Featured Guest
You’ll find this guest among our growing roll of Urban Champions.
Paul MacKinnon
CEO, Downtown Halifax Business Commission
Andy Fillmore
Member of Parliament for Halifax
5 Key
Takeaways
A roundup of the most compelling ideas, themes and quotes from this candid conversation
1. Engagement must be meaningful
Rodney Small hails from Halifax’s North End, a historically Black neighbourhood undergoing the pressures of gentrification. Small spoke about One North End (O.N.E.), a collective of community leaders dedicated to integrating marginalized voices into the planning process. He calls for the need to create “brave spaces”, settings which allow members of the community to truly speak their mind. This meaningful engagement has resulted in a concept plan for the vacant St. Patrick’s Alexandra School site that is rooted in the needs of the local Black community.
2. “Placemaking is personal”
The planning process calls on planners to be objective, but outcomes will have intimate consequences for the people who ultimately inhabit a space. Jay Pitter calls on the need for “ethical rule breaking.” Rather than ask for permission, placemakers must often move more quickly to action than bureaucracies will allow for. Pitter also stresses that the concept of ‘empowerment’ can be fraught, ignoring the reality that people are inherently powerful. When communities are mobilized, they move faster than bureaucracies.
3. Rebuilding cities is holy work
Albus Brooks invokes the concept of Shalom for rebuilders of the American city. He argues that city-building is holy, and seeks restoration, repair and inclusive prosperity. Brooks details the racist policies underlying the foundation of American cities. The economic uplifting of marginalized communities must go beyond providing entry-level jobs and foster the building of Black and Brown wealth. Inclusive wealth creation and social mobility go hand in hand.
4. The attitudes of today are informed by the biases of the past
Uytae Lee tells the story of Vancouver’s missing middle housing. The zoning ordinance of today’s Vancouver remain virtually unchanged since its introduction in 1930. The creation of single-family residential areas was as much about keeping certain people out as it was about preserving character and built form. According to Lee, in order to create more inclusive cities it helps to identify what exclusion looks like physically and culturally.
5. Focus on people instead of buildings
Kimberly Driggins calls on city builders to recognize their blind spots. Planners, architects and urban designers focus on built form and function, but addressing the challenges facing communities requires more than the skill sets these professions offer. Driggins encourages interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing in experts from fields not traditionally part of the planning spectrum. By bringing in a diverse range of perspectives, innovative thinking can result in out-of-the-box solutions.
Full Panel
Transcript
Note to readers: This video session was transcribed using auto-transcribing software. Manual editing was undertaken in an effort to improve readability and clarity. Questions or concerns with the transcription can be directed to events@canurb.org with “transcription” in the subject line.
Full Audience
Chatroom Transcript
Note to reader: Chat comments have been edited for ease of readability. The text has not been edited for spelling or grammar. For questions or concerns, please contact events@canurb.org with “Chat Comments” in the subject lin
From Canadian Urban Institute: You can find transcripts and recordings of today’s and all our webinars at https://canurb.org/citytalk
00:34:59 Canadian Urban Institute: Welcome! Folks, please change your chat settings to “all panelists and attendees” so everyone can see your comments.
00:35:31 Canadian Urban Institute: The conversations will be saved on www.ArtOfCityBuilding.ca & Art of City Building on YouTube. Thank you for sharing your observations and learnings – we celebrate engagement! #aocb2020
00:36:12 Canadian Urban Institute: Attendees: where are you tuning in from today?
00:36:22 Anna Melendez: Hello from NYC
00:36:33 Margaret Manifold: Burnaby BC
00:36:36 Niko Casuncad: Tkaronto
00:36:39 Maija Merriam: Hello from Ottawa
00:36:48 Rachel Gilbert: East Hants, Nova Scotia
00:36:58 Aimee Gasparetto: Halifax, Nova Scotia
00:37:00 Adele Kalinauckas: London UK
00:37:14 Toby Greenbaum: Hello from sunny Ottawa
00:37:14 Evan Carroll: Halifax, NS
00:37:16 James Glave: Vancouver, BC
00:37:16 Laura Keresztesi: Nogojiwanong/Peterborough Ont.
00:37:21 Morgan Vespa: Hello from Winnipeg, MB – Treaty 1 territory and the homeland of the Metis Nation
00:37:27 Randy Kay: Hamilton, Ontario
00:37:38 Andrew MArtschenko: Greetings from Toronto
00:37:42 Helen Hanratty: Halifax
00:37:48 Leandro Santos: Hello from Mississauga, Ontario
00:37:55 Fredrica Walters: Fredrica – Ajax, Ontario
00:37:58 Ozlem Atalay: Tallahassee, FL
00:38:04 Nic Huige: Hello from Vancouver, BC
00:38:07 Jerrica Gilbert: Hello from Sault Ste Marie, ON!
00:38:11 Uytae Lee: Hey hey hey from Vancouver and Halifax in spirit, dang I miss the east coast so much
00:38:16 Ruby Carrico: Hello from Vancouver. The traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh
00:38:37 Ryan Senechal: was that a paid political ad?
00:38:47 Canadian Urban Institute: Paul Mackinnon https://twitter.com/downtownpaul https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-mackinnon-9ba8155/ Rodney Small Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gW8K-9kB1rM https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodney-small-84402b56/ Jay Pitter https://twitter.com/Jay_Pitter Albus Brooks https://twitter.com/AlbusBrooks https://www.linkedin.com/in/albus-brooks-m-b-a-34355631/ Uytae lee https://twitter.com/uytaelee https://www.linkedin.com/in/uytae-lee-91430363/ Kimberly Driggins https://twitter.com/Driggs16DC https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlydriggins/
00:39:02 Lester Brown: Hello from Toronto, Thank you for these interesting and educational sessions.
00:39:09 Beth McMahon: Hello from the unsurrendered land of the Algonquin, Anishinabek (Ottawa) and the Canadian Institute of Planners!
00:39:51 Gary Pieters: Hello Everyone, We are following and live twittering on twitter @antiblackracis1
00:39:51 Annalisa Raymer: Greetings from the Finger Lakes region from Annalisa at Cornell U in Ithaca, NY.
00:39:59 Uytae Lee: You’re too humble Paul, thanks for the intro!
00:40:17 Diego Almaraz: hi from Waterloo, Ontario – territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabe, and Haudenosaunee peoples
00:40:32 Mary Corley: Hello from Oakland, California, USA
00:40:55 Purshottama Reddy: Hello, from Durban, South Africa and Toronto, Canada – looking forward to this session.
00:41:27 reg nalezyty: hi from Thunder Bay
00:41:58 Diego Almaraz: attendees from the US: random question – are land acknowledgments prevalent in the US as they are now here in Canada?
00:43:13 Ryan Craven: I live near the forks of the Deshkan Ziibiing.
00:43:22 Chas Wagner: good question @diego. not as prevalent in my circles. for context, based in Pittsburgh, PA.
00:43:29 Lester Brown: From the unceded territory of the Mississauga of the Credit. Toronto.
00:43:52 Diego Almaraz: thanks @Chas
00:44:45 Uytae Lee: wow
00:44:45 Andy Fillmore: Hi Elizabeth. Great question, “What is placemaking?” Here’s a great definition from the Project for Public Spaces: https://www.pps.org/article/what-is-placemaking
00:45:03 Irena Kohn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDXeIFC-ieo
00:45:18 Irena Kohn: RDS vs. A Story of Race and Justice
00:45:38 Annalisa Raymer: @Diego, when I lived in Alaska, I saw it to be very prevalent (2007-2009). Here in the Finger Lakes of NY, it is not exactly unusual, but neither is it common.
00:45:52 Diego Almaraz: thanks @Annalisa! interesting
00:46:16 Mary Huang: so Halifax looking seriously at Community Benefits Agreement?
00:46:36 Mary Huang: I am part of LeBreton Flats Community Benefits Coalition in Ottawa
00:46:53 Mary Huang: https://cbaforlebretonflats.ca/petition/
00:46:58 Anna Melendez: @Diego I agree with both @Chas and @Annalisa. In NYC where I live it is not very common
00:47:24 Mary Huang: please sign the petition if you agree with what we are asking for
00:48:10 Annalisa Raymer: @Mary Huang, what petition?
00:48:46 Annalisa Raymer: Found it.
00:49:10 Ozlem Atalay: hi @Diego, this is recently published at FSU-https://arthistory.fsu.edu/land-acknowledgment-about/, but haven’t heard much around me in practice yet…
00:53:11 Paul Mackinnon: Great info. Please keep comments and questions (for panel discussion) coming!
00:56:29 Canadian Urban Institute: Reminding attendees to share their comments and questions with panelists and attendees. Thanks!
00:57:10 Purshottama Reddy: A question for Rodney :
00:57:57 Chris Chopik: I am interested to understand what the successful nudges were in the conversations with your engagements. Was there any specific language or approach to Which constituents responded positively?
00:59:35 Purshottama Reddy: My apologies : Question for Rodney : what were the challenges experienced in engaging the local Black communities; and how was this addressed ?
01:00:16 Canadian Urban Institute: Folks, please change your chat settings to all panelists and attendees.
01:03:30 Farhana Abutalib: How will the proposed retail space be made more available to Black Nova Scotian business owners?
01:03:30 TJ Maguire, AoCB: Rodney Small
Acting Director, One North End Community Economic Development Society and Founding Partner of Ascension Grooming Dal
Documentary – RDS vs. A Story of Race and Justice (22min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gW8K-9kB1rM
One North End Community Benefit Agreement (downloads):
https://waterfrontdevtcorp-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/tj_maguire_developns_ca/EkBQlKsTZzlHiRluiD9THpsB_BFv7Osbr0VJ2DgSm4ZZWw?e=bfD3EF
One North End (Website)
https://www.onenorthend.ca
ONE North End Startup & Training Program (NEST)
https://www.onenorthend.ca/nest
ONE Community Fund
https://www.onenorthend.ca/onecommunityfund
01:03:40 Chelsey Andrews: Rodney- you said this design and engagement process was 6 year in the making… do you think there is any way to do this as authentically and as completely- but in a shorter amount of time?
01:04:16 Uytae Lee: Thanks so much Rodney, what a fascinating presentation. I remember all the discussions around the St. Pat’s Alexandria site when I used to live in Halifax. Really cool to see how the project has evolved since then
01:05:13 Asa Kachan: Thanks for your vision and leadership Rodney!
01:05:18 Mary Huang: leBreton Flats community benefit coalition peotition
01:06:06 Chris Rootsaert: In terms of the physical accessibility of these spaces and designs are their any individuals with disabilities consulted to help ensure proper barrier-free features?
01:10:22 Chelsey Andrews: Thank you Rodney. I really appreciate your passion- best of luck!
01:14:56 Sharon Ishimwe: PREACH!
01:18:37 Aimée González Ferriol: What’s the difference between ethical rule-breaking and civil disobedience? Thanks
01:27:00 Chelsey Andrews: Jay- how do we do the right thing when there never seems to be enough money? do we just go for it and make the rest of it happen by sheer force and passion?
01:27:02 Toby Greenbaum: great example of taking personal responsibility that Tamika Butler talked about this morning. Bravo
01:27:19 Faryal Diwan: That was really inspiring Jay!
01:27:24 Uytae Lee: Thanks so much Jay, huge admirer of the work you do 🙂
01:27:25 Leandro Santos: Thank you Jay!
01:27:29 Diego Almaraz: that was absolutely amazing
01:27:31 Nemoy Lewis: Love it Jay!!
01:27:32 ylana luigi: wonderful experience
01:27:54 Canadian Urban Institute: Reminding everyone to please change your chat settings to all panelists and attendees. Everyone wants to see your comments!
01:27:56 Nic Huige: Thank you Jay, that was an awesome learning experience!
01:28:07 Jackson Chabot: Thanks Jay!
01:28:33 Maija Merriam: Thanks Jay, that was inspirational!
01:28:41 Leandro Santos: Yup
01:28:42 Uytae Lee: yep!
01:28:45 Toby Greenbaum: yes
01:31:11 Angela Koh: Thank you for shifting the conversation so powerfully! I think you just articulated so well in that slide why I cringing a tad when someone talks about empowerment. Let’s be unapologetic about doing things differently 🙂
01:35:09 ylana luigi: but how we address those who insist that talking about colonialism and 400 years of history didn’t actually recognize. the fact that that history shaped out present social structure
01:47:49 Uytae Lee: Thanks Albus!!
01:48:13 Chelsey Andrews: Excellent- thank you for sharing Albus
01:48:22 Alexandra Lambropoulos: Thank you!
01:49:03 Mariela Alfonzo: Awesome, as always, Albus! 🙂
01:49:09 Constantina Douvris: Thank you Albus. i am inspired.
01:49:43 Andréa Callà: Thank you Albus – wonderful work, very inspirational!
01:49:47 Rose Nixon: These speakers, so far have been awesome. Some interesting perspectives and love the historic thread of why we are here in terms of urban communities but also the innovative views of where were are going towards better community planning.
01:55:44 Ruby Carrico: Planning memes are niche. Great job!
01:59:51 Lester Brown: Montreal was a bit of an exception to the ban on tenement and apartment houses. They allowed space for new immigrants to mix with older residents.
02:02:30 Lester Brown: What about Strathcona? it appears to have a mix.
02:05:05 Ozlem Atalay: @Uytae hi-thanks for the presentation! Do urban planning documents also have the definition of “family”?
02:05:39 Neelu Mehta: Excellent presentation and detailed information 🙂
02:05:57 Lester Brown: BC is lucky in that you don’t have an LPAT (formerly OMB) like in Ontario.
02:08:04 Tom Yarmon: excellent and relevant presentation. We are going through the same “missing middle” or yellow zone conversation now in Toronto, including Don Mills where I am active in our local community group. We have see these “grand bargains” also, including the start of development at “Celestica” the former IBM property into a community of eventually 15,000 people, and high rise condos in the old Don Mills shopping centre (now known as the Shops at Don Mills)
02:08:10 Ai Lim: excellent presentation, Uytae
02:08:19 Byung Jun Kang: Good job!
02:08:33 Leah Fulton: Great presentation!
02:08:44 Lester Brown: What are thoughts on City plan for allowing multi unit (I beaffordable.lieve 6 units on these single family lots with, I believe, two being
02:08:54 Kourosh Rad: Well done, Uytae!
02:08:59 Jay Pitter: Yaaasss sista!!!!
02:09:13 Jay Pitter: Kim D!!!
02:09:25 Andréa Callà: Thank you Uytae, interesting historical perspective.
02:09:41 David Crenna: Terrific presentation! Like you said, it helps a lot to see what it all looks like!
02:09:48 bill campbell: Well done Uytae!! Great to see and hear from you.
02:10:01 Rose Nixon: Great info and insight Uytae
02:10:11 Alexandra Lambropoulos: Great presentation! Thank you Uytae!
02:10:41 Lester Brown: Yes, thank you Uytae, great presentation.
02:10:49 TJ Maguire, AoCB: Thank you Kimberly! So thankful you could make this work. Can’t wait!
02:15:55 Hana A: Insightful presentation Uytae, thank you!
02:21:13 Rose Nixon: yes Kimberly. Planning for people not buildings
02:21:28 Margarita Pacis: I love to idea of co-creating with community. Would love to learn how to balance co-creation with those already living in a community with co-creating with and for folks who might not have access to that community! (thinking of Vancouver’s single-family zones that Uytae mentioned)
02:24:04 Albus Brooks: “Humility” we need a lot more of that as City RE-Builders. Thanks Kimberly
02:33:15 Purshottama Reddy: A very interesting local case – study.
02:39:03 Canadian Urban Institute: These conversations will be saved on www.ArtOfCityBuilding.ca & Art of City Building on YouTube. Thank you for sharing your observations and learnings – we celebrate engagement! #aocb2020
02:39:25 Canadian Urban Institute: Keep the conversation going #AoCB2020 @AoCB2020
02:40:08 David Crenna: Kimberly’s pragmatic approach is very refreshing!
02:43:05 Canadian Urban Institute: Paul Mackinnon https://twitter.com/downtownpaul https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-mackinnon-9ba8155/ Rodney Small Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gW8K-9kB1rM https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodney-small-84402b56/ Jay Pitter https://twitter.com/Jay_Pitter Albus Brooks https://twitter.com/AlbusBrooks https://www.linkedin.com/in/albus-brooks-m-b-a-34355631/ Uytae lee https://twitter.com/uytaelee https://www.linkedin.com/in/uytae-lee-91430363/ Kimberly Driggins https://twitter.com/Driggs16DC https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlydriggins/
02:43:51 ylana luigi: thank you all of you for your work and sharing so many excellent ideas and results!!!
02:44:24 Lisa Ditschun: This session has been incredible. Thank you to this exceptional panel – can’t wait to hear more and hope to meet you in person.
02:44:56 Anna Melendez: Incredible panel! Thank you all
02:45:03 Canadian Urban Institute: Thank you for participating in today’s Art of City Building conference! We hope you are enjoying the program. Please follow along on Twitter and Instagram @AoCB2020 and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AoCB2020.
02:48:08 Faryal Diwan: Thank you!
02:48:11 Maria Bravo: Thank you all!
02:48:18 Alexandra Lambropoulos: Thank you to all!
02:48:20 ella gindi: Thank you all!
02:48:23 Chelsey Andrews: Thank you to all the panelists! Amazing
02:48:26 Neelu Mehta: Thank you all 🙂
02:48:27 Cheryl Evans: Amazing. Thank you!
02:48:29 Lisa Chong: Thanks! So insightful
02:48:34 Chris Rootsaert: Great presentations, thanks all!
02:48:35 Heather Majaury: Thank you wonderful.
02:48:37 reg nalezyty: a wow afternoon
02:48:41 Olusola Olufemi: Thank you. Very informative session.
02:48:43 Jerrica Gilbert: Thank you presenters!
02:48:44 ylana luigi: wonderful and inspiring
02:48:45 Rose Nixon: Excellent. This was a great presentation.
02:48:46 Lester Brown: Thanks, a great discussion.
02:48:50 Faryal Diwan: Some truly inspiring speakers 🙂
02:49:00 Ozlem Atalay: thank you!
02:49:06 Leandro Santos: Thank you all for sharing your perspectives
02:49:07 Nic Huige: Thank you, all inspiring presentations!
