Urban Strategies Inc.

Last year I had another incredible journey, teaching from one coast Department of Geography and Planning University of Toronto to another coast Vancouver Island University. Both design studios held their own magic, and every student brought their unique urban design perspective to the table. To all the bright minds I had the honour to guide, thank you for inspiring me with your curiosity, creativity, and determination. Your passion for learning and design has reminded me why I started this journey in the first place and how future of our communities are in great hands!

Bringing more homes to Port Credit. UrbanToronto.ca profiles our recent site plan approvals resubmission for this key waterfront site, the former Imperial Oil on Port Credit's waterfront. The revitalization seeks to transform the industrial site into a vibrant, mixed-use, sustainable urban community and an important and animated addition to the Port Credit experience. We are proud to be leading the master planning and approvals strategy for this ambitious project, working with Giannone Petricone Associates Inc. Architects. Kilmer Group, Dream Unlimited, DiamondCorp, FRAM + Slokker, and Slokker Homes,  https://lnkd.in/g9HKUYns

We are delighted to announce that Downsview is a finalist in the 2024 AZ Awards for Design Excellence in the Urban Design - Unbuilt Development Projects category. Voting for the People's Choice award is open now in all categories! https://lnkd.in/fYrkb4R AZURE Media Northcrest Developments Canada Lands Company / Société Immobilière du Canada Henning Larsen SLA KPMB Architects

Had fun today creating this prize-winning (note the socks) plan-by-lego creation with Aimee Powell, Andria Leigh, MCIP, RPP, Dipl.M.M., Brandon Sloan and Grant Munday at the Ontario Professional Planners Institute Connective conference!

Join us on May 10th for a day in Hamilton! We will explore a new community hub proposed in the iconic Coppley Building, new institutional and affordable housing projects in the city’s Downtown along the future LRT line, and the ongoing revitalization and heritage preservation of Gore Park. Urban Strategies is a proud sponsor of this ULI Toronto event.

It is an honour to recieve this National award!

We are honoured to be among the winners of the 2024 National Urban Design Awards for the Downsview Framework Plan, working with Henning Larsen, KPMB Architects, and SLA for Northcrest Developments and Canada Lands Company / Société Immobilière du Canada. The honour is bestowed by RAIC - IRAC Canadian Institute of Planners Canadian Society of Landscape Architects. Jury comments: Converting one of the largest contiguous spaces in Toronto into a nature-first community is ambitious. The 520-acre brownfield area comes with a strong history of an airport and requires a thoughtful re-integration of the city fabric across the lands. An ambitious goal that has been crafted by input from citizens, it is an example of how sustainable development can occur. Big ideas and aspirations are well bundled into this master plan with a strong focus on nature in the city. The plan focuses on six fundamental principles: nature, equity, accessibility, people, sustainable development, and transit proximity.  The framework plan demonstrates good analysis of the site and its context. The plan aims to incorporate sustainable principles, connect to its surroundings, integrate public transit into its design, and create walkable communities. This project is a demonstration of how a once-negative industrial site can be transformed into a valuable resource for future generations and should be used as an example for other municipalities. https://lnkd.in/gsXrbjXt

Congratulations to our latest Registered Professional Planner!

"The new building will be owned and operated by York Region’s housing corporation, Housing York Inc., the largest community housing provider in the region. York Region has indicated that approximately 70 per cent of the housing units proposed will be affordable rentals (approximately 107 of the 153 units). The remaining 30 per cent will be market rental units." NRU Publishing Inc. 's Matt Durnan profiles our approvals project for Housing York Inc., providing affordable units in City of Markham.  Stephen Lue and Gabriel Wong provided commentary on this important initiative.