‘Mixed Use’ doesn’t work in Winnipeg

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read that mixed use development is the answer to the problems caused by Winnipeg’s sprawling car-oriented ways. Bloggers, editorialists and self-professed urbanists say it. Anybody who considers themselves a forward-thinking advocate of city densification believes in it. Many of these same people like to reference Jane Jacobs,…

Winnipeg at One Million (Part 2)

As I wrote last time, most of Winnipeg will be essentially unchanged by the time the city hits a population of one million, because of poor planning, uninspired development priorities, and simple resistance to change. However, my crystal ball (which looks a lot like a bottle of Newcastle, incidentally) also shows some exciting things to…

Winnipeg at One Million (Part 1)

1 million people. The universal “big city” benchmark. What does a city of 1 million look like? For me, images of skyscrapers, rapid transit, and dense downtown cores filled with office workers springs to mind. I see a vibrant night life, expensive parking, and clusters of suburbs springing up in the countryside. What will Winnipeg…