Quote:
Originally Posted by bizaro86
I live less than 100 m from that Google map point in a single family detached house. My kids are still in your first age range, and love things like the backyard ice rink/sprinkler and roads empty enough to ride their bike on.
I think its reasonably likely walking distance amenities will remain interesting as they get older (library, movie theater, YMCA, etc). What did you find yourself travelling to as an older kid that you couldn't access locally? Genuinely curious here - my kids love our location now but moving isn't off the table if it would be better for them.
I work from home (even pre-covid) and my wife works part time in the north so commuting time is a non-issue for us.
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A major issue arose when I wanted to meet friends, get jobs, do extra-curricular activities, go to gym, etc.. Basically anything that was independent from the rest of the family. Part of too was that my parents put all the resources into things like education. That meant no money for a car. I attempted to get jobs to pay entirely for my own vehicle (which was my form of rebellion, as my parents thought all my time should be devoted to school). This was extremely difficult, as buses ran infrequently and often stopped running entirely at 9:00 PM. Waiting for a bus for an hour each way in -30 degree weather, to get to and from my $6/hr 4 hour restaurant shift, led to a poor cost/benefit analysis. Ct train stations at night in the 90s were also questionable areas to be in.
Although there has been improvement in the quality and security of transit in Calgary, it's a long way from being perfect. And unless you want to go to and from areas very close to an actual station, it's very difficult to manage.
There also was no Crowfoot Crossing when I lived there. There was a large empty lot that would blow huge amounts of dust into the neighbourhood. Perhaps yes, the YMCA and the theater being within walking distance might have changed my perspective.
Overall, my parents really had this same idea, that I would never want to leave the neighbourhood, as everything I would ever want was available to me in the neighbourhood. It was really a clash between the theoretical and reality.