Planning Session Number 9 - Housing
I thought Rick Hulbert gave a fantastic presentation tonight. There were some compelling examples of housing types that could work very effectively on the Southlands.
I was particularly interested in the idea of volume being factored in to density calculations. I also enjoyed the fruit photo analogy where 6 watermellons used as much space as 275 blueberrys.Rick Hulbert Presentation Interesting stuff. Any comments from the SCPT?
Comments
Creemore's development issues
I'm from Ontario and live near a small, heritage town called Creemore. It is surrounded by rolling hills and pastures, and is home to 1,500 people. There is a developer who wants to double the town's population with one development. There is also a group of people who oppose that development.
I know someone on your planning team and she told me about what you are doing in Tsawwassen. This is a brilliant model that I think could be used by the group of community members in Creemore who are opposing the development. Maybe they can approach the developer and use your model to get both parties what they want, but not destroy what is precious to the people of the town, or overload their infrastructure. What's interesting to me also is that your developer began the process, but that the community (and other communities) can take it over to get what they want.
I have forwarded your website to this group. It is a very novel idea that I have not seen anywhere before. I will be watching your website (as will others) for details on how our community members might be able to use a model like this to their advantage.
Phyl
Creemore
Thanks Phyl. We feel we have a unique opportunity to affect change in our community and are proud of our process and in our ability to work with the landowner Mr. Sean Hodgins.
Are there plans in place in your community or is it subject to local government approval? Do you have your own local Government? Please feel free to share any info and we look forward to keeping you informed as we move along.
SCPT
Rick Huber Presentation
I found a lot to like in Rick's presentation. Clearly, he and his close colleagues have a lot of talent and appear to be in touch with leading-edge architecture concepts. Like Michael, I liked the 'fruit' image to convey the idea of mixed densities. It would have been useful to have a broader cross-section of illustrations of density, e.g. other architects' projects, that applied more specifically to the particulars of the Southlands site. On the whole, a good intro to the idea of density and how it's neither good nor evil in itself.
Housing Presentation by Hulbert
What I found interesting was that there were no models presented that were examples of agriculture integrated with housing, for example with small, sustainable farms on-site (though the CA one with the vineyards had some similarities). I'd be interested in exploring this further, to learn where this has been done successfully, what are the models, challenges, etc.
Carla