Healthy City Maps: Toronto

Showing posts with label Toronto. Show all posts

Floor Space Index For Downtown Toronto

I am pleased to share the following interactive map that displays the estimated gross floor space index (FSI) for every parcel in downtown Toronto. This is based on the intersection of 3D massing data and parcel data obtained from the City of Toronto open data portal. Click on any parcel to see the FSI:

This work builds on the following maps that I published to Twitter last week:

In addition, I also conducted an analysis of the difference between the current as-of-right density allowed by zoning, and the existing built density. The maps below show the 'unbuilt' density for the central city area:

This is a highly experimental analysis so I am sure there are many minor issues with the exact accuracy of the data per parcel. For example this is gross density, based on the total building height, so it does not reflect the exclusion of mechanical areas or community spaces that usually exempt from traditional net FSI calculations used by the city for approvals. But overall, the patterns provide a starting point for understanding where redevelopment is most likely to occur based on the current zoning.

In addition, these data illustrate the fact that current zoning by-laws are out of date and do not reflect the Official Plan land use designation. If we want to encourage growth in the centre areas of the city, we must up-zone these areas to reduce the barriers to development. However, we need to have proper inclusionary zoning policies in place to ensure adequate supply of amenities including affordable housing and other community benefits that would traditionally be secured through Section 37 agreements negotiated at the time of rezoning.

I would love to hear your feedback on this project - contact me on Twitter @HealthyCityMaps or comment using the form below.

Mapping Access to Green Space in Toronto

I recently created a special report on 'Mapping Access to Greenspace in the City of Toronto and the Lower Don Valley' that can be downloaded by clicking the cover page below:

I also presented this report to staff from the City of Toronto at a 'Parks, Forestry and Recreation Speakers's Corner event. The video recording can be viewed below:

I also created an interactive map to allow you to explore detailed data, click here or on the map image below to open it in a new window. The legend for the interactive maps is also below.

Finally, the following maps were included in the report - I am not going to explain them in detail here so you will just have to read the report to find out more!

Welcome to The Ribbon: The Lower Don Valley

This semester I had the privilege of working with a studio group in the Ryerson School of Urban and Regional Planning, to complete a visionary design project in partnership with the Evergreen Foundation. This project supported the Evergreen 'Ribbon' fundraising campaign, that will enhance access to the Evergreen Brickworks, via the Lower Don corridor that connects to Toronto's waterfront. This project had three primary objectives: analyze the history, ecology, neighbourhoods and uses within the study area; review and synthesize relevant planning policies and reports; and conceive a concise design vision and list of specific interventions. To support this project, I designed the following study area map to inform our analysis:

To illustrate the study area in a more interactive way, I created the following 'flyover' video to illustrate the journey from Corktown Common, up the Ribbon to the Brickworks:

I also designed the following series of maps to highlight the history, ecology, diverse uses, and neighbourhood context of the study area:

Please post any questions or comments you may have below, and be sure to visit the Ribbon Project website to learn more!

Building Transit Equity in Toronto

I am pleased to share a new research paper called Toronto Transit Choices: Evaluation of the
Downtown Relief Line + SmartTrack Options (Click to download) that I crafted for Ryerson PL8105 - Planning for Sustainability last semester.

This project is a comparative evaluation of two important options for expanded heavy rail transit service in Toronto. To accomplish this task I developed a GIS database of the current subway network in Toronto, and two custom future scenarios: the 'Downtown Relief Line' (DRL) that has been planned for many years (the DRL has no formal route maps yet, so the route shown is an educated guess based on extensive research), and new Mayor John Tory's 'SmartTrack' line based on electrification of the existing GO network. The current subway network and the proposed routes are shown below:

Additionally, the following three maps highlight the population density, median household incomes and visible minority populations living in close proximity to each current and proposed network.

In the paper I also summarized these variables within 800 metres of the current network and each proposal, in order to compare and contrast who would benefit from expanded transit service. Among other conclusions, I recommended the City of Toronto prioritize the SmartTrack plan in the short term, and also continue ongoing development of the DRL in the longer term.

20 Best Maps of 2014

Happy new year! In this post I have summarized my 20 favourite mapping projects from 2014. This has been an exciting year for me! I was promoted in my role at Golder Associates, working as a GIS Analyst and Cartographer on urban and environmental planning projects; however, I resigned in august and moved to Toronto to begin my Masters in Urban and Regional Planning at Ryerson University. I have continued to produce maps for this blog in my spare time using open data and I was recently hired to create maps for Dr. Richard Florida at the U of T Martin Prosperity Institute. I already have some exciting ideas for 2015, so consider subscribing to this blog to see more cool maps in the future!