Author: Dave Airey, Vice President, Rockwood Homeowners' Association
Mississauga has come a long way since I first arrived from south western Ontario in 1973. I clearly remember the barn on the north east corner of Hurontario and Burnhamthorpe which has now been replaced by office towers.
Our journey from a group of small towns has created the beginnings of a city centre focused on comfortable high density residence, and business and shopping, surrounded by selected areas of high density nodes connected by effective transit. The former towns of Port Credit, Streetsville, and Clarkson, as well as neighbourhoods like Rockwood Village are distinct areas that could see a higher density focus.
Like me, many of you have been living day to day, while our city has been progressing, almost without our awareness. Yes, I have noticed the changes year by year but why the city made its’ choices was not on my radar. Imagine Mississauga in 10 or 20 years ... What do you see?
Building a city is a huge challenge and the next few years will be significant. Much of the large open space has been claimed, so filling in smaller development areas and redeveloping some existing areas will come into focus.
Many European, American, and Canadian cities have wonderful, people-friendly, urban areas. These areas create an atmosphere that feels like a comfortable balanced lifestyle created for business residential, and shopping with minimal need for commuting.
I remember being on vacation in Spain and walking to the grocery store, the bus and nearby restaurants. We spent an entire week without the need for a car. I am not going to tell you that a higher density urban area allows for practical rapid transit because we all understand it takes more people using transit to sustain a good system.
Many of us love the open spaces and big yards of our suburban homes but that also means roads, and highways and pollution.
Growing subdivisions use up our farm land. Higher density means living in smaller spaces. There are hundreds of concepts to trade off when considering how to develop a city.
How do you want Mississauga to be developed?
CONTACT: Sharon Mittmann, Urban Designer
Planning & Building Department 905.615.3200
ext. 5851 Fax: 905.896.5553
email: sharon.mittmann@mississauga.ca
*Please note this article was originally published in the Spring 2010 edition of The Rockwood Times.
Mississauga has come a long way since I first arrived from south western Ontario in 1973. I clearly remember the barn on the north east corner of Hurontario and Burnhamthorpe which has now been replaced by office towers.
Our journey from a group of small towns has created the beginnings of a city centre focused on comfortable high density residence, and business and shopping, surrounded by selected areas of high density nodes connected by effective transit. The former towns of Port Credit, Streetsville, and Clarkson, as well as neighbourhoods like Rockwood Village are distinct areas that could see a higher density focus.
Like me, many of you have been living day to day, while our city has been progressing, almost without our awareness. Yes, I have noticed the changes year by year but why the city made its’ choices was not on my radar. Imagine Mississauga in 10 or 20 years ... What do you see?
Building a city is a huge challenge and the next few years will be significant. Much of the large open space has been claimed, so filling in smaller development areas and redeveloping some existing areas will come into focus.
Many European, American, and Canadian cities have wonderful, people-friendly, urban areas. These areas create an atmosphere that feels like a comfortable balanced lifestyle created for business residential, and shopping with minimal need for commuting.
I remember being on vacation in Spain and walking to the grocery store, the bus and nearby restaurants. We spent an entire week without the need for a car. I am not going to tell you that a higher density urban area allows for practical rapid transit because we all understand it takes more people using transit to sustain a good system.
Many of us love the open spaces and big yards of our suburban homes but that also means roads, and highways and pollution.
Growing subdivisions use up our farm land. Higher density means living in smaller spaces. There are hundreds of concepts to trade off when considering how to develop a city.
How do you want Mississauga to be developed?
CONTACT: Sharon Mittmann, Urban Designer
Planning & Building Department 905.615.3200
ext. 5851 Fax: 905.896.5553
email: sharon.mittmann@mississauga.ca
*Please note this article was originally published in the Spring 2010 edition of The Rockwood Times.
