Speaker Spotlight: David Fitzpatrick

Plenary Four: Developing an Economically Robust Urban Core to Meet the Needs of Today's Cities

A couple of centuries ago, the catchphrase was ‘urbanisation’ as cities and societies matured and became more cosmopolitan and globally connected. But as we enter deeper into the 21st Century, cities and urban landscapes need to keep up with the times and rapidly learn how to manage limited space and rising population efficiently. In cities where the pace of development has reached unprecedented speed, the potential for growth is tremendous.

In these current times, it is all about ‘Reurbanisation’ - the reorganisation and modifications of cities and townships to more economically, environmentally and socially effect one other. Not only does city planning involve planning for sufficient and appropriate housing for the city’s population, it also requires solid analysis and historical understanding of the city to allow for preservation of cultures, the creation of inclusive communities and the execution of efficient transportation across the city. Successful city planning balances the interest of communities, engages and involves citizens in the process, celebrates cultures, safeguards existing architecture; is environmentally sustainable and also embraces innovation. City councils now need to deliver policy frameworks and create sensible neighbourhood designs that foster a healthy live-work-play relationship within themselves and also with the rest of the city.

In many global cities, mixed use and retail developments have become one of the mainstays of the modern cityscape. But without clever planning, developments may become obsolete quickly. Being able to harness the dynamics of a region and relating that to retail urbanisation may be the next wave of urban redevelopment, especially in previously underdeveloped regions where there is increasing immigration and migration movement.

Join David Fitzpatrick, from the Special Projects department of the Chief Planner’s Office, City Planning Division from the City of Toronto, Canada, as he talks about developing an economically robust urban core and how to meet the needs of cities today.

About David Fitzpatrick