Top Banner
WELCOMING NEIGHBOURHOOD: A CASE STUDY Sandeep Agrawal, PhD, MCIP, AICP yerson University
12

WELCOMING NEIGHBOURHOOD: A CASE STUDY Sandeep Agrawal, PhD, MCIP, AICP Ryerson University.

Mar 27, 2015

Download

Documents

Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Page 1: WELCOMING NEIGHBOURHOOD: A CASE STUDY Sandeep Agrawal, PhD, MCIP, AICP Ryerson University.

WELCOMING NEIGHBOURHOOD: A CASE STUDY

Sandeep Agrawal, PhD, MCIP, AICPRyerson University

Page 2: WELCOMING NEIGHBOURHOOD: A CASE STUDY Sandeep Agrawal, PhD, MCIP, AICP Ryerson University.

What is a welcoming neighbourhood?

Ability for a community to include and integrate immigrants, refugees and minorities.

Housing, employment opportunities, schooling and social services.

Measure the physical, social, economic, cultural and political dimensions.

Page 3: WELCOMING NEIGHBOURHOOD: A CASE STUDY Sandeep Agrawal, PhD, MCIP, AICP Ryerson University.

Thorncliffe Park – a case study The neighbourhood has continued to be

attractive to new immigrants. It forms the backdrop of Giller Prize winner

M.G. Vassanji’s novel No New Land. The place is well known outside of Canada

among prospective immigrants. 1/5th of the population is recent

immigrants (2001-06). Ethnic make-up of the neighbourhood has

been constantly changing.

Page 4: WELCOMING NEIGHBOURHOOD: A CASE STUDY Sandeep Agrawal, PhD, MCIP, AICP Ryerson University.

Thorncliffe …Location

Page 5: WELCOMING NEIGHBOURHOOD: A CASE STUDY Sandeep Agrawal, PhD, MCIP, AICP Ryerson University.

Some statistics

Total census population: about 18,000 Visible minority: 75%: South Asian,

Filipino and Arab Immigrants: 68%; Recent Immigrants:

31% Top home languages spoken: Urdu,

Gujarati, Farsi, Filipino and Greek Top Ethnic Groups: East Indian,

Pakistani, Filipino, Afghan. By region: South Asian, European.

Page 6: WELCOMING NEIGHBOURHOOD: A CASE STUDY Sandeep Agrawal, PhD, MCIP, AICP Ryerson University.

Some more statistics

91% renter 95% are apartment buildings, five or more storeys 73% of the buildings are regularly maintained Majority constructed between 1960 and 1980. Avg. family size: 3.28; 4 or more person family: 38.4% Multiple family households: 3% Lone female parent families:13.3% Household income: average: $48,011 (Toronto Avg:

$80,343; median: $39,580 (Toronto median: $52,833) Incidence of household low income: very high (46.7%)

Page 7: WELCOMING NEIGHBOURHOOD: A CASE STUDY Sandeep Agrawal, PhD, MCIP, AICP Ryerson University.

Thorncliffe Park

School

East York Town Centre

Iqbal Foods

Greek Church

Greek/Macedonian Church

Darus Salam Masjid

Greek Church

Industrial/Institutional Area

To Flemingdon Park

Page 8: WELCOMING NEIGHBOURHOOD: A CASE STUDY Sandeep Agrawal, PhD, MCIP, AICP Ryerson University.

Physical layout

Was a racetrack, hence the U-shaped main street and the names of the side streets.

The school, the library and the park are physically located in the middle of neighbourhood.

Everything is in walking distance; pedestrian-friendly

Presence of ethnic shopping, places of worship, banks, social and settlement services.

Neighbourhood is well served by transit Public space is conducive for social interaction

Page 9: WELCOMING NEIGHBOURHOOD: A CASE STUDY Sandeep Agrawal, PhD, MCIP, AICP Ryerson University.

Social dimension

Perceived as a safe and welcoming place Well-known for its large apartments and

affordable rents. High social capital Pockets of isolated people: not necessarily

socially isolated, but because of religious idealogy and in some instances, special needs.

School as the centre of the community Changing demographics..and friction

between new and old immigrants.

Page 10: WELCOMING NEIGHBOURHOOD: A CASE STUDY Sandeep Agrawal, PhD, MCIP, AICP Ryerson University.

Economic dimension

Leaside industrial/institutional area abuts the neighbourhood.

Many residents find employment in the nearby industries like the Coca Cola headquarter.

Over 50% of families earn less than $40K. Over 1/4th are employed in low paying the

sales and service sector; 21% are employed in the business and finance sector.

Page 11: WELCOMING NEIGHBOURHOOD: A CASE STUDY Sandeep Agrawal, PhD, MCIP, AICP Ryerson University.

Political dimension

Highest voter turn out in the city. High-profile political race – John Tory vs.

Kathleen Wynne Helped advance civic engagement,

urban citizenship and social inclusion. Led to major improvements in the

neighbourhood (millions to the School; new library)

Page 12: WELCOMING NEIGHBOURHOOD: A CASE STUDY Sandeep Agrawal, PhD, MCIP, AICP Ryerson University.

Is Thorncliffe Park a welcoming neighbourhood? The neighbourhood seems to be a welcoming

place for immigrants. The neighbourhood is institutionally

complete. Physical layout is conducive for social

interaction. Several positives: availability of appropriate

housing, school, social and settlements services, public spaces, civic participation

A few negatives: limited employment opportunities, few segments of the population are isolated.

But positives outweigh negatives.