Adaptive governance, hybrid temporary urbanism, and outdoor spaces: Post-pandemic legacies in New York and Toronto

This paper reflects on the development and evolution of hybrid forms of temporary urbanism, as well as the post-pandemic legacies of adaptive governance. Informed by 34 interviews with municipal, community, and business association leaders, it contributes to debates about emergency urbanism and the politics and governance of public health associated with the adaptation of streets and sidewalks in New York City and Toronto. We find that the initial, reactive adaptations of outdoor spaces occurred because of a hybrid form of adaptive governance, favoring both bottom-up and top-down collaborations between weakened governments and strong, established community organizations. In examining the legacy of such initiatives, we demonstrate that rapid, adaptive governance was not sustained. In conclusion, the paper examines how government agencies can better prepare for future crises. We suggest that the most important elements are not the specific plans for an inherently uncertain future, but rather the ability to mobilize diverse and flexible resources and, more importantly, to address lock-ins through a combination of agile strategies that display both strong and weak forms of governance. This, in turn, requires trust and a more devolved, place-based distribution of power in urban-making.