Greyfield redevelopment in the Greater Toronto area: strategies to overcome barriers

In 2006, the introduction of the Places to Grow Act required municipalities to meet a 40% intensification target through infill development. This has transformed the development industry as many underutilized sites, such as Greyfields, are prime locations for mixed-use and densification. Although many developers have not harnessed the potential of Greyfield redevelopment as barriers exist, which has led to continued Greenfield development and urban sprawl. This paper, through a literature review, case study analysis, and key informant interviews, examines existing barriers to Greyfield redevelopment. Findings from the study were than applied to a Greyfield site that has immense opportunity for redevelopment. A preliminary site plan proposal and recommendations are presented to illustrate strategies that should be adopted to ensure successful redevelopment.

Greyfield redevelopment in the Greater Toronto area: strategies to overcome barriers

In 2006, the introduction of the Places to Grow Act required municipalities to meet a 40% intensification target through infill development. This has transformed the development industry as many underutilized sites, such as Greyfields, are prime locations for mixed-use and densification. Although many developers have not harnessed the potential of Greyfield redevelopment as barriers exist, which has led to continued Greenfield development and urban sprawl. This paper, through a literature review, case study analysis, and key informant interviews, examines existing barriers to Greyfield redevelopment. Findings from the study were than applied to a Greyfield site that has immense opportunity for redevelopment. A preliminary site plan proposal and recommendations are presented to illustrate strategies that should be adopted to ensure successful redevelopment.

Analyzing the effect of mid-rise development on retail vibrancy in the Beach

In order to meet provincially-mandated growth targets, the City of Toronto has embraced mid-rise infill development along transit-supported avenues as the preferred approach to intensification and reurbanization. In the Beach neighbourhood, growing development pressure along Queen Street East within the Woodbine Beach Precinct has resulted in a departure from fine grain retail, which is still prominent in the eastern part of the neighbourhood. Using a set of key retail vibrancy indicators, this study explores how this new built form is affecting retail businesses on an important historic main street. Implications regarding the existing retail planning approach are discussed, as well as recommendations for strengthening city-wide retail policy, and in turn retail vibrancy in the Beach neighbourhood. Keywords: retail vibrancy, main street, fine grain, mid-rise, retail development, Toronto

Analyzing the effect of mid-rise development on retail vibrancy in the Beach

In order to meet provincially-mandated growth targets, the City of Toronto has embraced mid-rise infill development along transit-supported avenues as the preferred approach to intensification and reurbanization. In the Beach neighbourhood, growing development pressure along Queen Street East within the Woodbine Beach Precinct has resulted in a departure from fine grain retail, which is still prominent in the eastern part of the neighbourhood. Using a set of key retail vibrancy indicators, this study explores how this new built form is affecting retail businesses on an important historic main street. Implications regarding the existing retail planning approach are discussed, as well as recommendations for strengthening city-wide retail policy, and in turn retail vibrancy in the Beach neighbourhood. Keywords: retail vibrancy, main street, fine grain, mid-rise, retail development, Toronto

Trying to Smart-In-Up and Cleanup Our Act by Linking Regional Growth Planning, Brownfields Remediation, and Urban Infill in Southern Ontario Cities

The reuse of brownfields as locations for urban intensification has become a core strategy in government sustainability efforts aimed at remediating pollution, curbing sprawl and prioritizing renewal, regeneration, and retrofitting. In Ontario, Canada’s most populous, industrialized, and brownfield-laden province, a suite of progressive policies and programs have been introduced to not only facilitate the assessment and remediation of the brownfields supply, but to also steer development demand away from peripheral greenfields and towards urban brownfields in a manner that considers a wider regional perspective. This article examines the character and extent of brownfields infill development that has taken place in three Ontario cities (Toronto, Waterloo, and Kingston) since the provincial policy shift in the early 2000s. Using property assessment data and cleanup records, the research finds that redevelopment activity has been extensive in both scale and character, particularly in Toronto where the real estate market has been strong. While the results are promising in terms of government efforts to promote smarter growth that builds “in and up” instead of out, they also reveal that government could be doing more to facilitate redevelopment and influence its sustainability character, particularly in weaker markets.

Trying to Smart-In-Up and Cleanup Our Act by Linking Regional Growth Planning, Brownfields Remediation, and Urban Infill in Southern Ontario Cities

The reuse of brownfields as locations for urban intensification has become a core strategy in government sustainability efforts aimed at remediating pollution, curbing sprawl and prioritizing renewal, regeneration, and retrofitting. In Ontario, Canada’s most populous, industrialized, and brownfield-laden province, a suite of progressive policies and programs have been introduced to not only facilitate the assessment and remediation of the brownfields supply, but to also steer development demand away from peripheral greenfields and towards urban brownfields in a manner that considers a wider regional perspective. This article examines the character and extent of brownfields infill development that has taken place in three Ontario cities (Toronto, Waterloo, and Kingston) since the provincial policy shift in the early 2000s. Using property assessment data and cleanup records, the research finds that redevelopment activity has been extensive in both scale and character, particularly in Toronto where the real estate market has been strong. While the results are promising in terms of government efforts to promote smarter growth that builds “in and up” instead of out, they also reveal that government could be doing more to facilitate redevelopment and influence its sustainability character, particularly in weaker markets.

Revitalization of property asset on the Dumilah Waterpark through the infill development of new activities

Property assets owned by the city government should provide high benefits as a source of regional income. The asset is aging so that its productivity will decrease. The government is trying to revitalize assets to make them more productive. The purpose of this study is to determine the best utilization that can provide the highest benefit. The method used to assess the development of these assets is through the high best use approach. Several alternatives to the use of assets compared with the analysis of financial feasibility include the calculation of IRR, NPV, PP, ROI. The utilization of property assets that is more profitable for landowners, based on the results of the FGDs that have been carried out there is an opportunity to build a supporting facility for the development of Dumilah Water Park as a Hotel and Convention Hall. Both of these facilities have considerable economic appeal to support the function of the city of Madiun as a center for trade and services on a regional scale. Based on the calculation of financial feasibility at Dumilah Water Park with an initial investment amount of Rp. 60,354,000,000.00 then the Net Present Value is obtained of Rp. 6,258,119. Likewise, the Internal Rate of Return was obtained at 11.41%, greater than the 10% interest rate. Meanwhile, the Payback Period of this investment is 8 years with an ROI of 10%.