Comment 13610

By Rusty (registered) - website | Posted November 01, 2007 at 13:56:42

a-ha! Couldn't resist a dig at the 'inner city' eh?!

Seriously, I don't know where this misconception comes from. I was chatting with a guy from London, Ontario on the VIA the other day and he told me, "I don't know how you can live downtown" (I live in downtown Toronto). He then cited the usual suspects of crime, decay, homelessness etc as the reasons he wouldn't bring his kids up there.

I have to say, now that I live downtown (I used to live in the burbs) - I just don't see this.

I'm not sure what the stats are but I'm sure the per capita crime is no worse in the inner city. We had our fair share of crime and problems in the burbs (in Dundas no less!) and, while I've probably encountered at least the same problems in downtown TO it's certainly no worse.

Far more importantly I FEEL safer being in a neighbourhood with lots of people around.

Of course there are scuzzy unsafe neighbourhoods everywhere but that is more to do with their design and make up than where they are or what their density is. A low-income enclave is always going to be more dangerous as is a neighbourhood with an inward facing design and limited public space. Density, done properly, can - and should - improve the safety of the neighbourhood rather than detract from it.

So, basically what I'm saying is - let's get away from this downtown bashing mentality. Unsafe neighbourhoods are about more than where you live. I know of many shady suburbs and likewise many pleasant downtown neighbourhoods. It's how we build them that matters not where they are.

Cheers!

Ben

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