CCS UrbanInsights are research bulletins that highlight various trends and issues on the landscape. They cover a range of topics from employment and commuting trends to creative industries and built heritage. Some UrbanInsights bulletins have a Geostreet interactive map component providing an additional way to view the data.
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The Economic Value of Heritage Districts
Research | Data Analysis | Policy Analysis | Spatial Analysis
While there is a growing consensus on the aesthetic value heritage buildings bring to an urban landscape, there is wide-spread perception that designating buildings or districts under the Ontario Heritage Act adversely impacts property values. This UrbanInsights bulletin analyzes this validity of this perception by looking at a case-study of Hamilton, Ontario. To view the Geostreet interactive map, click the link here. (Geostreet Map)
Community Walk Score: Hamilton’s Top Walkable Neighbourhoods
Research | Data Analysis | Spatial Analysis
Walkablilty is increasingly recognized as a key indicator for quality of life in communities. Many cities, including Hamilton, Ontario are attempting to plan for complete communities whereby residents can navigate their neighbourhoods on foot and address many of their daily needs without a vehicle. While planning for complete communities remains a goal, the existing state of walkability in Hamilton is less understood. This UrbanInsights bulletin explores the walkability of Hamilton’s neighbourhoods using the Walk Score web tool.
Hamilton Live: The Geography of Music in the GHA
Research | Data Analysis | Spatial Analysis
Many communities, including Hamilton, Ontario, have identified creative industries as key components of the local economy. Music plays a big role in the creative economy and involves many elements from musicians to record labels to music venues. However, while we have a greater understanding of the nature of other economic sectors such as manufacturing or health-sciences, music is less understood. This UrbanInsights bulletin explores Hamilton’s music sector through the number and location of live music venues and how the venue count compares to some other Ontario cities on a per capita basis. (Geostreet Map)
Core Education: Downtown as a Hub for Learning
Research | Data Analysis | Spatial Analysis
The education sector is a key building block of a community’s prosperity. Many communities, including Hamilton, Ontario, have worked with post-secondary institutions to establish satellite campuses in downtowns to help spur renewal. There are some remarkable examples of success in this regard which leads to the question, are downtowns particularly suited to being hubs of education? This UrbanInsights bulletin explores the education sector in Hamilton’s city core to see how significant schools and students are in the downtown. To view the Geostreet interactive map, click the link here. (Geostreet Map)
Community Bandwidth: Hamilton’s Internet Use
Research | Data Analysis
While many Ontario cities transition to the knowledge-based economy, there is increased importance placed on access to the Internet as a means for learning, working, and leisure. As a basic measure of the relative prominence the Internet plays in cities, a look at access to the World Wide Web, though various means can illustrate how “plugged-in” a community is. This UrbanInsights bulletin analyses Internet use across selected Canadian municipalities, with a specific focus on Hamilton, Ontario, a mature Ontario city with diverse social demographics, that is in the midst of transitioning to the knowledge-based economy.
Meet the Downtowners: Young, Professional Women
Research | Data Analysis
Downtown decline in North American cities has primarily been seen through the lens of a “flight to the suburbs” of residents and business. This has been backed up by declining population numbers for central areas and has led the general perception that downtowns are less relevant to their respective communities. However, to understand the full picture of the contemporary role of downtowns in city life, the demographics of workers should be examined to separate fact from perception. This UrbanInsights Bulletin examines the downtown workforce in Hamilton, Ontario to determine what demographics typify the daily life of the central area against the larger impression of decline and stagnation.
Where Hamilton Works: Local and Regional Commuting Trends
Research | Data Analysis | Spatial Analysis
With the regionalization of the Greater Golden Horseshoe growing, this UrbanInsights bulletin looks at the flow of workers in and out of Hamilton, Ontario to get a sense of the changing regional picture of employment flows. To view the Geostreet interactive map, click the link here. (Geostreet Map)
Hamilton and the Creative Class
Research | Data Analysis | Policy Analysis/Development
This UrbanInsights bulletin reviews the popular concept by Richard Florida, highlighting Hamilton’s national rankings in the major indices. Additionally, the report provides recommendations in order to aid municipal efforts in attracting and retaining the Creative Class.
How Hamilton Works: Commuting, Transit, and Employment Trends
Research | Data Analysis
This UrbanInsights bulletin identifies commuting, transit, and employment trends that are specific to the Hamilton CMA (includes Burlington and Grimsby) and puts them into the broader Canadian context to help inform an understanding of these issues in the community.
