Urban renewal and environment: take one

For those not familiar with the term "urban renewal" it is a euphemism for gentrification. It is a large urban eradication project meant to demolish existing housing and infrastructure and construct new infrastructure like condos and high rises. In the social sciences, we learn that urban renewal has the potential to revitalize a neighborhood through bringing investment and redevelopment. But of course there is the displacement factor. Low-income citizens who predominantly inhabit these areas get displaced because they cannot compete with the rising property costs and competitive housing market that urban renewal creates.

But what about the environment? Urban renewal does have impacts on the environment but we tend to overlook them. Just the amount of aggregate and resources needed to construct these buildings is scary. What urban renewal needs to change is the green space of a neighborhood. When a community lacks green space and a natural environment, the rebuilding and redevelopment of it only becomes more attractive for a developer. Of course building a new condominium may be gleaned for higher and better use. But, the focus needs to be on creating healthy environments that have harmonious development and a sense of green character. Constructing new buildings to replace decrepit ones is understandable, however, we know that displacement of the low-income tenants and damage to the environment is the inevitable result.

Let's focus on adding a new green look to urban renewal where the natural environment is the most indispensable factor. Green spaces and preserving the environment will bring harmony to the neighbourhood that has only become dilapidated because of the city's unwillingness to invest resources into creating parks, nature areas and gardens.

Key message: Green urban renewal is what we are going to need for the present and for the future. The preservation of a neighbourhood is always dependent on how it maintains the natural environment. The city needs to invest more money into greening its neighbourhoods so that they become more appealing, less stigmatized and more cohesive.