Lots has been written about Detroit’s “comeback” in recent years. After years of economic decline, the city saw a boost of investment after the 2007-2008 financial crisis. Urbanists have flocked to document what a post-industrial economic revival can look like. I made the trip in spring 2019 to see what the fuss was about. InitialContinueContinue reading “Detroit Is”
Category Archives: Urban Planning
Annonce: Mise-à-jour professionnel / Announcement: Professional update
Followed by English below. Je suis fier d’annoncer que je suis inscrit à l’Ordre des urbanistes du Québec depuis le 1er avril 2025. Depuis plusieurs mois, je travaille activement sur un projet à Montréal concernant les espaces verts et la finance. Cette expérience m’a mené à faire la demande d’inscription à l’OUQ car, je suisContinueContinue reading “Annonce: Mise-à-jour professionnel / Announcement: Professional update”
Winter Update: Marita Payne Food Forest
As the snow comes in, gardeners and farmers prepare for the next growing season. That’s what Atar and I have been busy doing this winter. Atar has been a great co-lead to have on this project. It seems that the more snow we get, the harder we work. If all goes well, we may haveContinueContinue reading “Winter Update: Marita Payne Food Forest”
Vaughan’s first edible food forest
Saying something matters. In January 2023, I made a deputation at the City of Vaughan’s budget committee outlining numerous concerns, including the need for more trees to be planted in my neighbourhood. When I was first told by urban forestry staff a few weeks later that a food forest was being considered in Vaughan, IContinueContinue reading “Vaughan’s first edible food forest”
Looking back on 2023, looking forward to 2024
Design credit: Ednalyn Lazaro via Canva The Urban Hulk has had a positive year of growth in 2023. New business came up. There are exciting projects for 2024. A year in review:1) Working with Ivey Business School at Western University on regenerative agriculture / climate-smart agriculture projects. A major report on regenerative agriculture is comingContinueContinue reading “Looking back on 2023, looking forward to 2024”
Letter to City of Vaughan Council re: Municipal Housing Pledge – March 7, 2023
This letter was submitted to the City of Vaughan’s Committee of the Whole meeting on March 8, 2023, Item #13. For more on the Missing Middle, read my blog post from January 30, 2023. Implementing the province’s housing pledge must emphasize development that does not encourage sprawl, which would risk placing future financial pressure onContinueContinue reading “Letter to City of Vaughan Council re: Municipal Housing Pledge – March 7, 2023”
Imagining The Missing Middle In Vaughan
By: Jean-François Obregón January 30, 2023 Cities like my hometown Vaughan, Ontario, Canada are defined by single-detached homes with backyards. An increase in condominium construction in recent years has changed the skyline but, there is little in-between. Many young people move to exurban municipalities because that is where they can afford a house. Given aContinueContinue reading “Imagining The Missing Middle In Vaughan”
