The problems associated with urban sprawl are getting a lot of attention these days as cities deal with increased pollution, traffic gridlock and an aging infrastructure. How urban and suburban areas deal with increased population growth was a major issue in the last federal election, and it's not a problem that will go away soon.

Canada's most populated area, Ontario's Golden Horseshoe, which includes the Greater Toronto Area, Hamilton, and Kitchener-Waterloo, will grow by almost four million people by 2031, according to a recent study. How the area will deal with all those people, when it's already struggling to cope with traffic and transit problems, pollution and a lack of affordable rental housing, has prompted several recent initiatives spearheaded by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., the government's national housing agency.

Recently CMHC, working with the University of Toronto's Faculty of Architecture, Landscaping and Design and architectural firm ARK Ink., held a design charrette to generate ideas for building and community design ideas. The group looked at four neighbourhoods in Toronto -- a suburban region that's about 50 years old, two high-density downtown neighbourhoods, and a vast brownfields area -- to come up with ideas for creating sustainable neighbourhoods.

Sustainable building practices reduce the environmental impact of increased housing -- "a neighbourhood that meets your needs while protecting the environment and leaving an affordable legacy," says CMHC. A sustainable neighbourhood includes homes that are near shops, schools, recreation, work and other destinations.

"Like a village, these places are a pleasant, convenient and a safe walk, cycle or bus ride from home. Land and services, like roads, are used efficiently. They also feature a choice of homes that you can afford," says CMHC.

Last week the agency staged a media bus tour of downtown Toronto to show some of the neighbourhoods it is talking about. A downtown co-op, for example, had financial and technical support from the agency to create a 110-unit project that's barrier-free, energy-efficient and affordable. Another downtown project, which will offer market-rate condominiums, also had financing help from CMHC so it could convert an old warehouse rather than demolish it. That kept tons of materials from entering a landfill site.

The bus tour also showed off other non-profit housing developments and a demonstration house built as part of the agency's Healthy Housing program. But sustainable housing isn't just a concept for the city -- if urban sprawl is going to be curbed, the concept has to be embraced in suburbia, small towns and even in rural areas.

"Streets are for people, not just for cars," says CMHC. "The human scale of the streets and slow speed of the cars make them comfortable, safe and pleasant places to walk" in sustainable communities, it says.

The agency has developed a checklist for people who are thinking of moving to a new neighbourhood. The more times you can answer "yes" to the following questions, the more healthy and sustainable the neighbourhood.

Can I use my car less or not need a car at all? Can I save money by living here? Could I stay in the neighbourhood if my housing needs change? Could I get to know my neighbours and local shopkeepers? Is this a pleasant place to walk? Is this a safe community? Can rainwater soak naturally into the ground? Have natural areas in the neighbourhood been preserved? Is land used efficiently?

Some other things to look for include a number of healthy trees in the neighbourhood, which makes it feel cooler in the summer, intercepts rainwater, improves air quality, makes streets look more attractive, and boosts the resale value of the homes. Stormwater ponds and green areas also let rainwater soak in, reducing the demand for sewers and water treatment.

Less-spread-out communities are more likely to be served by public transit, and are cheaper to maintain than more low-density communities.

The bottom line is that sustainable neighbourhoods help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce demand on water and sewer infrastructures, use land more efficiently, help send less waste to landfill sites, and are generally more pleasant places to live. Stopping the sprawl of the suburbs, a trend that has gone on for decades, isn't going to be easy, but if builders get on board and promote the positive aspects of sustainability, perhaps sprawl can least be slowed down a little.

Published: October 21, 2004

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Jim Adair is editor of REM: Canada's Real Estate Magazine, a business publication for real estate agents and brokers. He is also consulting editor of Homes & Cottages, Canada's largest building and renovation magazine. Email jimhc@pathcom.com.