About
The City of Hamilton has been on the cusp of unprecedented growth for more than three decades.
The global economic meltdown played a role in holding back the projected growth of many cities over the last four years.
However that is no excuse for the lack of intelligent actions and critically sound planning decisions that were most needed in the preceding decade to reset the direction of Hamilton, towards economic and ecological sustainability.
The global economic meltdown played a role in holding back the projected growth of many cities over the last four years.
However that is no excuse for the lack of intelligent actions and critically sound planning decisions that were most needed in the preceding decade to reset the direction of Hamilton, towards economic and ecological sustainability.
It is imperative that the citizens of Hamilton have a dedicated, highly qualified and professionally experienced leader who knows what to do, how to do it — and cares deeply to get things done.
Blaming our city's lack of progress on economic downturns; the decades old social status quo; or the lack of a cohesive council is no longer acceptable. We cannot afford to waste any more time than we already have.
We need to quickly turn Hamilton towards becoming a Sustainable Eco-City — the only direction that will bring prosperity to all and not just a few, along with a better way of co-existing with our environment.
We need a person with a clear vision, multi-sectoral business understanding and deep knowledge of urban & regional development who can confidently usher in positive systemic changes, and bring in local & foreign direct investments to turn Hamilton into a truly vibrant city with an international profile.
Mahesh P. Butani is the only candidate with the experience, expertise and determination to bring about the necessary fundamental shift in the direction of our city.
Make your vote count this election!
Support the most qualified and committed candidate on the ballot. Support Mahesh P. Butani who has real solutions for solving Hamilton's problems and transforming its image.
Blaming our city's lack of progress on economic downturns; the decades old social status quo; or the lack of a cohesive council is no longer acceptable. We cannot afford to waste any more time than we already have.
We need to quickly turn Hamilton towards becoming a Sustainable Eco-City — the only direction that will bring prosperity to all and not just a few, along with a better way of co-existing with our environment.
We need a person with a clear vision, multi-sectoral business understanding and deep knowledge of urban & regional development who can confidently usher in positive systemic changes, and bring in local & foreign direct investments to turn Hamilton into a truly vibrant city with an international profile.
Mahesh P. Butani is the only candidate with the experience, expertise and determination to bring about the necessary fundamental shift in the direction of our city.
Make your vote count this election!
Support the most qualified and committed candidate on the ballot. Support Mahesh P. Butani who has real solutions for solving Hamilton's problems and transforming its image.
Background
Mahesh P. Butani grew up in Bombay, in a third generation family of contractors & developers, and trained as an Architect in the late seventies, and subsequently taught architecture and environmental design. He traveled to New York City in the early eighties to pursue his Masters in Arts Education at Teachers College, Columbia University.
He moved to downtown Hamilton in the mid nineties and attempted to pursue his career in architecture, but instead got involved in renovating old buildings in the core, as his foreign education and decades of international work experience was not recognized to be relevant in Ontario.
His personal efforts and determination in having foreign experience and qualifications recognized by professional organizations in Ontario, resulted in significant reform at the Ontario Association of Architects in 2003, with the unconditional removal of the discriminatory term "Canadian Experience" from all architects job listings — a terminology that was being until then freely used by the association for over three decades to blatantly exclude some of the best internationally experienced architects in Ontario from access to their profession and careers.
He has over the last fourteen years lived in Hamilton and worked on many revitalization projects in downtown Hamilton, and was the founder, director of the Downtown Arts Centre, and played a central role in securing private construction financing commitments for the Music Hall of Fame bid on Pier 8 based on a unique architectural design and site plan for the eight hectare land parcel on the waterfront. A design scheme and efforts that continues to be not acknowledged in public by the local media. He was also directly responsible for the re-branding of the former Spectator printing press building located in the downtown core into the FilmWorks Lofts project.
Butani continues to be passionately involved in many private sector initiatives that are working to rebuild the downtown core; and over the years has volunteered many hours of his time as a Director on the Boards of various organization such as the Threshold School of Building and Arts Hamilton; besides actively mentoring many professionals who moved to Hamilton over the years.
Butani understands and deeply appreciates the collaborative leadership skills that are required to continue rebuilding and maintaining vibrant, safe and healthy communities in Hamilton, and in his efforts to promote innovative collaborative approaches in our city, he has developed an on-line social network called Metropolitan Hamilton.
Mahesh P.Butani has also been a frequent contributor on local blogs: The Hamiltonian, and Raise the Hammer - where he writes about urban development, urban issues, city politics, the role of the local media, and the importance of Hamilton becoming a Learning City.
He moved to downtown Hamilton in the mid nineties and attempted to pursue his career in architecture, but instead got involved in renovating old buildings in the core, as his foreign education and decades of international work experience was not recognized to be relevant in Ontario.
His personal efforts and determination in having foreign experience and qualifications recognized by professional organizations in Ontario, resulted in significant reform at the Ontario Association of Architects in 2003, with the unconditional removal of the discriminatory term "Canadian Experience" from all architects job listings — a terminology that was being until then freely used by the association for over three decades to blatantly exclude some of the best internationally experienced architects in Ontario from access to their profession and careers.
He has over the last fourteen years lived in Hamilton and worked on many revitalization projects in downtown Hamilton, and was the founder, director of the Downtown Arts Centre, and played a central role in securing private construction financing commitments for the Music Hall of Fame bid on Pier 8 based on a unique architectural design and site plan for the eight hectare land parcel on the waterfront. A design scheme and efforts that continues to be not acknowledged in public by the local media. He was also directly responsible for the re-branding of the former Spectator printing press building located in the downtown core into the FilmWorks Lofts project.
Butani continues to be passionately involved in many private sector initiatives that are working to rebuild the downtown core; and over the years has volunteered many hours of his time as a Director on the Boards of various organization such as the Threshold School of Building and Arts Hamilton; besides actively mentoring many professionals who moved to Hamilton over the years.
Butani understands and deeply appreciates the collaborative leadership skills that are required to continue rebuilding and maintaining vibrant, safe and healthy communities in Hamilton, and in his efforts to promote innovative collaborative approaches in our city, he has developed an on-line social network called Metropolitan Hamilton.
Mahesh P.Butani has also been a frequent contributor on local blogs: The Hamiltonian, and Raise the Hammer - where he writes about urban development, urban issues, city politics, the role of the local media, and the importance of Hamilton becoming a Learning City.
Stop Campaigning. Start Committing.
Sustainable Eco-City
Making existing cities and new urban development more ecologically based and livable is an urgent priority in the global push for sustainability.
The nexus between transport and urban form is at the heart of developing an eco-city.
This involves compact, mixed-use urban form, well-defined higher-density, human-oriented centres, priority to the development of superior public transport systems and conditions for non-motorized modes, with minimal road capacity increases, and protection of the city's natural areas and food-producing capacity.
These factors form the framework in which everything else is embedded and must operate, and if they are not addressed, only marginal changes in urban sustainability can be made. Within this framework, environmental technologies need to be extensively applied.
All these dimensions need to operate within two key processes involving vision-oriented and reformist thinking and a strong, community-oriented, democratic sustainability framework for decision-making.
[ The Eco City: 10 Key Transport and Planning Dimensions ]
Jeffrey Kenworthy, Prof. in Sustainable Cities, Institute for Sustainability and Technology Policy, Murdoch University, Perth.
The nexus between transport and urban form is at the heart of developing an eco-city.
This involves compact, mixed-use urban form, well-defined higher-density, human-oriented centres, priority to the development of superior public transport systems and conditions for non-motorized modes, with minimal road capacity increases, and protection of the city's natural areas and food-producing capacity.
These factors form the framework in which everything else is embedded and must operate, and if they are not addressed, only marginal changes in urban sustainability can be made. Within this framework, environmental technologies need to be extensively applied.
All these dimensions need to operate within two key processes involving vision-oriented and reformist thinking and a strong, community-oriented, democratic sustainability framework for decision-making.
[ The Eco City: 10 Key Transport and Planning Dimensions ]
Jeffrey Kenworthy, Prof. in Sustainable Cities, Institute for Sustainability and Technology Policy, Murdoch University, Perth.
Principles of Three Harmonies
The Tianjin Eco-city is underpinned by the principle of the three harmonies, namely, harmony between man and man, man and the economy, and man and the environment.
The balanced emphasis on social harmony, environmental protection and economic vibrancy will make the Tianjin Eco-city a unique model of sustainable development.
The balanced emphasis on social harmony, environmental protection and economic vibrancy will make the Tianjin Eco-city a unique model of sustainable development.
Model for sustainability with the longest proven track record on earth
