Transcript Slide 1

Age-Friendly Communities Hamilton November 23
Principles to help us develop agefriendly communities
Age Friendly Communities
Hamilton
November 23, 2009
.
Glenn Miller, FCIP, RPP, VP Education and Research,
CUI
Why are we talking about agefriendly communities?
• The demographic tsunami is upon us
• Mobility is vital to maintaining
quality of life
• We need to rethink and retrofit
Who are seniors:
Four key age cohorts
Age
Category
55-64
“Seniors in training”
65-74
Young-old
75-84
Old
85+
Old-old
The Demographic Tsunami 1961
1 Canadian in 14 is 65+
The Demographic Tsunami 2001
1 Canadian in 8 is 65+
The Demographic Tsunami 2021
1 Canadian in 5 is 65+
The Demographic Tsunami 2041
1 Canadian in 4 is 65+
How is Canada aging?
In 2031, there will be nearly 1.2 million
Canadians over the age of 85
The combined populations of:
+
+
Hamilton, ON
500,000
Victoria, BC
335,000
London, ON
360,000
Fertility declining and life expectancy increasing…
Source: “Canada’s Aging Population” by Health Canada and the Interdepartmental
Committee on Aging and Seniors Issues, 2002
We focused on the commute for 60 years..
…and built car-dependent suburbs
More older drivers than ever before
• Accident rates decrease 65+ but historically so do kilometers driven
• Accident rates & fatalities per km driven increase for 75+
• Fatal accident rate increases dramatically for 75+
• Older drivers account for increasing proportion of all traffic fatalities
• Projected fatalities for senior women drivers on the increase
Source: US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 2004
Putting aging into context:
The mobility continuum
Principles of Universal Design and New Urbanism
Universal Design
New Urbanism
Equity of use
Sustainability
Flexibility of use
Mixed-use & diversity
Simple & intuitive
Mixed housing
Perceptible information
Connectivity & smart transportation
Safety & tolerance for error
Quality architecture & urban design
Low physical effort
Walkability
Appropriate size and scale
Traditional neighbourhood & increased
density
Quality of life
Quality of life
Integrated design principles
1. Equitable and sustainable use
2. Flexibility and mixed use
3. Neighbourhood structure
4. Transit-oriented
5. Walkable
6. Simple and intuitive
7. Perceptible information
8. Quality design, safety and tolerance for error
9. Low physical effort
10. Appropriate size and scale
Integrated design principles
#1: Equitable & sustainable use
Principle 1:
Equitable
and
sustainable
use
Emphasis on strong public spaces
with no implicit or explicit
privatization of the public realm
Encourages affordable housing
options throughout the lifecycle
In up to half SFU residences, the
zoning permits “legalized
secondary suites”– perfect for
students, guests, or relatives.
Sections 17, 22 and 34 of Planning
Act key to as of right second suites
Integrated design principles
#2: Flexible and mixed use
Principle
2: Flexible
and mixed
use
Requires a mix of land uses,
housing tenures (strata, fee-simple,
rental), and housing forms
interspersed throughout the site
Encourages flexibility and
adaptability in building and public
space design (townhomes able to
be converted into storefronts, parks
designed for multiple users)
Anticipates densification with future
additions to the landscape to
provide services suitable for seniors
Integrated design principles
#4: Transit-oriented
Focus density to create the critical mass of
services and improve the odds for future
transit
Principle
4:
Transitoriented
Intensification along corridors and
opportunities for mid-rise apartments and
other house forms that appeal to all ages
All residents will belong to the UniverCity
Community Association with access to
SFU recreational facilities and amenities.
Easy-Ride vans – Stratford area LHIN
Integrated design principles
#5: Walkable
Principle 5:
Walkable
Encourage walking through the scale
and distribution of development,
allowing for easy access to amenities,
recreational uses, health care facilities
or shopping
Improve sidewalk quality, maintain in
good condition, handle “mobility
devices”
Decrease the width of roads and
avoid crowding too many uses on
sidewalks
Integrated design principles
#3: Neighbourhood structure
Principle 3:
Neighbourhood
structure
Concentrate density
and build at a human
scale
Pay attention to solar
orientation and wind
impact
Integrated design principles
#6: Simple and intuitive
Principle
6:
Simple
and
Intuitive
Community design should be
easily legible to visitors as well
as residents
Should facilitate easy and direct
linkages to destinations
Integrated design principles
#7: Perceptible Information
Principle
7:
Perceptible
Information
Appropriate signage to mode
of transportation
Less visual clutter; simple and
easy-to-read directions and
signs
Integrated design principles
#8: Quality design, safety and tolerance for error
Principle 8:
Quality
design,
safety and
tolerance for
error
Community design should
minimize hazards to residents (i.e.
eyes on the street, appropriate
roadway sizes, provision of
sidewalks, bicycle lanes, traffic
calming, and street lighting)
Integrated design principles
#9: Low physical effort
Principle 9:
Low
Physical
Effort
Community facilities and
neighbourhood design should
assist walkability and bikability
and transit use
Buildings should facilitate
access and use by users of all
ability levels
Integrated design principles
#10: Appropriate size and scale
Principle
10:
Appropriate
Size and
Scale
Housing unit sizes, walking
distances, street and
sidewalk widths should be
designed at a scale that
allows all users easy access
Should be able to navigate
by foot, bicycle, wheelchair
or scooter