Amenities found in many new urbanist developments,
such as parks and town centres, offer residents a high quality
living experience. However, such amenities also significantly
increase developments costs, which in turn drive up the
cost of homes and compromise affordability.Here are a number
of pictures taken in Canadian new urbanist communities.
|
| |
| Town centres. |
| New urbanism promotes mixed-use
neighbourhoods that offer access to all of life’s daily
necessities within walking distance. However, the costs and
risk associated with commercial developments are a disincentive
for many developers. Only certain new urbanist communities in
Canada have town centres. Higher density housing is usually
concentrated there, as seen here in Cornell (right). |
 |
 |
 |
Garrison Woods, Calgary, AB.
|
McKenzie
Towne, Calgary, AB |
Cornell, Markham, ON. |
| |
| Trees. |
| Trees can be a considerable expense for developers, but this investment contributes enormously to a development's livability and aesthetic appeal. |
 |
 |
 |
| It is sometimes difficult to
ensure their survival, as seen in this picture of the town centre
in McKenzie Towne (Calgary, AB). |
Trees greatly improve a street’s aesthetic quality. In twenty years, the young trees seen here will create a very handsome streetscape in this Garrison Woods neighbourhood (Calgary, AB). |
Garrison Woods developers were careful to preserve existing trees. These mature trees lend this new neighbourhood a lived-in feeling (Calgary, AB). |
| |
| Parks. |
| Public spaces such as parks are important features of New Urbanist communities, and homes will often be centered on them. |
 |
 |
 |
| Cornell, Markham, ON. |
Garrison Woods, Calgary, AB. |
Garrison Woods, Calgary, AB. |
 |
 |
|
| Medium-density homes surround a neighbourhood square in Bois-Franc (Montreal, Quebec). |
The gazebo and clocktower
lend a sense of identity to this public space in McKenzie Towne
(Calgary, Alberta). |
|
| |
| Water
features. |
| BFwaterfeature and MTwaterfeature: Because of the environmental, aesthetic and recreational functions served by water features, developers will often attempt to integrate them into their development. Not only do they provide on-site water sequestration, but they also have the potential to create beautiful park settings perfect for passive recreation. |
 |
 |
|
| Bois-Franc, Montreal, QC. |
McKenzie Towne, Calgary, AB. |
|
| |
| Water fountains. |
| Water fountains are also good locations for passive recreation, as demonstrated by the benches surrounding this fountain in Bois-Franc, Montreal, QC. However, the children playing in this Mackenzie Towne fountain (Calgary, AB) demonstrate that active recreation is also possible. |
 |
 |
|
| Bois-Franc, Montreal, QC. |
McKenzie
Towne, Calgary, AB. |
|
| |
| Monuments. |
| Monuments such as this one commemorate the military heritage of Garrison Woods, which was an army barracks until the 1990s. |
 |
|
|
| Garrison Woods, Calgary, AB. |
|
|
| |
| Branding
features. |
| Branding features such as this sidewalk tile in Angus Glen or this entrance gateway in Cornell are common in New Urbanist communities. They are used both to advertise to potential buyers and to lend a sense of identity to these shiny new suburban communities. The Cathedral in Markham, Ontario, is used to brand the newly developed Cathedral Community, catering to those drawn to a “European-inspired” living experience.
|
 |
 |
 |
| Angus Glen, Markham, ON. |
Cornell, Markham, ON. |
Cathedral Community, Markham, ON. |
