Step-by-Step Guide to Conducting a Site Analysis

Step 1: Reading

STEP 1: Reading
Re-read the following 2 pieces (available on the course website). Take notes, and highlight ideas, passages and concepts that seem most interesting and important. Lectures should also be helpful. Massey, D. (1994) “A Global Sense of Place.” In Space, Place and Gender. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. Hulchanski, D. (2007) “The Three Cities Within Toronto: Income Polarization Among Toronto’s Neighbourhoods, 1970- 2005.” University of Toronto Cities Centre.
STEP 2: Field Work
a) Site selection
Your first task is to define the borders of your site. You can bound your site as you like, but it should be large enough to include a diversity of land uses and built forms and small enough that you can observe and map the entire area. In most areas, a few square blocks is large enough. We will discuss this in class but if you are uncertain, check with your TA.
b) Site observation
Visit your site, taking notes as you move about, and perhaps take pictures to help you remember things (or to include in your paper). You should especially take note of things like land use, building density and type, transit accessibility and options, housing type, retail form and signage, and community facilities