Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Developing an Environmentally Healthy Urban Oasis from a Racetrack

Environment and Heart Disease - Heart and the city(68 page pdf, François Reeves, Hippodrome project conference, Montreal, Dec. 11, 2012)

Also discussed here : Le Projet hippodrome priorisera la santé des résidants(Camille Laurin-Desjardins, Journal Metro, Dec. 11, 2012)

And here : Forum d'experts sur la mise en valeur du secteur de l'hippodrome - L'aménagement urbain : un déterminant de la santé et du bien-être collectif et individuel
[Expert Forum on development sector racecourse - Urban planning: a determinant of health and well-being collectively and individually](Ville de Montreal, Dec. 11, 2012)

 Today we review a conference in Montreal aimed at developing a former racecourse (the “Hippodrome”) in the urban core into an area that promotes the environment and a healthy life for its residents. Above all, this would promote active forms of transportation and lots of trees with a canopy objective of at least 25%. The keynote address by Francois Reeves analyzed the historical link between the growth of heart disease and the industrial era and urban living which gave rise to the very high cardiovascular mortality rates there. He suggests that with a healthier diet and reduction of air pollutants, Montreal could reduce the incidence of cardiac disease by 25 to 75%. urban heart  

Key Quotes :

“"After all, CVD was not common in 1830, so why can't it now become uncommon by 2050? That is the challenge we all face."

 « Plantez des arbres pour réduire les mortalités cardiovasculaires »
[plant trees to reduce cardiovascular deaths]

« vivre en milieu vert diminue de moitié l’écart de mortalité cardiovasculaire entre les riches et les pauvres en milieu urbain »
[living in a green environment reduces cardiovascular mortality by half between the rich and poor in an urban area]

Objectives :
  • Ouvrir le site sur son environnement afin de créer des liens entre l'hippodrome et les quartiers voisins; [develop the site from an environmental point of view to create links between the racecourse and surrounding neighbourhoods]
  • Élargir le territoire de réflexion pour établir des synergies; [expand the outlook to establish synergies]
  • Prévoir la mixité des usages et des clientèles notamment en répondant aux besoins des citoyens à chacun des cycles de la vie. Dans cet esprit, créer un quartier réservé exclusivement aux familles pourrait aller à l'encontre de cet objectif ; [provide a mix of uses and clients in each cycle of life; create a district reserved exclusively for families to go to achieve this objective]
  • Favoriser le transport actif et collectif et maintenir la voiture en périphérie du site ; [promote active modes of transportation and keep cars on the outskirts of the site]
  • Revoir l'aménagement de l'entrée du site depuis l'autoroute Décarie ;[review the development of the site entrance from Decarie Expressway]
  • Prévoir un couvert végétal suffisamment important pour améliorer la qualité de l'air et ainsi favoriser la santé des futurs résidents.[provide a large enough canopy to improve air quality and promote the health of future residents]
“If a City eliminates  
Food nano-agressors
  • Trans Fat
  • Excess of Salt
  • Fructose-Glucose
  • Phosphoric Acid
Air nano-agressors
  • CO
  • SO2, NO2
  • FP, UFP
  • VOC
And promotes a green and active milieu, this City may expect a 25-75 % reduction of cardiac disease”
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