Urban Formation offers educational and consulting services that equip planners to understand the financial factors shaping real estate development decisions. Led by Dr. Steven Webber, the firm is committed to empowering planners with the knowledge and confidence to constructively engage with developers on the economics of city-building initiatives.
Urban Formation's popular pro forma workshops provide planners and other land use professionals with a clear, and practical introduction to the tools used to evaluate the financial feasibility of proposed developments.
Feasibility-related consulting services are available for public, non-profit, and private sector clients with a focus on affordable housing, and planning policy research.
Steven Webber, PhD, RPP, MCIP is the Principal of Urban Formation. He brings extensive experience as an educator and practitioner in Ontario and Southern California. Steven's land use planning and development feasibility expertise strongly informs his analysis of real estate development, housing, and growth policy initiatives.
Steven is a well-respected award-winning instructor with the ability to explain complex concepts in an accessible manner. He was a faculty member in the School of Urban and Regional Planning at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) for two decades. He previously taught in the University of Toronto Department of Geography and Planning, and the Innis College Urban Studies Program.
Education
Ph.D., Urban and Regional Planning, University of Southern California
M.A., Urban Planning, University of California, Los Angeles
B.A. (Honours), Geography and Urban Studies, University of Toronto
PRO FORMA WORKSHOPS
Urban Formation offers development pro forma workshops led by Steven Webber. These straightforward, interactive, and engaging sessions review the financial feasibility analysis framework that is used to evaluate property investments. Steven's ability to present pro forma basics in an accessible manner is based on the Feasibility Analysis of Development course that he created and taught in the School of Urban and Regional Planning at Toronto Metropolitan University.
The workshop engagement exercises are created and led by Christopher Pandolfi from the Department of Unusual Certainties. Christopher is an experienced facilitator with the ability to structure activities that encourage participants to apply pro forma concepts to customized development scenarios.
Urban Formation's workshops are well-suited for:
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Municipal, provincial, and private sector planners
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Land-use professionals including urban designers, architects, lawyers, and engineers
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Affordable housing and social real estate proponents
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Community and advocacy groups
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Real estate development professionals
Pro forma workshop options include:
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A general overview that introduces the fundamentals of a development pro forma. A step-by-step presentation highlights key concepts and calculations. This choice is appropriate for an informative Lunch & Learn session.
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Detailed workshops that provide an in-depth review of a pro forma. These are offered as half-day or full-day sessions.
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Engagement exercises that allow participants to work with spreadsheet models to gain hands-on experience with the tools and techniques used in a pro forma analysis.
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Sequential modules for those seeking an in-depth learning experience that covers more advanced material.
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Content customization to address the specific interests of an audience.
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Facilitation sessions structured to incorporate a development pro forma into planning and stakeholder discussions.
Potential workshop content includes:
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Assumption Identification
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Static Cash Flow Analysis
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Discounted Cash Flow Analysis
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Development Performance
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Residual Land Value
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Sensitivity Analysis
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Spreadsheet Strategies
Pro Forma Sessions:
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Aird & Berlis LLP
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Arcadis IBI Group
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Cambridge Forum on Land Use Planning
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Canadian Institute of Planners National Conference
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City of Brampton
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City of Burlington
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City of Hamilton
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City of Markham
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City of Saskatoon/Saskatchewan Provincial Planners Institute
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City of Toronto (Parks, Recreation and Forestry)
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City of Toronto (Planning and Development)
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Infrastructure Ontario
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Municipal Property Assessment Corporation
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Municipality of Clarington
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Ontario Professional Planners Institute
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Ontario Professional Planners Institute, Oak Ridges Moraine District
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Ontario Professional Planners Institute, West Lake Ontario District
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Region of Halton
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Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury
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Town of Newmarket
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University of British Columbia-Okanagan
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Urban Land Institute-Toronto Chapter
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Urban Land Institute-Toronto Chapter Curtner Leadership Program
SELECT PROJECTS
Urban Formation provided the financial feasibility analysis for the Single Stair Alternative Solutions research project that was funded through Round 4 of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's Housing Supply Challenge. Pro formas were completed to evaluate six Single Exit Stair (SES) prototypes. The project was recognized with 2025 The RAIC Research & Innovation in Architecture Award presented by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.
Project Lead: LGA Architectural Partners
Project Dates: April 2024 - March 2025
Urban Formation provided the land economics and housing market analysis for the City of Airdrie Housing Needs Assessment Study. This included using the Housing Assessment Resource Tool (HART) to evaluate housing affordability conditions.
Project Partners: Leading Housing, Toop Consulting
Project Dates: October 2023 - February 2024
Urban Formation worked on the Town of Saugeen Shores Community Planning Permit System (CPPS) Background Study. Tasks included a real estate market analysis, demographic trends analysis, and financial feasibility analysis for infill housing development concepts.
Project Partners: Hertel Planning, Process
Project Dates: October 2023 - February 2024
email: steven@urbanformation.com