Communicating Change: Public Engagement, Intensification, and Urban Redevelopment

Abstract

The role of public engagement is a common subject in the planning literature. This research sought to better understand how different actors view and understand public engagement in their communities, and how is public participation being applied in communities that are experiencing significant redevelopment forces. In addition, this research also sought to understand if there were unique needs in community redevelopment that could be better addressed in public engagement approaches. Based on the existing literature, interviews were conducted with stakeholders involved with the Calgary, AB community of Hillhurst-Sunnyside to determine how planning documents and City activity were being understood by local stakeholders, and what limitations City and community groups were facing in response to redevelopment pressures. In doing so it was found that gaps in communication and engagement capacity between stakeholder groups was exacerbating certain points of conflict, and posing challenges for future engagement opportunities.