The Negotiation of Space and Rights: Suburban Planning with Diversity

Abstract

The increasing suburbanization of immigrant settlement in Canada’s major receiving cities has created unprecedented challenges for municipalities. Despite emerging research about the rise of ethnic suburbs in Canada and abroad, the role of suburban municipalities in facilitating immigrant integration and planning with diversity remains unclear. Based on mixed-method ethnographic research, this article investigates how immigrant and racialized communities in the Greater Toronto Area have significantly transformed suburban places and built institutionally complete communities. However, the rapid development of these spaces has not been fully recognized or supported by municipal planning authorities. Conflicts related to land use, public engagement, and public realm development expose planning’s failure to keep pace with the diverse needs of immigrant communities, who must continually negotiate and fight for their use of space. Furthermore, the lack of effective civic engagement not only ignores immigrant and racialized communities as important stakeholders in suburban redevelopment, but also threatens to destroy the social infrastructure built by these communities and their ‘informal’ practices that are often not recognized by the planning ‘norm.’ Without appropriate community consultation, planning processes can further sideline marginalized groups. Lack of consultation also tends to prevent cooperation between groups, impeding the building of inclusive communities. It is imperative for municipalities to better understand and encourage community engagement and placemaking in ethnic suburbs. This study offers several recommendations for suburban planning with diversity.

Just city planning competitions in Helsinki: between the power of image and many images of power

“…Zhuang (2017) observed such third places at many trades and businesses be they private (barbershops, cafés or restaurants) or public (shopping plazas and public spaces). These third places further extend the functionality of ethnic shopping clusters towards community-building and promoting social interactions (Zhuang, 2021). Zhuang (2021, p.119) also found that a third of the visitors to ethnic retail clusters visit them for social reasons not shopping and that 95 % of the visitors feel 'at home'; thus, Chinese and South Asian communities have transformed the spaces to locus of new meanings and identities.…”

Grassroots Activation of Public Space: A Toronto Neighbourhood Improvement Area Context

“…Planners and those responsible for training planners must consider more efficient ways of engaging with racialized communities. Without proper community consultation, these inequities of accessibility can become further accentuated (Zhuang, 2021). Conversations must consider the lived experiences of individuals and incorporate that knowledge into consultation and subsequent decisions (Zhuang, 2021).…”

“…These groups understand the needs and desires of the community and hold the ability to reach and advertise the initiatives (Ramakrishnan & Viramontes, 2010). NIAs tend to have a high proportion of grassroots groups (Bhatia, 2020) Without proper community consultation, the inequities of accessibility can become further accentuated (Zhuang, 2021). Planners and those responsible for training planners must consider more efficient ways of engaging with racialized communities (Zhuang, 2021).…”

“…NIAs tend to have a high proportion of grassroots groups (Bhatia, 2020) Without proper community consultation, the inequities of accessibility can become further accentuated (Zhuang, 2021). Planners and those responsible for training planners must consider more efficient ways of engaging with racialized communities (Zhuang, 2021). Furthermore, Inam (2019) notes that collaboration with community members is imperative in achieving community enrichment.…”

“…The extensive and inclusive consultation process that the Project of Public Spaces undertook was integral to this project's success (Ramakrishnan & Viramontes, 2010). Through the consultation, the organization gained knowledge of the community and created an inclusive, accessible and equitable public space (Zhuang, 2021). This space was programmed per the community's needs, which was integral in making the space feel welcoming to all (Kortzewska, 2017).…”