Plan It Calgary design tiles

Here are pictures of a few of the map tiles put together at the Plan It Calgary Design Workshop from November 14-15, 2008. The tiles are from across Calgary and are the result of a comprehensive design session featuring city planners, community association members, developers, interested citizens, students, and a few of our very own UrbanCSA members. The goal was to redesign major activity centres throughout the city to accommodate the addition of up to 1.3 million additional citizens in a manner that encouraged density rather than sprawl. Click the thumbnails to see bigger versions!

These tiles will be used by the Plan It Calgary team to form the basis of specific policy recommendations that could potentially allow developments of this type to be created in the city. For more information, visit http://www.calgary.ca/planit.

Derek Pomreinke

PlanIt Calgary Summit: Results on Display

Results from the Plan It Calgary Summit are now available to the public. The 15 map tiles selected for the project feature a collaborative effort by citizens, community association members and participants from the development and home building industry (as well as a few Urban CSA members!) will be on display in the City Hall atrium from 11:00am to 1:30pm Tuesday and Wednesday. Pictures of the finished map tiles will be uploaded shortly.

Also, Dr. Jeff Kenworthy’s presentation for EcoCity 2008 is available on WordPress at the following link, where he talks about Perth, Australia and the challenges and benefits of converting our urban form. This presentation is related to the one given at the summit in Calgary on Nov 14th, which will also be available in the City of Calgary Website.

Jon Gregg

Update

• Our event staff has been finalizing details with the town of Okotoks about taking UrbanCSA members on a tour of the Drake Landing Solar Community. We need to find a date that would work for most members.
• Right now is probably one of the most hectic pats of year for University Calgary Students, so we won’t be doing any projects until the semester is over. But, we are looking for people, who in the near future would be interested in doing projects and presenting them to developers and City of Calgary staff. From personal experience this is a great way to network, have your voice heard and gain practical experience. If you have an idea for a project email us at contact@urbancsa.org
• This week we will try to incorporate “The Polis” website (the old urban studies club) with UrbanCSA.org, so UrbanCSA members will have access to the exam bank and discussion boards.
• On a final note I would just like to say thank you for the incredible amount of people who signed up to be UrbanCSA members (Byron seemed pretty happy).

With your help this group could do amazing things in Calgary. Good luck with your exams and hopefully a few months down the road I will see some of you giving presentations to City Council.     

 Andrew Sedor

Knock, Knock (a letter from an UrbanCSA member to the Calgary Hearld)

Calgary Herald

By: Adam Zendel, Calgary

Published: Tuesday, November 18, 2008

I would support a $25 million bridge if it accessed the mayor’s office window, thereby allowing citizens on fixed incomes to each day pound on the windows and remind Bronco that he must listen to the will of the people.

Jerry pitts, Calgary Saying no to sprawl Re: “Planning for the future citywith a vision,”Nov. 16.

After attending both days of Plan It, I was confused whether Jason Markusoff and I were at the same conference. I have no recollection of anyone defending the suburban lifestyle.

Contribute!

What do you want Calgary to look like in 10 years? Have your say!

 

If you find an interesting urban studies related news story, have an urban studies related project that you are proud of, or have an opinion on any urban issue and want it posted on UrbanCSA.org, please submit it to contact@urbancsa.org.

Info and Membership

Who are we?

UrbanCSA is the Urban Studies Club of the University of Calgary. It is a space for all the students interested in urban issues and the shaping of our city!

Why should I join?

UrbanCSA is a great opportunity to get involved on Campus. We provide sevices such as:

• Urban Studies test bank
• Academic support
• Field trips
• Social events
• Guest speakers
• Working on projects that will gain you planning experience
• Networking
• Giving presentations to the public and private sector
• Meeting students from Urban Studies and other faculties
• A great extracurricular activity to put on your resume

Congratulations!

UrbanCSA is now the official University of Calgary Urban Studies club!  

Developers smooth Plan It wrinkles

Jason Markusoff, Calgary Herald

Published: Saturday, November 01, 2008

Calgary’s property developers and home builders are hailing a revised city growth blueprint that’s not “as scary” as it appeared months ago, when their associations demanded city hall delay its plan so they could lobby for changes.

Two of Calgary’s most influential lobbies — the Urban Development Institute and Canadian Home Builders Association-Calgary Region — had expressed fears that the new land-use and transportation plans under the Plan It Calgary project would choke off expansion of new suburbs and virtually spell the end of the single-family detached house.

But city officials stress that Plan It Calgary will welcome growth on undeveloped land, although future emphasis will remain on population growth in existing neighbourhoods, with less sprawl overall.

Urban Village plan for Brentwood passes 1st hurdle

A model shows the proposed Brentwood Station plan, looking south. (City of Calgary)

 Source: CBC News

City hall wants to build an “urban village” around a northwest C-Train stop, a plan that is unpopular with some of the people living near the transit hub.

Calgary’s planning commission approved the Brentwood Station Area Redevelopment plan Thursday. The plan will now go to council for approval, likely in December.

Drake Landing Solar Community: Review

The Drake Landing Solar Community is a planned neighborhood in Okotoks, Alberta, which succesfully integrates Solar Energy Production, District Heating and Thermal energy storage. Drake Landing Solar Community Website

DLSC Concept

We are prepearing a visit to the site sometime in late November. Please contact us at colin.chapman@urbancsa.org if you are interested in joining us!

Colin Chapman

European Tour: Photos

Dr. Kesik discusses Solar Ready Housing: video

Dr. Ted Kesik, from the University of Toronto, discusses the meaning of Solar Ready.

Solar Ready Housing: Presentation

On October 15th, Andrew Sedor Presented to City of Calgary Council on Solar Ready Housing.

What is a solar ready house?

A solar ready house, in short, is a house that can easily and inexpensively be retrofitted with solar panels or other solar technologies that will maximize the solar efficiency. Solar ready homes do not contain solar panels.

Why do we need solar ready housing?

Because of the relatively expensive price of solar panels, solar power is currently not a viable option for most households. But in a few years, solar power is predicted to be less expensive than other non-renewable forms of energy. When that day comes, households still may have issues converting to solar energy because of roof orientation, shading and the overall construction of their home.

How much does it cost?

Incorporating “solar ready” into a building plan costs around $300. While retrofitting a house for solar can cost thousands of dollars.

Sustainable Suburbs: Presentation

On August 12th 2008, Andrew Sedor presented to City of Calgary staff on sustainable suburbs at the City of Calgary Student conference.

The presentation focuses on sustainable European communities and the policy it took for the communities to exist.  The three communities focused on in the presentation are:

• Vauban, in Freiburg Germany
• Kronsberg, in Hanover Germany
• West Harbor Development, in Malmo Sweden

UrbanCSA – Sustainable Suburbs Presentation – Text

UrbanCSA – Sustainable Suburbs Presentation – Visual