Postwar Urban Development in the Golden Horseshoe - Research Paper Example

18th November, Postwar Urban Development in the Golden Horseshoe Introduction Even though there were challenges in the urban development of Golden Horseshoe during the postwar period, there is a key contribution of demographic policies, which facilitated the rapid urban growth. Urban developments and expansion are due to planning policies, which are vital because they ensure that there is no exploitation of natural resources in the area. Urban housing is very strategic in the development process. Creation of a good security network should be embraced. Back ground information Postwar period are always difficult times in history of many countries. It is the most dangerous, when the resources and population are reduced during the war. In this respect, policies that conform to population trends are instrumental in planning any urban developments agenda. Demography reflects all the changes that occur in population growth. It covers some specific geographical location, gender concerns, age, education attainment, household income, and other valuable personal belongings. This research focuses on the housing developments policies, population variations, suburbanization, and impacts of immigration policies on the urban development and finally, the rise and dominance of the metropolis within Ontario. Population Increase and its Effects The Golden Horseshoe population is dense which makes up one fourth of the total population in Canada. The total population of the Greater Golden Horseshoe was 8.1 million individuals according to census results of 2006 (MacFarlane 65). By the year 2031, the population is projected to grow up to about 12 million (MacFarlane 66). This shows that the expected growth rate per year is about 12.5 %. However, in the urban areas there are set density targets for the urban growth. The policies enable effective urban growth with fully developed structures. The population figure puts the Greater Horseshoe to be ranked sixth among the most populated urbanized areas in the North America. It also has a strong economy that helps in the implementation of policies effectively, especially the plans that require financial investments. In this respect, the greater Golden Horseshoe was selected to be the headquarters for the world fortune global companies approximated as five hundred in number. This has made it to be among the worlds’ most stable countries economically. Growth Plan for Urban Development Generally, proper growth plan of the Greater Golden Horseshoe was produced in 2006, where several policies for growth management of these urban centers were incorporated. The policies are useful in guiding of planning decisions on the respective urban development areas. This reflects a planning vision of the Great Golden Horseshoe, which is the central development support for the nation. The government of Ontario prepared policies on the general growth plan of Golden Horseshoe. This plan was to promote a healthy growth that covered the whole Ontario. Growth plan for Horseshoe had major aims stated as revitalization of all downtowns to be vibrant and excellent centers, provision of good housing choices, protection of greenhouse and farming lands, and creation of good infrastructural facilities through better road network among other grand plans. Some of the policies included the transit promotion, walking terms in the city and demand management of transport system (MacFarlane 77). The infrastructural policies were also effective in setting up standardized buildings and road network in the urban regions. This enhanced a faster development through transportation of commodities to the market effectively, without wastage. The population has a greater influence on the selected 25 urban centers’ population. The urban planning provisions were to recognize diversity in the 25 centers. The set density target for the urban is 400 jobs and persons per hectare. If growth plan on density is realized, then the municipality can then set the new minimum target to be achieved depending on the size of urban center. When the density target is achieved, this ensued that the urban growth centre is developed attractively which has vibrant and attractive cultural facilities. The growth pattern applies to the institutions, within the urban centers (MacFarlane 60). Growth plan also helps in identifying the most approximate location of the urban centers therefore this enhances urban development in the postwar periods. In the Green field areas, the density target in designing them was to create new urbanized zones that reflected on the proper planning, and configuration of densities that support comfortable living zones in the new urban areas being started. Effects the Baby Boom and Subsequent Baby Bust Have Had On Housing Demands (Suburbanization) The increased population had greater impacts on the housing sector. The Golden Horseshoe had provided housing policies that ensured proper housing for all the persons within its urban environs. In responding to drastic population growth, there are set policies to protect any sensitive environmental land from settlements. Any suburbanization must be within the set policies. If the projected growth is exceeded, there may be no sufficient infrastructure while, if the growth falls bellow the expected, there could be misallocation of some investments. Therefore, policies are drawn to ensure there is a proper balance of these resource demands. The housing demands depend on the economic status of the person. This is also linked to the employment situation, dollar rate and interest levels. Early retirement of baby boomers contribute to this low demand in housing sector. The place of living is determined by economic factors. Previous research had shown that the employment rate highly influences the movement patterns and general cost of housing. The correlations of these factors are reflected in a way that the higher rate of employment results in many migrations in the Greater Golden Horseshoe particularly in the inner ring (MacFarlane 67). When the baby boom retires, the level of workforce also reduces, and net migration is depressed. Secondly, when housing cost is high, there is a lower rate of migration into the Greater Horseshoe. In the current situation of higher prices, people tend to move Outer ring. This follows the policy of demand and supply. Consequently, people migrate depending on the prevailing situation at a given time, in search of housing. The housing policies are part of the guiding principle determination of price variations. Developments in Housing Housing developments majorly depended on economic factors at a given time. In the Greater Horseshoe, the home developers could chose to build less expensive housing units such as the townhouses and apartments. This option is made in cases where the prices of single detached housing are expensive for house buyers. However, recent projections on housing value may be the contrary, irrespective of the economic boom that may be in place. This is due to projections based on the period from 2005 to 2031 whereby population growth and job may reduce drastically. Hamilton and the Surrounding Region has Transformed into the City it is Today and How it will Possibly Look in the near Future The immigration policies have also drastically increased the population of Hamilton since several immigrants settle at this point. This has enabled a faster population growth from 5.8 million people to the expected population number of 8.6 million by 2031. This kind of expected growth is able to expand the city in the near future due to proper planning strategies that the government is able to organize. Employment is also expected to grow rapidly due to the stable economic focus of the place. The employment growth is to rise from 2.9 million jobs by 2001 to about 4.3 by 2031. The growth distribution is based on the physical constraints of the place and the availability of the resources including amenities. This room for expansive growth is vital for population distribution pattern of the residences in the area (Government of Ontario 4) Housing unit developments in this place also influences growth capacity of the place. Infrastructural and building policies are supporting the development of the town due to good policies of employment distribution, which are felt in major urban across the Great Horseshoe. The table bellow shows employment pattern in different urban by the year 2001. Total employment estimation by category in the GTAH Employment land Major office Population related. Toronto 25 % 38% 37% York 58 % 12% 29% Durharm 55 % 3% 42% Halton 61% 08% 34% Hamilton 49% 06% 45% GTAH Total 41% 24% 35 % Employment land varies in an industrial type building. This category is concentrated in business parks. It occurs in new suburb employment areas majorly. Through the policies, the greatest plan of the Golden Horseshoe is the identification of 25 existing downtown locations as urban centers. In these areas, policies are established and the targeted minimum density in order to uplift the development process (Government of Ontario 5). This enhances developments of the Greater Horseshoe according to the level in which the resources are mobilized. Impacts on the Immigration Policy on the Cities within Canada The migration policy has influenced the population growth in the Great Horseshoe, Canada. The natural population increase has slowed down with time and the country depends on the immigrants to increase its population. The migration policy has created the highest international migration. The immigration is majorly guided by the federal Government policy. The policy encourages three migration patterns. The policy gives room for permanent migration for those individuals coming from other countries. There is inter- provincial migration patterns and intra province immigration options as provided by the policy. This policy has encouraged population growth which has then translated to urban development after during the postwar period. Canada’s immigration policy has got influence on immigration levels experienced. For instance, existence of out- migration which occurs from GTAH to other regions has greatly influenced population growth of the outer ring. Due to higher economic prospects, immigration is highly expected to increase in the region. Conclusion The postwar urban development was facilitated by several policy supports by the government. Proper planning was very instrumental in designing good housing units in these urban centers. The greater Golden Horseshoe had refined policies for the proper administration and economic development strategy for the nation. The housing policies fasten the development due to good housing plans and infrastructural programs, which enabled proper road network. The policies also defined proper urban planning methods, which were extensively used to fasten growth. Finally, there were immigration policies that facilitated increase in the population of the people in main towns during the postwar period which also facilitated growth of the urban centers, thus developing Golden Horseshoe. Works Cited Albert, Rose. "Governing metropolitan Toronto.” A social and political analysis, Institute of Governmental Studies. California: University of California Press. 197. Print. MacFarlane, David. Toronto: A City Becoming. Toronto: Key Porter Books publishers. 2008. Print. Read More