University of Calgary PRISM: University of Calgary's Digital Repository Graduate Studies The Vault: Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2015-05-04 Preferences for Urban Form: How Density Perceptions, Lifestyle and Urban Form Affect the Acceptance of Increased Density in Neighbourhood Redevelopment Meier, Ryan Alexander Meier, R. A. (2015). Preferences for Urban Form: How Density Perceptions, Lifestyle and Urban Form Affect the Acceptance of Increased Density in Neighbourhood Redevelopment (Unpublished master's thesis). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. doi:10.11575/PRISM/27411 http://hdl.handle.net/11023/2239 master thesis University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission. Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY Preferences for Urban Form: How Density Perceptions, Lifestyle, and Urban From Affect the Acceptance of Increased Density in Neighbourhood Redevelopment by Ryan Alexander Meier A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN GRADUATE PROGRAM IN ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN CALGARY, ALBERTA APRIL, 2015 © Ryan Alexander Meier 2015 ii Abstract Around the world the planning profession has acknowledged the impact that urban sprawl is having on the environment, society and municipal finances. Municipalities and the planning profession are working towards a greater vision of densifying existing inner-city neighbourhoods as a means to build better communities, maximize infrastructure, and reduce the overall environmental impact. In redeveloping these neighbourhoods, planners, developers and architects are experiencing opposition from community groups and residents, who are presenting a spectrum of complaints about change. This is resulting in slowed development and increased costs which leads to lowered affordability and increased viability of suburban development. Understanding both the personal and physical characteristics that contribute to resident acceptance of increased density will enable the effective redevelopment of inner city neighbourhoods. Using Calgary, Alberta, Canada as a case, the research study aims to understand which urban forms, all presented at constant densities of 400 people and jobs per net developable hectare are preferred by residents. The study was framed around five research questions, which seek to understand: (1) preferred urban form, (2) how density is perceived, (3) the relationship between preferred urban form and perceived density, (4) the preferred urban form based on lifestyle and (5) the perceived characteristics of preferred and least preferred urban forms and how this relates to the perceptions of the local planning and development industry. The research resolved these iii questions through the use of an empirical experiment, using statistical analysis of questionnaire responses and documenting participant perceptive reactions to a series of controlled visual stimuli. The visual stimuli used were a series of six, three dimensional digital models of a redeveloped neighbourhood which were constructed and measured to ensure variables were documented and constants were controlled. Participant responses to personal characteristics (i.e. demographic and lifestyle) and participant perceptions and preferences of the neighbourhood representation were collected using a series of two questionnaires. The overall findings showed that perceived density does not correlate with participant’s preferences for neighbourhood urban forms. The findings showed that there was a difference in how participants perceived the spatial and population density of each urban form. The most preferred urban form, and the one preferred by most lifestyle groups, was the nodal or urban village density pattern with 44% of participants stating it was their first or second preference. The least preferred urban form was the modern density pattern. The findings suggest that specific characteristics, such as traffic, lack of sufficient parking, and visual privacy, that have been identified as challenging in the redevelopment of neighbourhoods are not necessarily indicative of neighbourhood preferences. In fact, those characteristics (e.g. on street parking, traffic, visual privacy, etc.) did not have a large impact on whether a particular urban form was preferred. The results indicate that urban form has a significant impact on resident acceptance for higher density urban environments, and further, that perceived iv density has less of an impact on the degree to which a person prefers a neighbourhood form. The results also demonstrated that urban form does have a significant impact on how participants perceived the density of each neighbourhood form. In all, this suggests that how neighbourhoods are designed and the form that is produced has a significant impact on the acceptability of density and redevelopment in general. v Acknowledgements I would like to take this opportunity to thank those people that made this research possible and who have supported me in its development. First and foremost I would like to thank my research supervisors Dr. Larissa Muller and Dr. Mark Lindquist who together guided the development and completion of this thesis document. Your knowledge, guidance and support has been invaluable in the development of this thesis and expanding my knowledge. Thank you to those that were hired or volunteered to support specific elements of the thesis, specifically Ximena Gonzalez De Aguinaga who transcribed the key informant interviews, Jessica Hall, Caitlyn Bidochka who completed the detailed Sketchup elements of the three dimensional models. You have all been incredibly important in my successful completion of this research. I would like to acknowledge my employer, the City of Calgary, my managers and my teams for giving me the flexibility to complete my thesis while working full time. Finally a great thanks to my fellow EVDS colleagues, my friends and family I don’t know where I would be without you. Your continued love, support and constant encouragement have been irreplaceable. Megan and Christina thank you both for volunteering your time with completing the three dimensional models and editing the final document I would not have finished without you. vi Dedication To my mom, Mary Ann Meier, for her love, strength, and support vii Table of Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................ ii Acknowledgements .............................................................................................. v Dedication ............................................................................................................vi Table of Contents ................................................................................................ vii List of Figures and Illustrations ........................................................................... xiv List of Tables .................................................................................................... xviii 1. Introduction .................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ............................................................................................. 2 1.1.1. The Trend of Urban Sprawl .................................................................. 2 1.1.2. The Issue and Impact of Urban Sprawl ................................................ 5 1.1.3. How Cities are Solving the Issue of Urban Sprawl ............................... 7 1.1.4. Challenges to Increasing Density in Established Areas ....................... 9 1.2 Contribution to Knowledge .................................................................... 10 1.3 Aims and Objectives .............................................................................. 12 1.3.1. Research Questions ........................................................................... 12 1.3.2 Research Hypotheses ......................................................................... 13 1.4 Assumptions of the Study ...................................................................... 14 1.5 Organization of the Thesis ..................................................................... 14 viii 2. Literature Review ......................................................................................... 16 2.1. An Approach for Evaluation of Density and Environmental Aesthetics .. 16 2.1.1. Density and Crowding Research..................................................... 17 2.1.2. Neighbourhood and Housing Satisfaction Research....................... 19 2.1.3. Environmental Aesthetics and Preference Studies ......................... 23 2.1.4. Personal and Psychosocial Factors ................................................ 32 2.2. Market Segmentation: Lifestyle ............................................................. 35 2.2.1. Market Segmentation ...................................................................... 35 2.2.2. Definition of Lifestyle ....................................................................... 37 2.2.3. Activities, Interests and Opinions .................................................... 38