This text is part of the special booklet For a housing reform
The ecological transition occupies an equally important place in the first Metropolitan Housing Policy for Greater Montreal. At Quebec, it is individual transport that generates the most greenhouse gases. How then can we design neighborhoods that contribute to this transition?
Building living environments that minimize travel, promote active and public transportation and reduce GHG emissions, “it’s not a matter of choice, it’s a responsibility,” emphasizes the Mayor of Longueuil, Catherine Fournier. The municipal sector, which under-uses its powers in this area, nevertheless has several tools at its disposal.
“The way we develop our cities can promote the ecological transition. Cities have the power to oversee development and decide what can be developed, where and how,” explains Stéphane Boyer, Mayor of Laval.
However, cities inherit the housing policies of the last decades. “We haven’t created enough living space near complete environments,” says Catherine Boisclair, urban planner and coordinator at Vivre en ville. Several suburbs, including Longueuil, were developed on the model of the automobile. “There is a push to give,” agrees Mme Fournier.
This change of direction involves the protection of nature and agricultural land, access to affordable and central housing, a better offer of local services and transport. All made possible by a densification of the central districts.
“It’s no longer a question of whether we’re going to densify or not, it’s how we’re going to do it,” says Mme Clear wood. Soft densification involves accessory dwellings, the subdivision of dwellings, intergenerational homes, construction on parking lots or huge underused shopping centres.
Municipalities must promote construction (more efficient from an energy-efficient point of view) in village centers and central districts. The ideal? Live 15 minutes walk from the grocery store and local shops, school or daycare, and close to public transport. “Beyond the ecological transition, densification makes the implementation of public transit possible,” notes the mayor of Laval.
Protecting Intact Environments
In addition to feeding the population, natural and agricultural environments, protected in particular by the densification of existing neighborhoods, in turn provide important ecosystem services. For example, wetlands, which act like real sponges, play a role in protecting against flooding.
But there is still work to be done. “It’s easier right now to build far away. The entire construction industry must learn from green densification,” notes M.me Clear wood. With its new Plan for the Protection of Natural Environments, Longueuil wishes, for example, to give developers more predictability, indicating to them the sectors to be developed and preserved.
Green the city
Building close to the already built goes hand in hand with greening strategies. And this, even if sometimes, the construction of habitats requires cutting down trees. “It’s counter-intuitive, but otherwise we’re destroying our forests,” observes Ms.me Clear wood.
Once again, there are many options: sidewalk benches, filtration pits, green roofs… In addition to fighting against heat islands, these facilities absorb heavy rains instead of saturating the municipal sewer system. Some municipalities require developers to retain rainwater on their site, which also fuels greening, and prevents filtering facilities from rejecting untreated water due to lack of capacity during very heavy rains.
Act for the common good
One thing is clear: to face the ecological transition, we will have to review our ways of inhabiting the territory, and accelerate the process to build more homes. “Each of our decisions has an impact on the look of the city and on the way of life of the people,” summarizes Mr. Boyer.
Faced with densification projects, there is often an outcry. “You have to ask yourself how to promote social acceptability. For us, it goes through projects that respect heritage, and make greening, ”believes Mme Fournier. If for many, the single-family home is synonymous with space for children to play outside, it is not the only option.
“We can build more densely, but by making room for children: interior courtyards, safe terraces, etc. “, enumerates Mr. Boyer. More density ultimately means more local services and businesses, and more public transit. So tackling the climate crisis also attracts solutions to the affordable housing crisis, and improves the quality of life for more people.
“It’s easier right now to build far away. The entire construction industry must learn from green densification. »
The ideal? Live 15 minutes walk from the grocery store and local shops, school or daycare, and close to public transport.