[feepa]

I'll take a backyard in Edmonton. Central Paris is a nice place to visit, not sure I would want to live there.
I hope the urban design folks in this thread realize that not everyone wants to live in a flat in central Paris or central Edmonton for that matter. Some people like their private space. hence why suburbs have been the preferred choice for the majority of people in north america since World War II.
I'm not going to look down my nose at those who a choice of their preference though. I'll support what ever lifestyle people will make, and respect them for that.