Quote:
Originally Posted by FactaNV
I've always been of the opinion suburbs and bedroom communities are the worst of both worlds. I grew up on a farm in Springfield and had an amazing childhood/early adulthood. When my then girlfriend, now wife and I bought our house downtown it was a bit of a shock but the lifestyle is fantastic for where we are at professionally and entertainment-wise right now. For me the suburbs have none of the amenities of downtown like the restaurants, ease of transport, walkability, entertainment, etc but has none of the benefits of my rural origins, privacy, actual peace and quiet, wandering the property picking mushrooms, riflery in the backyard, skating on the creek, etc. Different strokes for different folks but I'd rather walk barefoot on glass than live somewhere like Bridgwater, Niverville or Oakbank haha. That's why when we can afford to we're building on our 40 acres to raise our future kids the way I was raised.
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I'd partially agree but I think there is a bit of nuance there. Some (not all) suburbs can offer close proximity to lots of amenities, some of which may be walkable or bikeable. For example, Linden Woods, Whyte Ridge, and Bridgwater-area are all really close to major retail along Kenaston and Wilkes, along with the rapid transit line. Compared to inner-city neighborhoods, suburbs can also offer higher quality greenspace. I'd rather go for a daily walk along the trail and lake systems in Linden Woods/Sage Creek/Bridgwater/Southdale/Island Lakes/Royalwood than the street grids of Wolseley and River Heights. Yard space and relatively newer builds can also be attractive for younger families. The trade off, of course, is being significantly more car dependent. I'd also argue there is a much smaller sense of community in suburbs. People are less connected, more busy, and more individual - neighborhoods in Charleswood may be an exception.
Bedroom communities are much worse in most cases. Long drives for anything more than your local co-op grocery store in exchange for more competitive house prices isn't a win unless the only thing you care about is living space. Plus car dependency is extreme - you absolutely must have a car at all times, otherwise you are hooped. No option for transit at all. All the negatives of living in a suburb without the added convenience, and no real benefits found living rurally compared to those on rural acreages like you describe. The upside here is, in my experience, the bedroom communities are a lot more tight-knit, especially compared to the city. There's a much greater sense of community and social cohesion in these areas, which can be a massive upside for a lot of people (or a downside to some). Raising children alone, far from family or other like-minded people can be isolating, so the bedroom communities tend to attract a lot of young people looking to start families due to lower house prices and more people in the same stage of life which makes it easier to connect and find supports.
I agree that living on a nicely treed and spacious rural acreage located near the city's periphery is the ideal living situation for a lot of prairie folk (i.e., a large lot in La Salle or Grande Pointe). Unfortunately you're looking at prices in excess of $1 million if that's your preference, which isn't attainable for a lot of people, especially young families.
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