Fletcher: Main streets only chain stores, etc. AND cannabis stores!! 01:13:52 Laurel Davies Snyder: The “Win This Space” initiative used by many BIAs is an example of this type of thing (on a very small scale) 01:14:17 Angela Kiu: Suggestions – optimize on the Green Line development to initiate redevelopment/revitalization downtown. 01:14:25 ruth mora: Transparency and visibility of actions (speed), so change happens 01:14:35 Martine August: rent control 01:14:37 Laurel Davies Snyder: https://www.ruralontarioinstitute.ca/uploads/userfiles/files/4_0%20Win%20This%20Space.pdf 01:15:01 Angela Kiu: See Chicago’s ETOD Plan … which saw a great Community Trust Agency set up – check it out!! 01:15:07 C Kagan: Some of the issue is the tension between short term and long term planning. It would be so helpful if there was a city planner on the panel. 01:15:24 ruth mora: One of the great outcomes of COVIDwas for examples, bike lanes….40km added in a very short time… positive change fast… 01:16:27 Astra Burka: Greetings from Astra Burka Toronto -Great we are having the conversation…..How can we make all the talk turn into opportunities and action? We should be thinking of Amsterdam Donut Economy as a solution and thinking in circular rather than linear economy to star the ball rolling. 01:17:16 Angela Kiu: Look at YYC’s Green Line website -for procurements, etc … https://www.calgary.ca/transportation/green-line.html 01:19:08 Michael Roschlau: The upcoming vacancy of a central and highly valuable parcel of land in Toronto – two entire city blocks north-west of Bay & Dundas that has occupied the intercity bus terminal – presents a great opportunity to test some of these concepts. 01:20:23 Angela Kiu: Hybridity = adaptable, flexibility, sustainable built form – for evolving uses through the years, decades, centuries … see many of great examples in Europe!! 01:20:28 ruth mora: Collaboration is key 01:22:13 Angela Kiu: Mixed-uses district in YYC is a great inclusive use zone. 01:24:08 Lisa Landrum: https://www.dailytouslesjours.com/en/work/walk-walk-dance 01:27:38 Jessica Wilczak: Yes to public housing! Another issue that Covid has really amplified. 01:28:55 Angela Kiu: @martine august – hear! hear! hear! YES to all devt to include same number of affordable DUs to be incorporated in the new development – and yes @ alkarim devani – totally let all devt led by PEOPLE as key focus!! 01:29:00 Martine August: the innovation will be proper resourcing, rather than withdrawal and retrenchment 01:29:35 Erin Waite: Hear! Hear! on op costs – capital alone is a problem. Maintenance, social supports needed to have healthy, vibrant, accessible communities. 01:29:44 Frank Murphy: Another terrific discussion. Thanks everyone. 01:31:01 Laurel Davies Snyder: Opportunity to reground and recreate cities as places of nature, public space, beauty, art, creativity. 01:31:08 Angela Kiu: @ michel lauzon – yes, absolutely right – have genuinely equitable and inclusive devt!! For all needs, all ages. They say if we design for children in mind, we will get it right for everyone else!! Old, young, with challenges, ethnic diversities!! 01:31:56 Laurel Davies Snyder: Thank you. Another great session. 01:32:01 Angela Kiu: Thanks everyone – must fun session! Have a lovely day! 01:32:05 Lisa Landrum: Great. Thanks! 01:32:06 Micaela Butron: Thank you!