Abstracts
Abstract
The promotion of compact development aimed at reducing urban sprawl has long been a dominant planning approach in major urban centres. However, mid-sized cities have struggled to cultivate a market for this development model despite policy commitments. This paper examines how property developers in Moncton, New Brunswick, respond to compact development’s principles and policies. Results indicate that while many developers align with the planning policies favouring higher-density and mixed-use models, they prefer suburban development over urban infill and adaptive reuse. Developers generally support compact development but seek greater market certainty and regulatory lessening before fully committing to building greater densities. The research highlights a disconnect between temporal and spatial dimensions of urban development priorities and associated impacts on the implementation of residential densification. While planners focus on spatial aspects to achieve policy goals, developers prioritise the timing of projects to ensure financial feasibility and economically profitable returns.
Keywords:
- densification,
- land use,
- real-estate market,
- developers,
- mid-sized city,
- Canada
Résumé
La promotion du développement compact visant la réduction de l’étalement urbain a longtemps été une approche dominante d’aménagement dans les centres urbains majeurs. Cependant, les villes de taille moyenne ont de la difficulté à cultiver un marché pour ce modèle de développement, malgré des engagements politiques. Cet article examine la façon dont les développeurs immobiliers à Moncton, au Nouveau-Brunswick, répond aux principes et aux politiques du développement compact. Les résultats indiquent que bien que plusieurs développeurs s’alignent avec les politiques d’aménagement favorisant les modèles à haute densité et à usage mixte, ils préfèrent le développement en banlieue à l’aménagement sur terrain intercalaire et à la réutilisation adaptive. Les développeurs appuient généralement le développement compact, mais recherchent une meilleure certitude du marché et un assouplissement réglementaire avant de s’engager à la construction de plus grandes densités. L’étude souligne un décalage entre les dimensions temporelles et spatiales des priorités de développement urbain et les impacts associés sur la mise en oeuvre de la densification résidentielle. Alors que les urbanistes se concentrent sur les aspects spatiaux pour atteindre les objectifs politiques, les développeurs privilégient l’horaire des projets afin de garantir la faisabilité financière et des rendements économiquement rentables.
Mots-clés :
- densification,
- aménagement,
- marché immobilier,
- développeurs,
- ville de taille moyenne,
- Canada
Appendices
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