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Conference 2015

The Downtown21 Master Plan: Evaluating the Suburban to Urban Transformation in Mississauga

October 08, 2015

10:15am-10:30am

The North American suburb is typically characterized by: a lack of diversity, the strict spatial segregation of land uses, low-density development, and auto-dependency (Garde, 2008). The antithesis of the compact, mixed-use, high-density built form associated with the city (Garde, 2008). Whilst this may be the prevailing interpretation of a suburban landscape, today many suburban municipalities have in place long-term development trajectories, that over time are envisioned to change their built environment by incorporating qualities and features most conventionally associated with cities rather than suburbs (Garde, 2008). Increasingly, suburbs are becoming places with a compact urban form, increased residential densities, as well as, pedestrian and transit oriented mixed-use environments with a distinct public realm (Garde, 2008; Grant, 2013). For suburban municipalities, not only is replicating the urban form perceived as a path to rehabilitating the suburban landscape, but it also serves as a symbol of growth, prosperity and innovation in a highly competitive global economic environment (Madanipour, 2006; Desfor, Keil, Kipfer, & Wekerle, 2006). 

Speakers