Research Proposal
Summary Statement of Proposed Project
The Downtown core of the City of Kamloops is the hub of the city. I believe it can be more vibrant, with a feeling of community. This project is intended to study neighbourhoods that were built with new urbanism concepts, garden city concepts, and live-work concepts, and find out how to apply these ideas to downtown Kamloops. Official Community plans are guidelines that are by no means strict. Can a new OCP be developed where zones have guidelines that must be strictly adhered to?
Purpose
To study the viability of live-work areas, buildings and zoning in Kamloops.
To propose a new zoning by-law be created for live-work buildings and areas.
To turn the city core into a vibrant, bustling centre, where live and work come together, and the neighbourhood doesn’t go to sleep at 5 pm.
To develop a new Official Community Plan for the downtown core that has strict regulations so desired feel, uses, functions, buildings and amenities are accomplished.
Goals and Objectives of the Project
I would like to compose a new OCP for the downtown core. A plan where each individual building and green space in a certain zone must follow detailed, strict, criteria for facilities, activities and functions, rather than an overall guideline of how the community should be planned.
To bring the city core to life, Can tax incentives be put in place to keep shops open after 5 pm? Can a deal be struck with rocky mountaineer tours to keep tourists in the city core where shopping and eating will take place? Where would the ideal locations for the new live work zoning be? Can tax incentives be put in place to encourage developers and investors to develop the new zoning?
Methodology and Analytical Approach
1. Research the official community plan, as well as the North Shore, and Downtown community plans. Study the steps that have been taken, as well as the future plan for revitalization of neighbourhoods in Kamloops. Compose a new OCP for the Downtown core, concentrating on individual buildings, amenities, and green spaces.
2. Research academic sources in the topics of sustainable city planning, new urbanism, containment, and garden cities. Research case studies of other successful city plans, garden cities, and new urban neighbourhoods.
3. Why is it good to use space for multiple uses, and what can the city do to incorporate more of this in the city plans?
4. Does designing more densely really make a neighbourhood centre more efficient?
5. What steps can be taken to revive the core of Kamloops above the measures that have already been taken?
6. Is it a good idea to design cities with a priority to people, rather than vehicles?
7. Determine the pros and cons of live-work zoning and buildings in Kamloops.
8. To develop a new live-work zone and include it in a new proposed OCP for the downtown core.
9. Determine a forecast of what the city core would be like with this new plan in place.
this is good cause kamloops definatly has some design problems a new OCP would be great for kamloops and developing something so u can live where you work would be great
ReplyDeleteI've always thought it would be good to have a design standard that wouldn't allow developers to build low budget buildings in high traffic areas. Kamloops seems to have a problem with that.
ReplyDeleteYou guys are absolutely right. For the most part, Kamloops seems to have this problem of developers only building to make a couple of quick bucks and not go the extra mile to make a beautiful city with nice architecture. In my opinion the higher quality building brings up property values.
ReplyDeleteWalter tells us the stories about when he works on McDonald's and how they have different levels of set qualities that they use for their restaurants. An example of a low one being Merritt and a higher one maybe being Sahali. For the most part, Kamloops seems to get the basics when it comes to investors building here. Take a look at the BRAND NEW Best Western. Have you seen newer Best Westerns in other cities? Extravagant roofs, beautiful stone siding, and just an overall higer, more modern level of architecture. Take the West Bank one for example.
Yes, I guess I can understand that in tough economic times, sometimes having a low standard is the difference between an investor building here or not, but I think Kamloops has reached a more sustainable population that the low times aren't going to hit as hard. Not to mention, when a higher standard of design is implemented, the quality architecture attracts people and investment.
Maybe my research will definately lean more to what can be done in zoning to ensure a higher standard. An ATTRACTIVE city with nice architecture ATTRACTS more investment, as well as more people wanting to move here. I travel to Vancouver Island a lot and in cities like Comox, Courtenay, and Nanaimo, as well as cities in the lower mainland, the new buildings getting built there are quality, attractive buildings. What are they doing that Kamloops isn't? I can guess one thing. If your looking at changing the quality of builings and urban design in the city, having a good community plan helps. Look at whats going on on Tranquille road from Fortune Dr. to Elm ave. The street is getting transformed. For once, design, use and function are reflective of what was designed in the North Shore Community Plan. Typically a community plan ends up being a set of guidelines that may or may not come into fruition. At least when it comes to design. Why in this case was the plan carried out generally how it was meant to be? What can be done to ensure this happens all the time with community plans?