I recognize that we all like to apply labels to categorize things, as shorthand in communication and in conversation, and to identify common views and beliefs. I do it myself; we all do: labels are our everyday metaphors. They are fast and easy shortcuts. But I weary at times of
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Things Are Good: Copenhagen Designed a Neighbourhood to Cope With Climate Change
Climate change is happening faster than projected and this means that cities need to react sooner than anticipated. We’ve seen efforts in New York that will create barriers against rising sea levels and other cities have done similar infrastructure improvements. Copenhagen has taken the next logical step: converting an existing
Continue readingThings Are Good: Keep Your Brain Healthy by Living in Walkable Neighbourhoods
Just when you think there couldn’t be more reasons to live in and build walkable communities another one pops up. We already know that walkable communities are safer, more environmentally healthy, and better for everyone’s health. We can now add to that list that walkable places are good for keeping
Continue readingMelissa Fong: Vancouver Downtown Eastside Local Area Plan- Speaker #55
…when you have an extensive plan that guarantees redevelopment and insertion of new and desirable market rate housing, you are planning the upclassing of a neighbourhood. The DTES has staved off gentrification forces as much as it has because it is has been safeguarded for the poor. The redevelopment of
Continue readingCarbon49 - Sustainability for Canadian businesses: How Small Green Team Can Transform Large Corporation
Small green teams tasked with transforming large corporations, governments, cities, and neighborhoods face some tough challenges. TD Bank’s three-person green team employed a range of strategies to inject sustainability thinking into 27,000 employees dispersed in 1,300 locations. I find four of their tactics very smart and can be readily adapted
Continue readingMelissa Fong: The demise of the Annex: Westbank bought Honest Ed site
I don’t know why this news induces both laughter and sadness in me. There’s a salty pool of tears collected by irony. Honest Eds is possibly one of the most iconic buildings, business and site in Toronto (Top 5, easily, gaining much more fondness than that phallic “free-standing” structure by
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