Community News

A STEP WE NEED TO TAKE ON POPULATION DENSITY

Re: Critical thinking on urban boundary, April 28

The writer demands critical thinking be applied to the discussion of expanding the city boundaries.

He points out more people in the same area will increase population density. At that point he seems to abandon critical thinking, apparently assuming the population density cannot be increased.

Based on data from Statistics Canada, the population density of urban Hamilton is about 1,966 people per square kilometre.

I compared that with other cities. Toulouse, France is a similar city to Hamilton, with large industry, portions of the Airbus consortium, a university and a subway.

Its population density is 4,200 people per square kilometre. For nearer comparisons, Buffalo has a density of 2,441 people per square kilometre and Toronto 4,427 people per square kilometre.

People in other cities seem to live together happily in a mix of smaller dwellings and highrises. Adding 236,000 people (Hamilton's working estimate) would only increase its density to 2,636 people per square kilometre.

NIMBYism seems to be his problem. He is unwilling to share space with others. Replacing the monster homes with smaller dwellings could have an additional benefit to reduce energy demand, a step we as a city, a country and a world need to take.

JOHN VICKERS HAMILTON MOUNTAIN

OPINION EDITORIAL

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2022-05-19T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-05-19T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://communitynews.pressreader.com/article/281522229695424

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