What Canada Can Learn From U.S. Cities

An urban renaissance is underway in many American cities, one fueled by the "common sense" of focusing on fundamentals. Canadian cities are looking south to pick up some good ideas.

2 minute read

October 24, 2007, 2:00 PM PDT

By Michael Dudley


"Last April, Washington's oldest continuously operating market burned down, a victim of faulty wiring. The neighbourhood was in shock: The Eastern Market is the very heart of Capitol Hill. But Adrian Fenty, Washington's young new mayor, vowed to have the building restored and reopened in two years or less, and in the meantime city hall used surplus revenues to construct a temporary shelter. The locals raised an astonishing $385,000 in a few weeks to help out the vendors. The market was up and running in its temporary new building by the end of August.

The rescue of the Eastern Market epitomizes the transformation of the District of Columbia. Capitol Hill, which had descended from gentility to crime-infested poverty, is once again thriving. The same is true of Logan Circle, Columbia Heights, the U Street Corridor.

Washington is not alone. Portland's Pearl District, Manhattan's Hudson Heights - where crime has declined by 84 per cent since 1993 - Chicago's South Loop, San Diego's Marina District, Boston's South End, all reflect the renaissance of urban America. Not everywhere, and not all for the same reasons. But the stereotype of the run-down, boarded-up, dangerous downtown is increasingly a myth. America's cities are back.

What happened? Demographics, unintended consequences, the arrival of common sense. City halls across the country were absorbing the same lesson: Focus on the fundamentals. Clean up the parks, scrape off the graffiti, put a cop on every corner, lower taxes, cut the red tape and let market forces do the rest.

Today, most Washington neighbourhoods are safe and clean, and enjoy twice-weekly garbage pickup. How many Canadian neighbourhoods can make the same claim?"

Wednesday, October 24, 2007 in The Globe & Mail

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Aerial view of single-family homes with swimming pools in San Diego, California.

San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule

The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.

March 9, 2025 - Axios

Canadian flag in foreground with blurred Canadian Parliament building in background in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Has President Trump Met His Match?

Doug Ford, the no-nonsense premier of Canada's most populous province, Ontario, is taking on Trump where it hurts — making American energy more expensive.

March 11, 2025 - Toronto Star

Close-up of green ULEZ sign in London, UK.

Study: London ULEZ Rapidly Cleaning up Air Pollution

Expanding the city’s ultra low-emission zone has resulted in dramatic drops in particle emissions in inner and outer London.

March 10, 2025 - Smart Cities World

Tents set up by unhoused people under freeway overpass in San Jose, California with American flag above them.

San Jose Mayor Takes Dual Approach to Unsheltered Homeless Population

In a commentary published in The Mercury News, Mayor Matt Mahan describes a shelter and law enforcement approach to ending targeted homeless encampments within Northern California's largest city.

March 14 - The Mercury News

Blue Atlanta streetcar on street in downtown Atlanta, Georgia.

Atlanta Changes Beltline Rail Plan

City officials say they are committed to building rail connections, but are nixing a prior plan to extend the streetcar network.

March 14 - Saporta Report

New York City city hall building.

Are Black Mayors Being Pushed Out of Office?

The mayors of New York, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh all stand to lose their seats in the coming weeks. They also all happen to be Black.

March 14 - Governing

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.