| Downtown on the right track: expert The City of Brampton has all of the elements it is in need of to produce a vibrant downtown, a well-known architect and urban designer told business leaders yesterday. Greenberg also spoke of the necessity of landing the proposed Light Rail Transit (LRT) system and gave suggestions on what Brampton can do to take revitalization an extra step. The important elements are already here; now it's just a matter of integrating and expanding on those features in order to bring the whole scheme together, he said. He suggested setting up informal public workshops where city planners, business owners and residents can "solve critical problems" together and share ideas on how to transform downtown Brampton. But as people rethink living in neighbourhoods that gives them access to everything they need without a car, older urban design concepts are also making a comeback. Held at the Rose Theatre, the AGM gave members a chance to take care of some housekeeping items for the year, including reviewing 2011 financial statements and holding board elections. Peeyush Gupta, owner of The Wee Smoke Shop/Rock n Head, was acclaimed to the tenant class director position, while Don Naylor, owner of Don Naylor d head of a consulting firm in Toronto, kicked off the event by sharing three decades of city design experience and offering insight on how Brampton can develop a more walkable, sustainable core. "You have the bones to do all of this," Greenberg said. The automobile transformed the urban landscape in North American. He beat out developer John Cutruzzola of Inzola Construction in the closed ballot race. Greenberg has worked on numerous projects in cities around the world, including Toronto, Washington, DC, New York, Paris and Amsterdam. Brampton is fortunate that much of "old downtown" is still here. Greenberg encouraged stakeholders to work together and not work in silos, helping market the area as a complete. "You also have to give people in your city a mental image that they're able to carry around with them everyday of what they are striving for," Greenberg said. Describing the downtown as "intact", Greenberg pointed to Gage Park, the GO Transit line and a combination of residential and businesses as important building blocks for revitalization. |
Thursday, 26 April 2012
Downtown on the right track: expert
