NICOLE BARRINGTON
Opinions Writer

City planning is an issue that has come up in debates around Saskatoon recently.

There seem to be two different sides, and few voices in between: those who oppose suburban sprawl, and those who don’t. Those against the suburban way of life would probably describe it as a “disease” rather than a lifestyle.

However, if one takes an objective view, suburbia is actually the cure for all that ails our morally-destitute, disintegrating society.

It is a proven fact that suburbs are safer than inner-city neighbourhoods. Going for a run at night downtown? One would be wise to watch their step, so as to not penetrate their Nikes with a used needle or trip over a half-empty bottle of Hot 100.

Now picture what heaven looks like. Do you imagine parks with perfectly formed, rolling green hills; happy children jumping on trampolines with safety netting; Walmart Supercentre never more than a 10-minute walk away? I know I do. Suburbs encourage good, wholesome activities for families, so one never has to venture to the plagued streets of downtown, where prostitutes and homeless people thrive on the working man’s wages.

Which would you prefer: going for a walk with your golden retriever or contracting Hepatitis from a used needle? Not sure about you, but the choice is pretty obvious for me.

If one takes an objective view, suburbia is actually the cure for all that ails our morally-destitute, disintegrating society.

The only problem that exists with suburbia is not the “cookie-cutter” houses, but the price of these modern castles. A mere condo or apartment in Stonebridge can cost upward of $250,000. But on the bright side, the high price tag keeps out any undesirable or sketchy would-be neighbours.

If people work hard enough in life, they can harvest the fruits of their endeavours. Luckily, those of us in university understand that having a post-secondary education makes one far more likely to be successful in life, and thus, far more eligible to live in one of these neighbourhoods.

Anyone who disagrees with this logic is probably just jealous.

The divide between those who are and those who are not eligible for suburban life is a natural aspect of society. Some people (not I, of course) are happy with a small abode, a minimum-wage job and a case of Pilsner; others prefer champagne. Differences in taste are inevitable, so why not give citizens a chance to choose for themselves? As a city we will attract wealthy families that will better the city and economy. And as we continue to grow we will attract more and more businesses, and really put Saskatoon “on the map” as a city and a leader.

There is but one flaw with the seemingly perfect design of suburbia: transportation for university students can be costly not only in terms of money, but also in time. You won’t find many people riding the bus in suburban areas. But this is likely only because of the immense wealth in these areas, where most would rather drive their SUVs to work than dirty their shoes on the floor of a city bus.

Despite the fact that most suburban areas carry all the amenities one needs, there are no universities in Stonebridge, Erindale or Silverspring.

However, if Mayor Atchison continues with the current plan for the city, I am sure he will see the opportunity in building another university in Saskatoon. And if he took the proactive role and was to recommend building in the suburbs, I’m sure the result would be a university with higher academic standards, higher prestige and better instruction.

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image: Bjørn Giesenbauer/Flickr