Living in Cochrane: The Good and The Bad

[Fugly]

Originally Posted by Red Slinger

I've always been a fan of Cochrane, especially the Rec Center.

However, I understand that there have been some issues with the ground shifting in areas and foundations cracking and requiring major repair. The story goes that a developer in Cochrane (don't know which one) hired an engineering company to do a land survey and the results came back that the area was unsuitable to build on because of the unstable, shifting ground. So the developer hired another engineering company and got the same result. Yet again they hired another engineering company and lo and behold got the same result. Finally, on the 4th attempt they hired a company that gave them the results they were looking for and (part of) Cochrane was born.

If you look at Cochrane a lot of it is built in a river valley on a hill so it's not suprising that there may be some foundation issues. Again, I'm not sure if this applies to one or more areas of Cochrane or which ones it applies to. However, you may want to do some significant research on it.

Huh? I'm still brushing up on my Cochrane history but I believe the town has been around since the 1800s and was originally a ranch that evolved into a town. I think the original rancher's name was Tom Cochrane.

[4X4]

I just read the wikipedia on Cochrane and found out that they don't pay business taxes there. Somebody should report them.

[Fugly]

Originally Posted by 4X4

I just read the wikipedia on Cochrane and found out that they don't pay business taxes there. Somebody should report them.

We probably get Calgary to pay them for us.

[mersar]

Originally Posted by Fugly

Huh? I'm still brushing up on my Cochrane history but I believe the town has been around since the 1800s and was originally a ranch that evolved into a town. I think the original rancher's name was Tom Cochrane.

Senator Matthew Cochrane actually, though he didn't actually set foot in the ranch from my recollection, he just owned it.

The section with the issues Red Slinger mentioned is Glenagles, that and the Sunterra Ridge area (above Cochrane Heights, next to the cemetary) are the two areas I'd never live in, or below. Sunterra was built above where an old road that used to run to the cemetary was, and the road was closed as the couple vehicles a day that used it were causing the road to slide. Then years later that was seemingly forgotten and the town let someone build a hundred houses in the same spot pretty much.

I grew up in Cochrane myself, and love the town. Live in Calgary now though, but maybe one day I'll be back out there. My parents are still there and I go out every so often, and even when I was commuting daily I never once had a problem with getting into the city. The contractor that does the highways does a good job, you can tell where the city starts plowing though as the highway will be dry and clear right up to 12 Mile Coulee where the contractors turn around and head back, past there its snow packed and icy.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Fugly

I think the original rancher's name was Tom Cochrane.

Don't forget Red Rider.

[Fugly]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Don't forget Red Rider.

No doubt. That was the name of the ranch hands that took care of the place.

[pdizzle]

It really depends on where you work.

I recently bought a house in Aspen Hills (mostly due to it's proximity to the new c-train), but also considered Cochrane for it's cheaper house/lot prices. However, I work downtown, so I incorporated what I thought the cost of gas, parking, my time, as well as maintenance on my vehicle, into my mortgage payments and figured I could afford living closer in.

[CrusaderPi]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

Or setup a hotline so that we can report them!

They could have a short code! So I can text in and report offenders. Tres efficient.

[algernon]

I think these cochs that are thinking of moving out of the City are (Civic) Tax Evaders.
I only wish there were a selfless advocate around that will do something about this.
(because they should be reported, pronto!)

[Top Shelf]

Had to go see a doctor for a walk in appointment last night so decided to try out a clinic in Cochrane. Definitely a way shorter wait to see a doc, wondering if the wait in Emergency is also less? I suspect it would be, those are two important things in my opinion.

Also it looks like the 1A is going to be twinned all the way between Cochrane and Calgary? Can anyone confirm that? Looks like it but not sure.

Again, thanks for the helpful comments in the thread.

[Rod Hockey]

Retaining walls issues

Gleneagles

Bow Ridge

Just stay away from any house that has a retaining wall or any condo complex that shares one.

PS Don't forget to try the Cochrane Cafe on main street and Donair on the run

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Top Shelf

Had to go see a doctor for a walk in appointment last night so decided to try out a clinic in Cochrane. Definitely a way shorter wait to see a doc, wondering if the wait in Emergency is also less? I suspect it would be, those are two important things in my opinion.

Also it looks like the 1A is going to be twinned all the way between Cochrane and Calgary? Can anyone confirm that? Looks like it but not sure.

I didn't think there was any emerg service there....? Also, if you're looking for a doc there's a new clinic by the bowling alley that takes both walk ins and new patients. They just started working on the 1A, supposed to be complete by Fall 2011.http://www.cochranetimes.com/Article...aspx?e=2808975
They've also added a right turn lane to the 1A/22 intersection. That whole stretch should flow a lot better now.

[Top Shelf]

Hmmm....for some reason I thought there was a Hospital there? Doesn't look like there is though.

Will have to do some more reading about these retaining wall issues, sounds like the issue was first noticed in GlenEagles and now in Bow Ridge? The neighborhood we were looking at in Heritage Hills does have retaining walls as well, but one would think they would have figured that out by now???

[DownhillGoat]

No retaining walls, and the developments there are required to have a sump/weeping tile system to avoid drainage issues. (It wasn't originally required, but the town made them change it before actual development).

[Rod Hockey]

New health centre is being built.

http://www.cochraneeagle.com/2010/01...every-ailment/

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by pylon

Until they open a Sbarro and a Papa John's, they are simply stuck in culinary mediocrity.

But without those places locally at least they have an incentive to travel to places like New York and Europe and taste the culinary delights of the world!

[Top Shelf]

Any comments about the school system in Cochrane?

At one of the showhomes I visited, the guy in there mentioned that the school system is way better in Cochrane compared to Calgary. That might have just been a salesman trying to convince me though.

[pepper24]

I personally would never live in Cochrane but that's because I work downtown. For financial, environmental, time and stress related reasons I am set on making sure that I live and work in a close proximity. That's a lot of day wasted in your vehicle commuting to and from work assuming you'd work in Calgary. I'd also look at the extra savings in home and compare that to the extra vehicle related costs along with extra time you'll have to spend in traffic. That extra money might be better towards a slightly larger mortgage closer to work.

Also, read the "What Grinds My Gears" thread. Probably 75% of the issues are traffic/driving related. Tough to put a price tag on sanity and less stress.

[bossy22]

Originally Posted by pepper24

I personally would never live in Cochrane but that's because I work downtown. For financial, environmental, time and stress related reasons I am set on making sure that I live and work in a close proximity. That's a lot of day wasted in your vehicle commuting to and from work assuming you'd work in Calgary. I'd also look at the extra savings in home and compare that to the extra vehicle related costs along with extra time you'll have to spend in traffic. That extra money might be better towards a slightly larger mortgage closer to work.

Also, read the "What Grinds My Gears" thread. Probably 75% of the issues are traffic/driving related. Tough to put a price tag on sanity and less stress.

If you have kids though, living downtown becomes their problem. They now have to take city transit to a school in one of the burbs, so instead of you traveling, your child is.

[bossy22]

Originally Posted by Top Shelf

Any comments about the school system in Cochrane?

At one of the showhomes I visited, the guy in there mentioned that the school system is way better in Cochrane compared to Calgary. That might have just been a salesman trying to convince me though.

They have french emersion, public and catholic. Take your pick. My kids were in french emersion, and liked it, however, like any school, some of the teachers didn't seem to really give a crap. They've moved to the public school this year and like it, however, they seem to be behind in math, when they weren't at French Emersion. They're caught up now, but we've had to do a bit of work to cover the items they were expected to know.

I couldn't stand the principal at the french emersion school. He was one of those that didn't seem to give a crap. He's moved on thankfully, and from what I hear, the new principal is excellent.