Building the Perfect City
Stealing from the best to make Toronto better
Imagine a Toronto with a free transit system or enough affordable housing to meet the needs of low income families. Could Toronto eliminate garbage destined for landfills, or daily gridlock or child care waiting lists? In cities around the world, innovative programs – both public and private – are having transformative results for communities. Why not take from the best and apply them to our own city to improve the quality of life for all Torontonians? Here are just a few innovative programs that Catalyst found.
Inclusive Housing
San Francisco has passed a new housing rule that requires developers to sell or rent more new units at below-market rates or pay higher fees to the city. Developers must allocate 15 per cent of units to affordable housing (20 per cent if the affordable units are constructed at another location.) Previously, the numbers were 12 and 17 per cent, respectively. The City Planning Department estimates that 2,000 affordable units are already in the pipeline under the old rules, adding to the 550 that have been constructed since 1992, when the requirements first went on the books. If a developer chooses to build lower-income units off site and away from their new market-rate development, the law requires that the affordable units be located within a mile of the project—often a challenge in a tight housing market. Developers who choose not to build affordable housing at all pay a fee that the city distributes to nonprofit, affordable and low-income housing developers.
Cool Roofs
On hot summer days, cities can be up to eight degrees Fahrenheit hotter than their surroundings because large amounts of paved and dark colored surfaces absorb the sun's heat. This leads to poorer air quality in cities, intensified heat waves, risks to public health, higher energy usage and global warming. California Energy Commission's Cool Roof Retrofit Program offers rebates to building owners, property managers, schools and public entities that re-roof using "cool products". Rebates range from 5 to 15 cents per square foot of new roofing, depending on existing roof and ceiling insulation. The City of Los Angeles is matching these rebates with an additional 50 per cent of the state rebate per square foot.
Earthworks Urban Farm
Detroit's EarthWorks Garden started in 1999 as a partnership between the Capuchin Soup Kitchen and Gleaners Community Food Bank. Now on three-quarters of an acre of land on three plots with a greenhouse, EarthWork's primary goal is the education of area school children on the subjects of science, nutrition and biodiversity of organic agriculture. The project yields fresh produce to benefit the Soup Kitchen's daily meals and other programs. The land produces berry, grape, asparagus and open pollinated vegetable crops. EarthWorks also owns a honeybee apiary and a composting site. Compostable material is collected weekly from the Soup Kitchen, Starbucks coffee shops, Avalon Bakery and sometimes from the Food Bank, providing compost for field bedding.
Parking Cash-Out Program
California's parking cash-out program requires employers who provide subsidized parking to their employees to offer a similar cash allowance to employees in lieu of a parking space. The intent of the law is to reduce vehicle commute trips and emissions by offering employees the option of "cashing out" their subsidized parking space and taking transit, biking, walking or carpooling to work. A University of California report studied eight organizations that implemented the program and revealed that it reduced total vehicle emissions for commuting by 12 percent. Solo driving to work fell by 17 percent while carpooling increased by 64 percent. Transit ridership also increased by 50 percent and walking and bicycling increased by 33 percent.
Housing Sales Help Meet Homeless Needs
Lennar Corp., one of the largest builders in the U.S., requires homebuyers in parts of Florida and California to pay a purchase fee that is donated to local housing organizations to help transitional homeless, such as workers who have lost their jobs or abused women living in shelters. The fee of one-twentieth of one percent of the purchase price is added to the purchase price. For a $500,000 house, the amount collected from a buyer is $250. Making the required contribution even more unusual is that legal documents require future owners to also pay the fee over the lifetime of the Lennar home. This year the foundation should collect $1.5 million, an increase of over $700,000 from last year.
London Environmental Zone
London, England's city core, one square mile in which 140,000 people work each day, has been deemed an Environmental Zone to ease the traffic congestion. Nineteen full street closures, three half closures, seven new one-way streets, two banned turns and two streets with access restricted to certain classes of vehicle have reduced access into the zone for general traffic. Pollution levels have reduced by 15 per cent, pedestrian accidents by 39 per cent and significantly quieter traffic (approximately 30 per cent) are some of the significant benefits of the zone.
Adelaide's Green City Initiative
With support from the state and local government, the city of Adelaide in Australia is striving to be recognized as a green city by 2010. A number of projects are currently underway to reach this goal. More than 900 people have registered for the Active Adelaide program, which encourages people to leave cars at home and cycle to work. A discounted bicycle, free Green City jersey, access to secure parking, shower facilities and training sessions on bike safety are just some of the incentives to join the program. Solar panels have been installed in a number of public buildings and parks, which generate clean solar electricity. Twelve solar lights were also installed in a city square in September 2005. The lighting system produces and sends electricity to the power grid during the day when the demand is high from industries and air conditioning. At night the electricity grid powers the solar lights. In addition, t he South Australian government has committed to planting three million trees around the state,100,000 of which will be in the Adelaide Park Lands. To date 75,000 shrubs, trees and grasses have been planted.
Affordable Housing Training
EmPOWERment, Inc. of North Carolina is a non-profit organization helping to build stronger communities through affordable housing, community organizing and grassroots economic development. One of its goals is expanding homeownership opportunities. Through its Preservation Housing program, the agency rehabilitates homes and sells them at an affordable rate. The majority of the purchasers are first-time, low-income homebuyers that EmPOWERment has helped prepare for home ownership through its Community Homebuyers Club. The club includes eight classes providing guidelines on purchasing a first home, and free, unlimited one-on-one sessions with housing counsellors to discuss budgeting, saving for a down payment, closing costs and dealing with emergencies after homeownership. EmPOWERment Inc.'s Affordable Rental program also rehabilitates and rents apartment units and homes at subsidized rates.
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