in-class+8


 * Lesson 8: In Class Assignment - More on Sustainable Transportation and Urban Planning: Retrofitting Suburbs, and Portland as a city for “Best Practices” for Sustainable Development**


 * 1. What is the difference in carbon footprint of the average urban dweller as compared to suburban dweller?**

The carbon footprint for the average urban dweller is lower than the average suburb.


 * 2. Describe the changing demographic in suburbia, and why having a house is no longer sustainable because of this changing demographic.**


 * 3. Based on this TED talk by Ellen Dunham Jones, list 5 reasons to retrofit suburbia:**


 * 1) Health
 * 2) Affordability – transportation costs (gas), everything is market driven
 * 3) Demographic Shift – thought of as family focus space, 2/3 of suburbia houses don’t have kids
 * 4) Underperforming Asphalt – underused parking lots, those sites have now been leapfrogged and has land value. Re-inhabitation – serving its community. They do this by converting dead and abandoned space with “the third place” – used to build community. Less centered on family so there is hunger for community.
 * 5) Redevelopment – Creating on top of existing areas, mainly parking lots.

Transport is responsible for 23-25% of all greenhouse emissions, and it is growing, so essential to discuss in terms of sustainability.


 * 4. What is transit-oriented/pedestrian-friendly development? Was it successful in Portland, Oregon? Do you think it could be a model for other cities in the world? Why or why not?**


 * 5. List some potential benefits and drawbacks to transit-oriented development.**

Permanent track Accessibility over mobility Drawback: Gentrification – property prices will skyrocket, making affordability difficult Resiliency


 * 6. What role did community members play in shaping the development in Portland from the 1970s until today? Use specific examples from the video to support your answer.**


 * 7. Why did Charlie Hales think that the streetcar would be more appealing to developers than another form of public transportation? What are some factors that developers must consider before building in a neighborhood? What risks and rewards exist for developers who invest in a new neighborhood?**


 * 8. For your major assignment, and your personal experience, could any of these urban planning, and sustainable transit planning principles, be applied to your commute within Oakville and Mississauga? Think of your commute as a whole systems process, analyse each step of your commute, and apply your new understanding of sustainable transport city.**