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World Wide Wednesday: Train stations, squatting and digital cities

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Each week we will be focusing on blogs from around the world dealing specifically with urban environments. We’ll be on the lookout for websites outside the country that approach themes related to urban experiences and issues in Toronto.

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• Wired UK recently ran a fascinating series on ‘Digital Cities’ featuring four differing visions on how recent technology is changing urban life. Andrew Blum’s look at how the portability of the internet (via cell phone) changes and enhances the urban experience and Carlo Ratti’s piece on how technology will effect urban architecture are highlights of the series.

• Makeshift tent cities are on the rise across the United Sates as the current recession has forced more and more people out of their homes. The Polis Blog looks at the long-term potential of these camps to provide shelter and resources to an increasing homeless population.

• The American Planning association recently named Montrose, Houston one of the “10 Great Neighbourhoods” for 2009; an ironic choice according to the Houston Chronicle, as the “funky” neighborhood is not the result of planning but “in fact, arose in spite of it”.

• The Human Transit blog provides an in-depth examination of train station design and the effects of different station design on the traveler and the city.

• For some self-congratulatory news, check out the New York Times’ complimentary article about development in Toronto’s financial district.

photo by RachelH

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One comment

  1. Interesting that the new office towers in Toronto are viewed as a success.

    I have said it here before, if in twenty years this is all Toronto could do, in the one area where it should have success, then the city is in trouble.

    from the article….
    “Mr. O’Bryan noted that most of the tenants in the first two buildings came out of existing downtown buildings, leaving huge blocks of space to refill. “The older buildings that tenants left had never been retrofitted, and yet were always full,” Mr. O’Bryan said. “Owners will now retrofit those old buildings and fill them up over time.”
    ———

    While some will look at the buildings and say that Toronto is growing, if there is no new net demand for space, these buildings will not increase the assessment base. They will merely dilute it.