Riverbend? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

AFireInside · 03-06-2008, 05:07 PM

Hey everyone,

I'm sure there are people here who have lived in Calgary for a long time. I have lived here for awhile but always in the NW or SW. I am looking at purchasing property in Riverbend. Just wondering if anyone can give me any general information on the area. Is it a good area as far as crime and all that is concerned? I just don't know much about riverbend so I figured this would be the place to come and ask..

Any info is appreciated.

rubecube · 03-06-2008, 05:51 PM

I spent most of my teen years in living in Douglas Glen, but most of my friends lived in Riverbend so I was there pretty much every weekend. I also lived there for about 3 months. It's a decent neighbourhood and fairly central. You'll get the odd riff-raff spilling over from the Ogden/Lynnwood area but there's never been any serious crime issues as far as I'm aware of.

blankall · 03-06-2008, 06:06 PM

My parents always told me there was some kind of chemical spill in that area back in the day. Not sure if this was rumour or what the deal was though?

Vulcan · 03-06-2008, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blankall

My parents always told me there was some kind of chemical spill in that area back in the day. Not sure if this was rumour or what the deal was though?

Could be but the only problem I know of was in Lynnwood where there used to be an oil refinery and some people had to be bought out.

Superflyer · 03-06-2008, 07:29 PM

My brother lives there and has for close to 10 years. He loves it there and when I visit him it always seems to be a very nice quiet neighborhood.

Tron_fdc · 03-06-2008, 08:18 PM

Yeah, I hear Lynnwood ridge is pretty quiet these days. Insanely cheap, great views, and flammable soil. Great for BBQ's.

Rathji · 03-06-2008, 08:34 PM

I believe it is a creosote that seeped into the ground from CN(or CP) making railway ties up there. Either way, Riverbend is really not near Lynnwood in a way that would really matter.

Riverbend is pretty decent area, has reasonable traffic in and out and has a shopping center at the entrance for most of your needs. It is right off Glenmore and very near to Deerfoot so commuting is going to be about as painless as you can get. The river runs nearby and Carburn Park is pretty much integrated into the community. There is at least one school there, no idea of type really.

I would live there, but that really doesn't say much since I am a student living on $250 bucks a month rent atm!

GrrlGoalie33 · 03-06-2008, 08:42 PM

Riverbend is a great area. I spent 15 or so years living there with my parents. IMO it's about the nicest area you can get for that price.

Traffic is really good now that they put that new interchange in (7 years ago now???), and if you have kids, there are two elementary schools there; 1 catholic and one public. The public school is one of those year-round schools.

There is a Sobeys and drug store right there and within a 5 minute drive you're right at Deerfoot Meadows.

If I could afford to buy in Riverbend, I would.

ken0042 · 03-06-2008, 08:45 PM

It's a place I would seriously consider moving to. Decent neighbourhood, good ammenities, etc.

But there's one thing that scares my friends that live there. Glenmore is about to be widend, and they are about to connect Riverbend to DouglasGlen. What does that mean? Well, all sorts of traffic in what was once a quiet neighbourhood.

4X4 · 03-06-2008, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

It's a place I would seriously consider moving to. Decent neighbourhood, good ammenities, etc.

But there's one thing that scares my friends that live there. Glenmore is about to be widend, and they are about to connect Riverbend to DouglasGlen. What does that mean? Well, all sorts of traffic in what was once a quiet neighbourhood.

Sweet, an alternative to 84th, 52nd, Barlow and Deerfoot? Build it, Bronco!

GrrlGoalie33 · 03-06-2008, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

It's a place I would seriously consider moving to. Decent neighbourhood, good ammenities, etc.

But there's one thing that scares my friends that live there. Glenmore is about to be widend, and they are about to connect Riverbend to DouglasGlen. What does that mean? Well, all sorts of traffic in what was once a quiet neighbourhood.

Are they finally connecting Douglas Glen and Riverbend? The developer was promising that when my parents bought their house in 1989.

Ironhorse · 03-06-2008, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

It's a place I would seriously consider moving to. Decent neighbourhood, good ammenities, etc.

But there's one thing that scares my friends that live there. Glenmore is about to be widend, and they are about to connect Riverbend to DouglasGlen. What does that mean? Well, all sorts of traffic in what was once a quiet neighbourhood.

I live in Riverbend, and I really enjoy it. Nice parks, my boys can walk to school etc. There is maybe a bit of Ogden riff-raff spillage here, but they tend to stay on the other side of Glenmore for the most part.

I am not overly concerned with 18th street connecting with Douglas Glen. IIRC, it is being done is such a way that the business park is right in between, making its use as a shortcut very inconvenient. Gotta keep the riff-raff from the south out too, ya know!

4X4 · 03-06-2008, 09:17 PM

I think all the 'Ogden riff-raff' stuff is a bit dated. Same with Bowness. Yeah, the areas were associated with bikers and drug dealers, but really, it's all over the place now. No longer concentrated in particular communities. Really, when you flip on the news and hear about the latest grow op busted, is it ever in Ogden? No, it's in Rocky ridge or Chapparell or something.
I'll admit that there's probably a little more left over in Ogden and Bowness, but the difference between those communities and 80% of the rest of the city is nominal now.

Ironhorse · 03-06-2008, 10:43 PM

Rather than grow-ops, its more the teenage riff-raff that comes from Ogden. In my experience anyway.

4X4 · 03-06-2008, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

Rather than grow-ops, its more the teenage riff-raff that comes from Ogden. In my experience anyway.

I suppose. And I'm no authority on the matter (never lived there). But I see busted bus shelters and graffiti all over the city. And from what I've heard, other petty crimes are universally common.

Rhettzky · 03-07-2008, 07:18 AM

I grew up there too and it really is a nice place.

The community has Carburn park which is a great feature and if you are looking at a place on the West side of Riverbend it's practically right out your back door. The park has Fire pits, BBQ stands, a couple of kiddie parks, lots of paths, a bridge that connects to the fish creek bike path and an off leash area. Really great stuff.

There is also an outdoor rink that doubles as a basketball court in the summer, a bunch of baseball diamonds, a few parks, community center and two schools (mentioned). Getting to the C-train is a piece of cake too just a quick bus ride to Chinook station. Driving downtown is pretty easy too as you have a few different options depending on what traffic is like. Glenmore to either MacLeod, Blackfoot or Deerfoot is always the best but when it's backed up Ogden road is a bit slower but usually gets you there without too much of a headache.

Ammenities are pretty decent if you count Deerfoot Meadows in with the strip malls. Also, if Douglas Glen connects up you can easily get to their shopping facilities as well. Also easy access to Douglas dale golf course (only good for beginners).

Crime is no worse than any other community. Even when they had the biker house up on Sheppard road it wasn't that bad. There's a mini cop shop where the arcade used to be that wasn't there when I lived there.

Anyway, I think it's a great place.

JohnnyFlame · 03-07-2008, 08:33 AM

I'll throw in an amen for Carburn Park. Great place to take the family and dogs for a walk or a picnic. Never fails that we see wildlife there as well. Went a couple of Saturdays ago and saw five deer and an a big owl. Have seen beaver there and various other critters.

A good park nearby is a really nice added feature to a community.

DuffMan · 03-07-2008, 09:02 AM

didn't a big pile of tires burn for a few days around there a long time ago?

longsuffering · 03-07-2008, 02:04 PM

Riverbend was built on the site of C-I-L explosives magazines (warehouses).

Back in 1980 (yeah, I'm that old), I had a summer job working with an explosives company and we loaded explosives there for delivery to coal mines in the Crowsnest Pass and the dam project near Revelstoke.

I'm not 100% sure whether they manufactured explosives there at any point in time (but I think that long before 1980 there may have been) and I'm not suggesting that there is any contamination of the land in the area.

red '00 · 03-07-2008, 06:04 PM

I've been living in the area for awhile now. I think it's quiet. Close to everything. Bus routes going in all directions close by, if needed.