Urban Planning That Actually Works

We've spent years figuring out how cities can grow without losing their soul. It's not about throwing up towers and calling it progress — it's about creating spaces where people genuinely want to live, work, and hang out.

Planning process

How We Actually Approach City Planning

Look, we've seen too many master plans that look gorgeous on paper but fall flat in real life. That's why we spend most of our time just... listening. Walking neighborhoods. Talking to folks at coffee shops and community centers.

Every city's got its own rhythm, y'know? Some areas need gentle densification, others are crying out for mixed-use spaces. We don't believe in one-size-fits-all solutions because frankly, they've never worked.

Our process starts with understanding what's already there — the good, the bad, and the stuff that makes locals roll their eyes. Then we figure out how to build on the strengths while fixing what's broken.

Community-first thinking
Environmental reality checks
Long-term viability

Projects We're Proud Of

These are the ones that kept us up at night — in a good way.

Waterfront district
2019-2024

Port District Revitalization

This one was tricky. We had abandoned warehouses, contaminated soil, and residents worried about getting priced out. Took us three years of planning sessions, soil remediation consultations, and honestly some heated debates.

What we ended up with: 40% affordable housing mandate, preserved industrial architecture converted to maker spaces, a waterfront park that's now packed every weekend, and local businesses that actually survived the transition.

2,400
New residential units
85%
Community approval
Suburban center

Meadowbrook Town Centre

Classic suburban sprawl problem. Strip malls, car dependency, zero walkability. We convinced the municipality to rezone the whole corridor and create an actual downtown.

Mixed-use buildings, dedicated bike lanes, transit hub, and a main street where you can actually grab coffee without driving. Still a work in progress but it's getting there.

Green corridor

Green Corridor Network

Connected 12km of parks, trails and green spaces across three neighborhoods. Native plantings, rain gardens, the whole deal. Birds love it, people love it.

Transit hub

Ridgeway Transit Hub

Dense housing right on top of a subway station. Ground floor retail, mid-rise apartments, rooftop gardens. Reduced car trips in the area by 30% so far.

Heritage district

Old Mill District Guidelines

Created development standards that let the neighborhood grow without destroying what made it special. Height limits, material palettes, setback requirements — the boring stuff that matters.

Our Planning Timeline

People always ask how long this stuff takes. Honestly? Longer than anyone wants. But here's roughly how we break it down:

Discovery & Research
2-4 months

Site analysis, community consultations, existing condition assessments. We're basically detectives at this stage.

Concept Development
3-5 months

Multiple design iterations, stakeholder feedback loops, feasibility studies. Lots of coffee and late nights.

Detailed Planning
4-6 months

Technical drawings, zoning applications, environmental reports. The un-glamorous but critical stuff.

Implementation Support
Ongoing

We don't just hand over plans and disappear. We stick around to make sure things actually happen as intended.

The Impact We're After

Numbers don't tell the whole story, but they help show if we're actually making a difference.

35%

Average increase in green space across our master plans

18,000+

Community members engaged in our planning processes

28%

Reduction in car dependency in completed transit-oriented projects

42%

Affordable housing component in mixed-income developments

What Makes Our Approach Different

Real Community Input

Not just token consultations. We actually incorporate what people tell us, even when it means going back to the drawing board.

Long-Term Thinking

We're planning for the city in 20 years, not just what'll look good at the ribbon cutting.

Heritage Integration

New development doesn't have to bulldoze history. We're pretty good at finding ways to preserve character while adding density.

Climate Reality

Every plan includes climate adaptation strategies because pretending it's not happening isn't an option anymore.

Community engagement

Why Community Engagement Isn't Optional

We learned this the hard way early in our careers. You can have the most brilliant plan on paper, but if the people who actually live there don't buy in, it's gonna fail. Simple as that.

So now we spend probably 40% of our time just talking to folks. Shop owners, residents, community groups, the person walking their dog who has opinions about the intersection. All of it matters.

Yeah, it slows things down. Yeah, it's messier than just imposing a vision from above. But the projects that come out of this process? They actually work. They get used. They become part of the neighborhood's fabric instead of some weird alien thing people resent.

Let's Talk About Your Project