Bridging Urban-Suburban Divide

Project Calgary: Bridging urban-suburban divide

Community debate reflects values more than property

By Theresa Tayler, Calgary Herald December 25, 2011

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Project+Calgary+Bridging+urban+suburban+divide/5908003/story.html#ixzz1hnYsus7F

Paul's suburban friends seem less engaged in their community in terms of supporting local business. They also seem to interact less with their neighbours than his urban friends do.

"This could be because suburbanites seem to spend more time in their vehicles getting to and from work, so there's not as much time to interact with one another," Paul says. "However, those in the suburban areas tend to champion their own amenities and green spaces. They often live in closer proximity to nature, so they have that to be proud of."

According to McCready, the dynamic between the urban and suburban Calgarian reflects the youth of our ever-growing city.

While hubs across the globe, such as Paris, London, New York and Montreal, have had centuries to develop culturally and architecturally, Calgary's only been at it for 136 years.
Due to Calgary's boom-and-bust economic history, McCready says the concept of urban sprawl has come into play as the city has struggled to build quick housing for people who arrive in times of prosperity.

"We have to realize we're not Europe. What I find interesting about the North American setting is the lack of patience that we have for building up a city. It takes a century or two for a city to gain its full character," McCready says.

While McCready applauds groups such as the Calgary Downtown Association (a group that works to promote the city's inner core) and Imagine Calgary (a partnership between the city and various private arts and community groups to envision how Calgary could look in the future) for their commitment to building the city culturally and economically, he worries the common discussion between Calgarians is focused primarily on rejuvenating the downtown areas.

There is less emphasis placed on helping new suburban areas become viable communities, as well.

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Project+Calgary+Bridging+urban+suburban+divide/5908003/story.html#
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