Best places in Calgary to live?

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by 4X4

I'd hate to see the world through your eyes. Downtown may not be the cookie cutter utopia that you call home, but you're seriously embellishing things. And since when can you get from Bridlewood, Evergreen or the other community you listed - to any sort of shopping - without driving?

I used to live downtown, and yeah, I'd say that was about right.

[Netskot]

I don't understand why anyone would want to live downtown. The place has zero appeal to me. I work downtown and can't wait to gtfo of there once work day's finished. There is absolutely zero things downtown offers that the rest of the city doesn't.

I don't even mind the 30 minute train journey into it and out of it from the deep south. Bums everywhere. Even the supposedly nice parts like what they're trying to do with the East Village, has the Drop In Center right there.

And where are there trees downtown?

[Netskot]

Originally Posted by flip

I think anyone that would live in the deep South is crazy. It is just like the North, except traffic is worse, you are way further away from everything and the infrastructure sucks.

farther*

What's wrong with the infrastructe in the deep south? Explain yourself.

[socktape]

Originally Posted by Sample00

not to derail the thread, but I grew up in Marlborough Park and moved away about 18 years ago. Has it really gotten that bad there? I knew Forest Lawn had its shady areas but to lump those other areas into it, is that really how it is?

We moved out of there about the same time. If you were in your mid teens at the time there is a good chance we've met. It was starting to just look neglected. About that time, end of the 80's early nineties, there was a significant demographic change in the residents. A lot of the older generation and initial home buyers were moving out to the NW and Chestemere and a lot of new people were moving in. If someone tried to renovate their house or business it was either cheaply done or your wouldn't see your money out of it cause it was too nice in comparison to the rest of the area.

That being said you will start to see changes there in the next 10-20 years as that whole east side is now considered inner city. People are starting to move in there and rebuild homes, condos etc.

[SeeGeeWhy]

Spruce Cliff has a decent little collection of condo's townhouses and a unique view of downtown. Close to the Shag golf course and the first new west leg LRT station will be very close by.

Other than that, Hillhurst/Sunnyside, Point McKay, Crescent Heights, Eau Claire, Connaught, Mission, Lower Mount Royal, Bankview, South Calgary/Altadore, Garrison Woods all offer fairly well established and somewhat trendy places to live.

Inglewood has some options but its a bit more off the beaten path. It would be a similar bet to going to the East Village in that it may be better in a few years from now. I'd argue that Inglewood is nicer than the EV today though.

[Leeman4Gilmour]

Pretty sure the OP didn't mention the presence of kids, but if they are in the picture or will be, I highly recommend a lake community. We moved to Bonavista from West Springs a little less than a year ago and love being able to run off the kids energy down at the lake. Can't say enough good things about it.

[flip]

Originally Posted by Netskot

farther*

What's wrong with the infrastructe in the deep south? Explain yourself.

Ok, my cousin lives in Sunnyside, I live in Tuscany. He has to deal with Macleod, 22x, 14st, Anderson etc all of which have a TON of lights and are a pain in the ass because Sunnyside is like 50 blocks further away from DT than Tuscany because the South is so much bigger than the North.

I get to use Crowchild, Stoney and 16th ave. Sure 16th isn't great with the lights and Crowchild has a few lights at Kensington and 5th ave but still.

I take 12 minutes to get to the U of C, he takes like 20 to get to MRU. I take 10 minutes to get to McMahon, he takes 30+ mins. I take 25-30mins to get to the Saddledome no the train, he takes 45+ mins. I am closer to Canmore/Banff/Kananaskis/ski resorts.

I know that there seems to be more businesses and such in the south, especially around Macleod but having to deal with the traffic nightmares that there is in that specific area of the deep south wouldn't be worth it for me.

And from my experiences people who live in the South or North are like totally militant about thinking their area is better. I don't doubt that many people disagree with me, but IMO, you couldn't find a (realistic) reason for me to ever move to the deep south of Calgary.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by flip

Ok, my cousin lives in Sunnyside, I live in Tuscany. He has to deal with Macleod, 22x, 14st, Anderson etc all of which have a TON of lights and are a pain in the ass because Sunnyside is like 50 blocks further away from DT than Tuscany because the South is so much bigger than the North.

I get to use Crowchild, Stoney and 16th ave. Sure 16th isn't great with the lights and Crowchild has a few lights at Kensington and 5th ave but still.

I take 12 minutes to get to the U of C, he takes like 20 to get to MRU. I take 10 minutes to get to McMahon, he takes 30+ mins. I take 25-30mins to get to the Saddledome no the train, he takes 45+ mins. I am closer to Canmore/Banff/Kananaskis/ski resorts.

I know that there seems to be more businesses and such in the south, especially around Macleod but having to deal with the traffic nightmares that there is in that specific area of the deep south wouldn't be worth it for me.

And from my experiences people who live in the South or North are like totally militant about thinking their area is better. I don't doubt that many people disagree with me, but IMO, you couldn't find a (realistic) reason for me to ever move to the deep south of Calgary.

I'm sure that someone will beat me to this, but Sunnyside is not the deep south?

I also don't buy for a second that its 45min from Sunnyside to the dome.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by flip

Ok, my cousin lives in Sunnyside, I live in Tuscany. He has to deal with Macleod, 22x, 14st, Anderson etc all of which have a TON of lights and are a pain in the ass because Sunnyside is like 50 blocks further away from DT than Tuscany because the South is so much bigger than the North.

I get to use Crowchild, Stoney and 16th ave. Sure 16th isn't great with the lights and Crowchild has a few lights at Kensington and 5th ave but still.

I take 12 minutes to get to the U of C, he takes like 20 to get to MRU. I take 10 minutes to get to McMahon, he takes 30+ mins. I take 25-30mins to get to the Saddledome no the train, he takes 45+ mins. I am closer to Canmore/Banff/Kananaskis/ski resorts.

I know that there seems to be more businesses and such in the south, especially around Macleod but having to deal with the traffic nightmares that there is in that specific area of the deep south wouldn't be worth it for me.

And from my experiences people who live in the South or North are like totally militant about thinking their area is better. I don't doubt that many people disagree with me, but IMO, you couldn't find a (realistic) reason for me to ever move to the deep south of Calgary.

Do you perhaps mean either Sundance or Somerset? Sunnyside is just across the river from the CBD.

[shermanator]

Originally Posted by COGENT

I live in Sunalta and I love it. For the most part it's a quite area with a lot of character. Someone in my building is actually selling their place right now.

it should be noted that you still get the downtown bs from time to time, it has its perks though. For example, my bottles last no longer than 3.2355 seconds in my alley. I'm happy to keep the homeless community employed if it means I never have to go to the bottle depot.

I will second this. Just bought a condo in Sunalta a year ago, and I love it. Close to everything, but not right in the heart of downtown. C-train line going up in 3 years. You see the occasional homeless person, but they keep to themselves.

I've lived in Temple, Bowness, and Cambrian Heights, and all had their perks. Likewise, all have their downsides as well....

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by flip

Ok, my cousin lives in Sunnyside, I live in Tuscany. He has to deal with Macleod, 22x, 14st, Anderson etc all of which have a TON of lights and are a pain in the ass because Sunnyside is like 50 blocks further away from DT than Tuscany because the South is so much bigger than the North.

I get to use Crowchild, Stoney and 16th ave. Sure 16th isn't great with the lights and Crowchild has a few lights at Kensington and 5th ave but still.

I take 12 minutes to get to the U of C, he takes like 20 to get to MRU. I take 10 minutes to get to McMahon, he takes 30+ mins. I take 25-30mins to get to the Saddledome no the train, he takes 45+ mins. I am closer to Canmore/Banff/Kananaskis/ski resorts.

I know that there seems to be more businesses and such in the south, especially around Macleod but having to deal with the traffic nightmares that there is in that specific area of the deep south wouldn't be worth it for me.

And from my experiences people who live in the South or North are like totally militant about thinking their area is better. I don't doubt that many people disagree with me, but IMO, you couldn't find a (realistic) reason for me to ever move to the deep south of Calgary.

If your cousin lives in Sunnyside and is dealing with Macleod, 22x, 14st, Anderson, he/she is doing something drastically wrong. There's a huge difference in living in the deep SW and the deep SE. SW is the worst in the city for driving congestion and taking a long time to get anywhere. I could match or better all the times you listed from the deep SE Except the U of C.

[FCAV]

Originally Posted by Leeman4Gilmour

Pretty sure the OP didn't mention the presence of kids, but if they are in the picture or will be, I highly recommend a lake community. We moved to Bonavista from West Springs a little less than a year ago and love being able to run off the kids energy down at the lake. Can't say enough good things about it.

No kids that I know of!

Still waiting for a phone call though. I'm due.

Looking at that crime map, yeah, there doesn't seem to be an area that really shines in terms of crime so it'll pretty well be a wash.

[nik-]

Sunnyside!

[DrPepper]

I've only lived in the NW part of Calgary so far and won't be leaving it anytime soon. I'd probably reconmend anywhere along centre street or the beddington area. The #3 bus is really convienent because it takes you all the way to downtown plus more.

[Eric Vail]

Originally Posted by Leeman4Gilmour

Pretty sure the OP didn't mention the presence of kids, but if they are in the picture or will be, I highly recommend a lake community. We moved to Bonavista from West Springs a little less than a year ago and love being able to run off the kids energy down at the lake. Can't say enough good things about it.

My wife and I both are born and raised Calgarians, and both targeted Bonavista as the best community in Calgary where we wanted to settle when we have kids. The lake is awesome, and it is nice to have an established community with beautiful trees and landscaping. It also has got pretty good access to the city.

[mr.jim.lahey]

Right beside the girls dorm at U of C or Mount Royal College.

[fleuryisgod]

I have been living in the Aspen area for 7 months now and it is actually very nice. On the edge of the city so getting to the mountains is very easy but at the same time it is less than 15 minutes to downtown and the LRT line expansion is heading just a few blocks away.

[dj_patm]

Originally Posted by 4X4

I'd hate to see the world through your eyes. Downtown may not be the cookie cutter utopia that you call home, but you're seriously embellishing things. And since when can you get from Bridlewood, Evergreen or the other community you listed - to any sort of shopping - without driving?

I live at the edge of somerset. It takes me 10 minutes to walk to the shawnessy shopping area which has, literally, anything I could need.

I love where I live. Sure we might not have old trees (Cause were a NEW community? We have more greenspace then any midtown or innercity community) But there is not a single thing I would change besides less lights on Macleod. But in reality there's hardly ever a time where I need to drive past downtown which is only 20-30 minute drive.

I know a bunch of people who live by me and work downtown or in the north, yet none of them ever complain about where they live simply cause outside of that inconvenience, it has everything

[driveway]

I'd like to give a shout-out to Inglewood. It's the first place I'd look if I was in the market for a new home, the area between 9th ave and the River is full of great houses that have actual character, and some that are around 100 years old.

9th ave itself is only getting better (unlike Kensington, which is going downhill), and with the 4th st underpass on the way and the redevelopment of the east village Inglewood is the most up-and-coming neighborhood in the city.

It's also the oldest, which has gotta count for something.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by dj_patm

I live at the edge of somerset. It takes me 10 minutes to walk to the shawnessy shopping area which has, literally, anything I could need.

I love where I live. Sure we might not have old trees (Cause were a NEW community? We have more greenspace then any midtown or innercity community) But there is not a single thing I would change besides less lights on Macleod. But in reality there's hardly ever a time where I need to drive past downtown which is only 20-30 minute drive.

I know a bunch of people who live by me and work downtown or in the north, yet none of them ever complain about where they live simply cause outside of that inconvenience, it has everything

Can you please repeat that? Couldn't hear you with all the noise and crime taking place outside my door.