The top city in Canada? Calgary - Page 13 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Ozy_Flame · 12-13-2007, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan02

and you remind me of a rebelious teenager. Not missing those days as much as it seems you miss your mommy. You dont like anything about this city yet still live here. What gives??

I wub u.

4X4 · 12-13-2007, 11:43 PM

Take it easy, muta. I'm pointing out that you two are dissing the whole city for urban sprawl and lack of this and that and yet you live in an area that has almost nothing in it. Maybe it is you that needs to venture into other neighbourhoods.

Ah, crap. I don't want to start another scrap tonight. I already took your brother to town. Just rest assured that Calgary doesn't suck quite as much as you want it to.

Ozy_Flame · 12-13-2007, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4X4

Take it easy, muta. I'm pointing out that you two are dissing the whole city for urban sprawl and lack of this and that and yet you live in an area that has almost nothing in it. Maybe it is you that needs to venture into other neighbourhoods.

Ah, crap. I don't want to start another scrap tonight. I already took your brother to town. Just rest assured that Calgary doesn't suck quite as much as you want it to.

You took me to town? Sounds like you're just bitter someone doesn't like Calgary as much as you do! Lol...I love when people claim self-victory, it's so...democratic!

BTW, I have friends all over the city, I grew up here, I know it inside and out. I know what I see, and as a result, I can say after 25 years that this city is nice and safe, and friendly, and you can make your bucks, and you can visit Stage West, and you can skate at Olympic Plaza, and do it all.

I wub you too though, that's ok.

4X4 · 12-14-2007, 12:01 AM

C'mon, dude. Just give it up. You're not even participating anymore. You're looking at an atlas and listing cities, then you're talking about your mom, and now you're speaking in some kind of LOLcat language. Wub? WTF is wub?

Bro, just relax. You and muta just ticked me off a little with your relentless ranting about Calgary's lack of anything good. I tabled my opinion, pointed out that you sound like the Sedin sisters, and I left it there. Why do you want to prolong this?

4X4 · 12-14-2007, 12:01 AM

Eh, no fair... You edited your post... I'm telling mom.

Ozy_Flame · 12-14-2007, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4X4

Eh, no fair... You edited your post... I'm telling mom.

Hey that's ok, I love the smell of armpit in the morning. You can tell her that too.

Muta · 12-14-2007, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4X4

Take it easy, muta. I'm pointing out that you two are dissing the whole city for urban sprawl and lack of this and that and yet you live in an area that has almost nothing in it. Maybe it is you that needs to venture into other neighbourhoods.

Ah, crap. I don't want to start another scrap tonight. I already took your brother to town. Just rest assured that Calgary doesn't suck quite as much as you want it to.

Damn right I'm dissing this city for its urban sprawl. I don't like it one bit. When you have a place that rivals New York City in it's ecological footprint with only an 8th of the population, you better believe that's a huge reason for concern.

Other than that, I've never said anything bad about Calgary, other than it lacks a true urban identity because of its shortage of cultural activity. In order for this city to successfully grow into a thriving metropolis (which is the direction its heading in), it needs to start developing a denser urban environment. The associated results will follow suit once that happens. Until then, the rapid outward expansion of this city will continue to put a strain on city resources and infrastructure until it's too late and major monies are needed to remedy the situation. And guess who will end up paying for that? Us, the taxpayers. I would hope people are opening their eyes to this situaiton, and I fully believe they are.

And on the contrary, I have all major amenities, facilities and venues within minutes of my location. There's a reason why I live where I do, and it had alot of long-term thought go into it. I didn't just choose to live here because it's the cool thing to do. Just wait and see what happens in this area a couple years from now.

Ozy_Flame · 12-14-2007, 08:12 AM

In support of the urban sprawl problem in this city (as much as people love to downplay it), here is something interesting to read...

http://www.metronews.ca/uploadedFile...14_calgary.pdf

Page 3 of the Metro shows how the City of Calgary is having the City budget strained by this significant issue that is a direct threat to the quality of services in the City.

Even the City has acknowledged the problem, EVEN after Bronconnier denied such a problem in 2002.

psicodude · 12-14-2007, 08:41 AM

I can't believe you 2 are still going at this thread after 3 days now. Yup, Calgary has the worst urban sprawl on the planet. Suburbs are stupid, inner city rules. We get it. Move on.

Muta · 12-14-2007, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psicodude

I can't believe you 2 are still going at this thread after 3 days now. Yup, Calgary has the worst urban sprawl on the planet. Suburbs are stupid, inner city rules. We get it. Move on.

And your point coming into this thread and posting was.... ?

If you don't like something, don't contribute to it. That being, this thread.

burn_baby_burn · 12-14-2007, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muta

I think alot of you would be surprised about how much it actually costs to get a beautiful home designed by an architect without breaking the bank. But alas, people don't do their homework reagarding this, I guess.

What would it cost Muta? If starter homes of roughly 900 sqaure feet are selling for $300,000+ with an unfinished basement, garage, and no landscaping or fence. How much extra would it cost to get a beautiful home designed by an architect without breaking the bank?

Ozy_Flame · 12-14-2007, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psicodude

I can't believe you 2 are still going at this thread after 3 days now. Yup, Calgary has the worst urban sprawl on the planet. Suburbs are stupid, inner city rules. We get it. Move on.

Lol.

I just thought I'd post a link supporting our issue with urban sprawl. The City of Calgary now seems to agree with those sentiments.

Muta · 12-14-2007, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

What would it cost Muta? If starter homes of roughly 900 sqaure feet are selling for $300,000+ with an unfinished basement, garage, and no landscaping or fence. How much extra would it cost to get a beautiful home designed by an architect without breaking the bank?

$345,000, or 15%. This can vary (12-18%) depending on the architect and the demand for their services.

Of course, that fee comes down if you're just doing renovations / modifications as opposed to designing an entirely new home.

burn_baby_burn · 12-14-2007, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muta

$345,000, or 15%. This can vary (12-18%) depending on the architect and the demand for their services.

Of course, that fee comes down if you're just doing renovations / modifications as opposed to designing an entirely new home.

That could be affordable for some. But an additional $45,000 on $300,000 is actually quite an expense for the average family. Considering you still need to landscape and build a fence at approximately $10,000. Then finish your basement for another additional cost of approximately $30,000 or $20,000 if you do it your self. The average individual, especially a first time home buyer, would have trouble getting the bank or a mortgage lender to give them the extra money to have the architect design the house.

Ozy_Flame · 12-14-2007, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

That could be affordable for some. But an additional $45,000 on $300,000 is actually quite an expense for the average family. Considering you still need to landscape and build a fence at approximately $10,000. Then finish your basement for another additional cost of approximately $30,000 or $20,000 if you do it your self. The average individual, especially a first time home buyer, would have trouble getting the bank or a mortgage lender to give them the extra money to have the architect design the house.

Which is why you see alot of young people going in on a property together just to afford it.

Actually you don't have to have a new home for an architect to design it, they do add-on's and renovations too. Alot of the houses I grew up around in Hillhurst have kept their basic structure and being modified through architectural work.

Muta · 12-14-2007, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

That could be affordable for some. But an additional $45,000 on $300,000 is actually quite an expense for the average family. Considering you still need to landscape and build a fence at approximately $10,000. Then finish your basement for another additional cost of approximately $30,000 or $20,000 if you do it your self. The average individual, especially a first time home buyer, would have trouble getting the bank or a mortgage lender to give them the extra money to have the architect design the house.

A first time home buyer would have problems associated with this, most definitely. But with the amount of affluent young professionals in this city, and the amount of established professionals already here, combined with the chaotic flow of income due to the red hot economy, now's as good a time as its ever going to be for people to be using this service.

The additional costs associated with it - landscaping, basement work... those can add up. I guess it's all about how you plan it and work it into a budget. Designing a custom home takes preparation, planning and requires a dedication to a schedule. But, it's more than worth it in the end, especially if you plan on selling it one day.

Well planned and thought-out design can add significant value to your house. Architecture helps to accomplish that.

burn_baby_burn · 12-14-2007, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muta

Well planned and thought-out design can add significant value to your house. Architecture helps to accomplish that.

I would agree with that. If money wasn't an issue I would have the coolest looking house on the block. Actually, I would have the coolest house out in the middle of nowhere. So most people woudn't be able to see how cool it was.

Ozy_Flame · 12-14-2007, 10:39 AM

For the record, I do believe houses that win architecture awards increase the value of a house as well. There are a few award winning houses in Cresent Heights and Mount Royal that have won awards for design, and are now premium properties, although that's not saying alot given the expensive property in general in those neighbourhoods.

Saint Troy · 12-14-2007, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

I would agree with that. If money wasn't an issue I would have the coolest looking house on the block. Actually, I would have the coolest house out in the middle of nowhere. So most people woudn't be able to see how cool it was.

Most houses in new communities also have architectural controls in place, so you don't have the Parthenon flanked by two regular houses.

Dan02 · 12-14-2007, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saint Troy

Most houses in new communities also have architectural controls in place, so you don't have the Parthenon flanked by two regular houses.

true but most of the houses are almost identical and I think that is going a little overboard. Living in a somewhat older community all the houses around here are 1 offs but only a few of them stick out.