Living in Airdrie

[Regular_John]

Originally Posted by Swayze11

I never really understood the hate for cookie cutter houses, I personally like them much better then the old falling a part looking ones.

The cookie cutter neighbourhoods just end up feeling sterile, no real character to speak of. Sure, their non-offensive, uniform designs, and at the surface level they arean't ugly. But there's really no difference between your neighbours house and your own. Architectural controls in these communities also keep you from doing something unique, like painting your front door bright red if you choose.

Now is this a "bad" thing to have uniformity in a community? No, not really, at the end of the day shelter is shelter. But it becomes just that, bland shelter. Essentially making your homestead/neighbourhood no more different than picking out bread at the super market.

And if you're buying a home that you plan on living in for 10-20+ years you may want an area that has a bit more character than the cookie cutter areas can offer.

[CKPThunder]

I talked with a sales guy a few years ago who lived in Airdrie and his only complaint was that his community had a 2 garbage bag limit per household per week. If this is true, I have no idea how any families with children would be able to cope with this type of restriction.

Can anyone who lives in Airdrie or has lived in Airdrie confirm whether or not this salesman was pulling my leg?

[pylon]

Airdrie?? I hear there is some excellent buys in the Forest Lawn area.

Plus, you get the added entertainment of 17th (aka International ave.) Lots of great amenities, like pawn shops, 39 different Pho restaurants, easy access to recreational drugs, plus you can play great drinking games at some of the great local lounges. Like, "take a shot when a hooker with 1 shoe walks by." Or "shotgun a beer when a pre 90's vehicle with no muffler drives by."

But by far the biggest perk, is watching the fireworks every summer at the re-claimed landfill. Such a serene place.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Airdrie seems like the worst of both worlds. You don't get any small town charm or country feel, yet you still have to drive a crapload to get anywhere worth going. If you want small town, at least move to Cochrane or something with a little bit of character. There at least you have a nice view of the mountains.

And all the racist hicks your heart desires!

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

As long as it's not that.

If he likes Airdrie he'll like Evanston. Airdrie is a giant Evanston. Earth-toned vinyl siding as far as the eye can see.

[Old Yeller]

Originally Posted by Swayze11

I never really understood the hate for cookie cutter houses, I personally like them much better then the old falling a part looking ones.

Most of the homes built 20-40 years ago are more solidly built with better building materials.

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

As long as it's not that.

What's wrong with Evanston?

[puckluck]

Originally Posted by pylon

Airdrie?? I hear there is some excellent buys in the Forest Lawn area.

Plus, you get the added entertainment of 17th (aka International ave.) Lots of great amenities, like pawn shops, 39 different Pho restaurants, easy access to recreational drugs, plus you can play great drinking games at some of the great local lounges. Like, "take a shot when a hooker with 1 shoe walks by." Or "shotgun a beer when a pre 90's vehicle with no muffler drives by."

But by far the biggest perk, is watching the fireworks every summer at the re-claimed landfill. Such a serene place.

The best part of Forest Lawn is watching hookers with one shoe stroll by.

The worst part is when you pull up by your house and they hop into your car thinking you're picking them up. Awkward.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by puckluck

But the downside to that is you'd have to live in High River.

It's paradise compared to Forestlawn.

[Jimdon]

I live in Airdrie and it takes me less time to get to work in the south than it does for people who live in the NW of Calgary.

[para transit fellow]

The best thing about Airdrie is that it is so close to Calgary
The worst thing about Airdrie is that it is so close to Calgary

[Scotian Lotion]

I'm moving to Airdrie at the end of this month, though my house there doesn't close until May.

I really don't care how 'bad'' it is. As long as it's NOT Ontario.
If you want to find a real parasite community, check out Brampton, ON.

I've visited Airdrie twice now since buying there... it seems fine to me.

Also, what does the commute to downtown Calgary have to do with anything? There Rocky Mountains are to the west. If I'm going to leave Airdrie for any reason, it would be to drive the hour west to Canmore and beyond. It seems that distance is the same from either location.

All depends what you're in to.
Also, my job isn't downtown, so Airdrie's home prices appeal to me.

I currently live in the GTA equivalent to Airdrie.... the town of Milton, ON. It's a bedroom community, plain and simple. From 1 bedroom community to another. Though Airdrie has an Outlet mall and a Costco (Balzac, not that far). Those are two things Milton doesn't have. Also, Airdrie is way closer to Calgary than Milton is to Toronto.

For whatever reason, Milton is the fastest growing community in the Toronto area and the house prices are ridiculous (expensive) even though there is nothing here except cookie cutter homes.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by fotze

That is 150 hours per year.

Ends up being roughly 20 work days off that you lose. Or 4 full weeks of holidays.

Each and every year.

[Superflyer]

Originally Posted by fotze

Then you include wear and tear costs, gas, ribbing on CP due to living there.

I don't have to worry about wear and tear and gas since I was looking at taking the ICE bus to downtown. I do see what you were getting at though.

[puckluck]

Originally Posted by Dion

It's paradise compared to Forestlawn.

Yeah, but I got easy access to every part of the beautiful city of Calgary.

And if I'm in a hobo and hooker stabbing mood it's close to home and only a 5 minute walk to Zellers.

[Swayze11]

Originally Posted by CKPThunder

I talked with a sales guy a few years ago who lived in Airdrie and his only complaint was that his community had a 2 garbage bag limit per household per week. If this is true, I have no idea how any families with children would be able to cope with this type of restriction.

Can anyone who lives in Airdrie or has lived in Airdrie confirm whether or not this salesman was pulling my leg?

This is true. You can put out more then 2 bags but have to buy "tags" from my understanding. I don't know where you get them since I have never had to put out more then 2.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by puckluck

Yeah, but I got easy access to every part of the beautiful city of Calgary.

And if I'm in a hobo and hooker stabbing mood it's close to home and only a 5 minute walk to Zellers.

I have a beautiful view of the mountains and don't have to worry about being harrassed by hookers when I go for a walk at night. I have deer walking down the green strip everynight. Then there's Okotoks with alot of the big box retail stores meaning I have to spend less time in Calgary fighting traffic and the idoit drivers on the Deerfoot. Best of all we have a hospital and an ER that doesn't take very long to access. Flameswin will vouch for the ER part.

[puckluck]

Originally Posted by Dion

I have a beautiful view of the mountains and don't have to worry about being harrassed by hookers when I go for a walk at night. I have deer walking down the green strip everynight. Then there's Okotoks with alot of the big box retail stores meaning I have to spend less time Calgary fighting traffic and the idoit drivers on the Deerfoot. Best of all we have a hospital and an ER that doesn't take very long to access. Flameswin will vouch for the ER part.

I guess it's different strokes for different folks. I like the feeling of being on edge with the possibility of being stabbed with every passing minute on my evening walks.

And flameswin was probably too drunk to even remember what happened at the Highriver ER let alone vouch for it.

[Flame12]

Originally Posted by Swayze11

This is true. You can put out more then 2 bags but have to buy "tags" from my understanding. I don't know where you get them since I have never had to put out more then 2.

I just use really big bags never have more than 2 most of the time just 1 for family of 4.

[dino7c]

Calgary is a hole, Airdrie is a way nicer community. Personally I didn't want my canadian children with western canadian values to be a minority in their schools

for the record I no longer live in a-town even it was getting too crowded

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

What's wrong with Evanston?

See Sliver's comment. Also, terrible access. Also, a bunch of stuff I'd rather not post because it might offend. Also, far from any decent park.