CGC4U/C
Unit 3: Sustainability in the Global Environment
Assessing Huntsville from a New Urbanist Perspective
New urbanism is a term describing the shift in philosophy about how an urban area should be
organized. Some communities already exhibit the fundamentals of new urbanism while others
are falling behind.
Today’s Goal:
- To identify aspects of conventional planning and new urbanism in our local community
What to do:
1. Join a group of 3 or 4. Navigate to ArcGIS Online and have one member of the group log in. You
have used this login several times!
2. Once logged in select Map from the choices at the top of the screen.
3. You should see a map of the world. From the basemap option choose satellite imagery with
labels.
4. Next click on the Add button and choose map notes. This will allow you to add shapes, text or
other features to your map. The available features will be on the left side of the map.
5. Focus in on the study area (Town of Huntsville)
6. Brainstorm as a group but fill in the chart below individually to organize the information that
you will put on your map. Once you have completed a row, one member will add these locations
to the map with the following format:
a) Examples of new urbanism will be outlined and annotated in Green
b) Examples of conventional planning will be outlined and annotated in Red.
* The amount of new urbanism vs conventional planning examples you find will decide how
sustainable our hometown is! A green map is GOOD, A red MAP is bad. What will Huntsville’s map
look like?
Area/aspect to consider
Walkability
New Urbanism Examples & Why
Downtown and west end yes
Trails ( fairy vista, Hunters bay)
Connectivity
Downtown grid is well connected Walmart area, area behind kawartha
- Center street boulevard
dairy ( glenwood subdivision)
from west road all the way
- Muskoka road 3 has plenty of cul
to walmart area.
de sacs.
- Kirby lane
- -hunters bay drive
- Hidden valley
- Mcauley robersten fields
- Skate park
Downtown core is quite diverse
- Staples, lcbo BMO areas are just
with doctors, stores, government
commercial
schools, open spaces
- Walmart area
- High school / summit
- West of west end near home
Mixed Use
Conventional Planning examples & Why
Walmart area and mall not so much
Trails may not be perfectly designed or
accessible
CGC4U/C
Unit 3: Sustainability in the Global Environment
center
/conroy/UWaterloo
Mixed Housing
Around legion has some mixed
use residential
-Meadowpark drive
- dairy lane
-silver street
Quality Architecture
Summit center ( exposed wood
and stone)
Capstone market
New gas by shoppers drug mart
New architecture draws
customer base and tourists
_ downtown is well constructed
- Algonquin theatre
- All saints church
- New docks
- Group of seven paintings
around town
Neighborhood Structure
-
On outskirts of town there
is more of a mixture of
housing and environment
Urban Density
-
Downtown
Smart transportation
-
Bus system
-highway 11 corridor
Portage flyer
Only plug in spots at
deerhurst
-
building center and the restore is
only commercial and industrial
-
Muskoka road 3 has plenty of cul
de sacs.
- Kirby way
- -hunters bay drive
- Hidden valley
- Brunel
-Settlers ridge
- lack of affordable housing
- limited options for all varieties of
housing
- Downtown boring ( shay)
- Empire lot ( gross)
- Empty real estate ) sally anne,
canton Chinese, sushi place,
- Brendall square ( beer lake)
- Jug city area
- That bar near west end
- Walmart
- Mall
-
-
Townline road
Behind donnies
Muskoka road 3
All subdivisions, wal mart area
Cottage country
-
Ontario northland train stopped
CGC4U/C
Sustainability
Unit 3: Sustainability in the Global Environment
Solar panels on street lights on
center street.
Solar panels behind donnies
-individual homes with solar
panels
- town hall and other public
buildings have solar.
- new town docks built right !
Saint marys church grass parking
lot
-
Geography of lower downtown
and flooding ( picks up pollutants
)
Walmart
Cul de sacs
Analysis Questions:
1. What colour dominates your map? Is Huntsville “new urbanism”, “conventional planning”
or on the spectrum in between?
Huntsville is a mix, leaning towards unsustainable
2. Which principle of new urbanism is Huntsville best at? Why?
Solar and the density of downtown , provides a sense of place and great example of mixed
development
3. Which principle of new urbanism is Huntsville worst at? Why?
Smart transporation, connectivity, neighborhood structure
4. Choose 3 of your conventional planning examples and explain how they could be
“retrofitted” to align with new urbanism principles.
Bike lanes, connected to trails , bike racks , grass ( native vegetation) parking lot ,
Continue promoting sustainable energy ( solar lighting)
5. Share your map with Mr. Scott via email. Make sure the share setting is set to public.