Quote:
Originally Posted by movingtohamilton
Would appreciate a link to those density targets, if you have one.
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The initial target was apparently met several years ago, though the metric ("people and jobs per hectare") arguably merges jobs and residents into a single figure that doesn't tell you much about population density ambitions.
City looks at upping density downtown
(Hamilton Spectator, Nicole Macintyre, Nov 28, 2008)
In 20 years, could Hamilton's downtown be nearly as densely developed as Toronto's?
It's a question some councillors want municipal planners to study as the city decides where its growth should be focused in the next two decades.
Hamilton's downtown has already met the province's growth target of 200 people and jobs per hectare. Staff recommended increasing the target to 250, but several councillors questioned if the city was setting its goal too low.
"I think we need to go beyond the status quo," said Councillor Brian McHattie, who plans to ask staff to explore the implications of doubling the current density by 2031.
A growth target of 400 people and jobs per hectare would match Mississauga's goal for its downtown and the current density in Toronto.
Tim McCabe, general manager of planning and economic development, cautioned that changing the city's growth target for downtown would radically change the look of the core. For example, he noted the city would have to change its height restrictions for buildings.
"I think it's a very risky path," McCabe said.
If the city set its downtown growth target too high and failed, it could stop the city from expanding its urban boundary in other areas, he said.
Planning staff said the 250 density target was "a reach" but attainable.
Read it in full
here.
Additional detail from MMM Group’s March 2013
Downtown Hamilton Parking Study and Parking Garage Assessment (Appendix "A" to Report PED12153(a)):
Based on the Downtown Hamilton Employment Analysis report, dated November 2010, the Downtown Hamilton Secondary Plan area (i.e., the study area) has a gross density of 218 residents and jobs per hectare. The City has established a minimum gross density target of 250 residents and jobs per hectare by 2031 for the Downtown Hamilton Urban Growth Centre, a slightly larger area that includes the study area. Figure 10 illustrates the boundaries of both the Downtown Hamilton Urban Growth Centre and the Downtown Hamilton Secondary Plan area. Thus, an annual growth of 0.71% in gross density is expected over the span of 21 years (between 2010 and 2031), as shown in Table 16.
Again, they're measuring gross density — so if downtown population stagnates or declines, the City can still claim victory if those losses are offset by job growth.
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