There are two words any self-respecting Winnipegger hates to hear: urban sprawl. The level of disgust we feel for this term is exemplified in the many downtown and inner city projects aimed at renewal, re-growth, and revitalization of our city core. Over the course of the past few years, Winnipeg has gone to extraordinary lengths to keep its citizens’ interest and activities within the area – from building arenas and improving the waterfront to the residential overhauls of West Broadway and the Spence Neighbourhood.

But when faced with the option of continuing this steady and admirable growth where it counts, or watching a long circulating urban myth come to fruition, Winnipeggers have invariably chosen the latter.

Because aside from the financial meltdown that has been plaguing the Western world all winter, the biggest Winnipeg news of December may have been that yes, we are finally getting an Ikea. In fact, we were so excited about this that the Winnipeg Free Press devoted four full pages to the story.

But for every benefit Ikea will provide our city there is a downside, all of which appeared in the four page spread. While it provides jobs, it will take away from local furniture businesses. While it will invariably attract more visitors to Winnipeg, it will bring with it traffic congestion and with that, air pollution. The list of opposites is endless.

The placement of a massive multinational conglomerate furniture/home decor/appliance giant off of Kenaston does nothing to further the theme of revitalization that has overtaken the city for the past few years. Furthermore, it only leads to the disillusionment that yes, by using streamlined Swedish designs with a kick we are just as cool as Europe or New York. (We’re not.)

The problem is, I love Ikea.

I like the cheap furniture. I like Scandinavian organization techniques. I like that sleek European look that gives my messy, thrown-together apartment class (now available in vintage, minimalist, classic, or modern styles).

Winnipeggers are blessed (or cursed, take your pick) with an unbelievable level of civic guilt. We feel responsible for the situation in the inner city, as we should, thus wholly supporting the revitalization efforts and embarking on letter writing rampages when faced with any impediment to this.

The further Winnipeg expands to the city limits already bloated with box stores and new housing developments like Waverly West, the greater our disgust with ourselves rises as we abandon the historic core of the city. Thus, we paradoxically pull between massive investments in the downtown while continuing to shop at retail outlets on the city’s edge.

The ability of an institution like Ikea to appear as a halfway point for us is admirable. For whatever reason, we seem to be able to justify its future existence amidst us. Because as much as we can attempt to pride ourselves in our urban awareness, sophistication and forward thinking, all we really want in the end is a little guilty pleasure. After all, we deserve it, right?