Best places in Calgary to live?

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by 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.

I used to work in Inglewood back in 2005. It still is a bit rough. Lots of meth-head hookers, bums all over the river pathway, and people who would poop in front of our door.

[JD]

Originally Posted by 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.

Originally Posted by Shazam

I used to work in Inglewood back in 2005. It still is a bit rough. Lots of meth-head hookers, bums all over the river pathway, and people who would poop in front of our door.

I live in Inglewood, and the truth lies somewhere in the middle. All the things driveway mentions are overrated as far as things you look for in a community and the things Shazam mentions aren't as rampant as his post suggests.

This neighborhood scores points for being central and having the river and nice parks and green space, but there's literally nothing here. Unless you go antiquing every day and enjoy pompous coffee shops and restaurants that close by 5:30, Inglewood seriously lacks.

Although Inglewood Pizza is some of the best in town.

[flip]

Yeah I meant Summerset.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by fotze

I think you mean Sommerset.

And I think you mean Somerset.

[dj_patm]

Originally Posted by 4X4

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

I would but it's a nice day and my little sister is making a snowman (slushman) in the backyard so I better watch her

[Winsor_Pilates]

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.

10 minutes to which part? What if you need groceries from Superstore, and then something from Futureshop?
The walk between the 2 stores alone would take way over 10 min, plus you've have to carry all of your groceries with you as well. I call BS that more than 1% of people actually walk to go shopping there often.
A giant outdoor stripmall is the furthest thing from a pedestrian utopia you make it sound.

[dj_patm]

Originally Posted by fotze

Did you finish high school yet?

Yup, which by the way was only 10 minute walk from my house. And MRU is only a 15 minute drive.

I have a seven year old sister... Sorry??

[dj_patm]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

10 minutes to which part? What if you need groceries from Superstore, and then something from Futureshop?
The walk between the 2 stores alone would take way over 10 min, plus you've have to carry all of your groceries with you as well. I call BS that more than 1% of people actually walk to go shopping there often.
A giant outdoor stripmall is the furthest thing from a pedestrian utopia you make it sound.

Actually I don't walk, I love to drive so I drive anywhere I can. However when my grandma was living with us she walked their very often. Almost daily.

I'm not saying its a utopia but saying that the suburbs are a bad place is just dumb.

[dj_patm]

Originally Posted by fotze

Do you like the x-files?

Im 20, what the hell would be the point of moving out when I'm still going to school??

Yeah, you know what? You're right. I'm going to move out. Collecting debt while working a part time job and going to school cause I moved out is just a brilliant plan. I mean why not right? I mean Im SOO old that its an embarrassment that I live at home still right? Hell I should tell every other person in my classes that live at home too! I mean sure it's the vast majority of the student body but whatever, I'll just put up a poster.

[_Q_]

I personally think the NW is vastly over-rated. Sure there's no traffic lights anywhere, but I would take the traffic chaos of the deep south over the kilometers upon kilometers of cookie cutter houses any day. The NW has absolutely nothing interesting in terms of shopping or dining. I have a friend that lives in the NW and whenever I visit him, it seems the only choices for food are the A&W or McDonnalds (which are both about a 10 minute drive away). Even the 7-11 is too far from anything to be accurately called a convenience store. In my opinion, any of the comunities in the SE or SW are miles ahead of the supposed good communities in the NW.

[flip]

Originally Posted by _Q_

I personally think the NW is vastly over-rated. Sure there's no traffic lights anywhere, but I would take the traffic chaos of the deep south over the kilometers upon kilometers of cookie cutter houses any day. The NW has absolutely nothing interesting in terms of shopping or dining. I have a friend that lives in the NW and whenever I visit him, it seems the only choices for food are the A&W or McDonnalds (which are both about a 10 minute drive away). Even the 7-11 is too far from anything to be accurately called a convenience store. In my opinion, any of the comunities in the SE or SW are miles ahead of the supposed good communities in the NW.

That is the exact debate I always have.

First, your cookie cutter comment is totally wrong. The houses in the NW are just as cookie cutter as the ones in the SE/SW so it is a non-issue. As far as housing the South has zero on the North. As far as restaurants, pubs and businesses/malls then yes, the South (and not the whole south, just around Macleod) are better.

The issue that does have validity is the vast number of businesses in the South, specifically along Macleod, that make the traffic nightmares worth living with.

Personally, I don't think it is worth it. I would rather spend a quarter as much time getting to school and back but have to drive a little further when I want a nice restaurant or want to go out.

If you value being stuck in traffic about 10x more than me just so you can be a 15-20 minute drive closer to Macleod than me then so be it, I just don't see the benefit. I go out like once a week, I go to school 5 times a week.

[Regulator75]

I grew up in the older part of Dalhousie (NW) and it's a great area. And stayed around the North (except for a stint living Downtown for a few years).

Before building our new home 6 years ago, we looked all over the city for a new community that fit our needs. We checked Tuscany, West Citadel, Royal Oak, Copperfield, Bridlewood and Evergreen.

After all was said and done, we decided that the deep SW (Bridlewood) was for us. We got a huge lot in a quiet closed Court. The other areas didn't have the plans and lots that we could be happy with.

We never thought we would become Southerners, sure it's far from the core but we are 1 minute from 22X and can get out of the city really quick. Previously, I don't think I had been further South than South Centre mall in the past 10 years.

Regardless, people will always brag about their community. However, I've lived all over this fine city and I find living in the deep SW has it's equal pros and cons as other communities.

I find the Northwest colder, snows more, way more windier and subject to really icy hills in the Winter as most of the newer NW communities are up on a plateau / hill or you have to travel uphill or downhill to reach said communities.

[JustAnotherGuy]

Originally Posted by _Q_

I personally think the NW is vastly over-rated. Sure there's no traffic lights anywhere, but I would take the traffic chaos of the deep south over the kilometers upon kilometers of cookie cutter houses any day. The NW has absolutely nothing interesting in terms of shopping or dining. I have a friend that lives in the NW and whenever I visit him, it seems the only choices for food are the A&W or McDonnalds (which are both about a 10 minute drive away). Even the 7-11 is too far from anything to be accurately called a convenience store. In my opinion, any of the comunities in the SE or SW are miles ahead of the supposed good communities in the NW.

I assume you are talking about the North North West part of the city.

I live in Scenic Acres in the NW and I love it. I will always live up in this area of the city. Having said that I know there are other great areas of the city to live in. I am not going to say my area is the best ares in the city but it is the best for me.

[malcolmk14]

I live in Elbow Springs just West of the city. The only thing that bothers me is the traffic on glenmore or bow trail during rush hour.

Everything else is pretty good.

[MJM]

I've seen a couple people suggesting Bankview. I just moved the hell out of there. Was counting down the days. I lived in a luxury condo, but you wouldn't know it from the crack houses and ever increasing amount of run down shantys. Crime was ridiculous, my buddies would park on the street and on 3 seperate occasions they were broken into. My wifes car was hit and run.Don't' even get me started on the 14th street hill. If it snowed, you were unable to get up or down the hill safely, walking or driving.

[Bunk]

Based on your general inner city criteria and need for a one bedroom, I'd say the following top 5 would be good to consider:

I would first suggest that you look in communities that have a good stock of condo conversions. For condos I think they easily represent the most bang for your buck and they mostly happen to be in some of Calgary's best neighbourhoods

1. Hillhurst/Sunnyside I would consider this area probably Calgary's best community. It has probably the most complete walkable retail main street (something that is rare in Calgary unfortunately), it has LRT service, it is within walking distance of downtown, it has access to the river, great parks like Riley Park, local farmers market leafy green streets and so on. It also has some decent condo conversions, particularly in Sunnyside near 10th street. The community also stands to benefit from the new Calatrava ped/cycle bridge, memorial drive improvements and access to Eau Claire, which I think is poised (with all the current and planned developments like a new Eau Claire Market redevelopment, City Centre development, BCIMC lands, Waterfront etc) to really become an actual high end city-wide destination something like a Yorkville equivilant for Calgary.

2. Mission/Cliff Bungalow 4th street offers a pretty complete walkable main street, albiet with a few glaring holes right now with stalled projects, but given a few years these holes will fill in and the main street will be just as good as say Kensington. The neighbourhood has great access to the Elbow River, Talisman Centre, is walkable to downtown or a short #3 bus ride away. It also has a great stock of condo conversions.

3. Bridgeland This is an underrated community. The Bridges development on the former general hospital site has had its first phase done for a couple of years now and it is quite fantastic. The second phase (near the LRT station) has stalled due to the recession, but expect it to start up again within the next year adding more residents and amenities to the area. Bridges has a great park in the middle, 1st avenue is emerging as a nice little mainstreet that will only improve over time. It's walkable to downtown and will have greater access with a new bridge over the bow river and St. Patrick's Island leading to the East Village. The East Village redevelopment itself (www.evexperience.com), which I think will be a success the way it is being carried out will also be a big benefit to Bridgland being just across the river. St. Patrick's Island as part of the East Village project will be getting a massive revamp - it will eventually be as good or better than Prince's Island. The neigbourhood also has an LRT. The older part of the neighbourhood has a number of good condo conversions and condos in The Bridges development are a pretty good value.

4. Bankview/South Calgary (between 17th ave and 26th ave west of 14th): This area is really intersting with its topography, nice housing stock and proximity to downtown/17th ave. Transit service isn't the best in this part of town though. It also doesn't have a great walkable main street right there, but isn't too far to an emergin Marda Loop or 17th ave or 11th street. Huge supply of really good bang for the buck condo conversions.

5. Beltline (Connaught - between 12th and 15th avenues and 14th street to 4th street NW). I know when people think of The Beltline sometimes 10th avenue in its current state comes to mind, but many parts of Beltline have gorgeous tree-lined streets, a variety of building scales and great access to 17th ave, 4th street, Stephen Ave, 11th street etc. Walkable distance to downtown can't be beat and there are tons of 1bdrm condo conversions or new condos being built. The areas east of 4th still is a bit spotty, but its complexion is obviously changing rather quickly with all the new condo projects. Given 10-20 years of reurbanization, Beltline could just as good as say much of Yaletown in Vancouver. It's already changed a lot in the past 3-4 years.

Honorable mention to Inglewood, Crescent Heights, Sunalta, Lower Mount Royal and Erlton.

Hope that helps

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by JD

I live in Inglewood, and the truth lies somewhere in the middle. All the things driveway mentions are overrated as far as things you look for in a community and the things Shazam mentions aren't as rampant as his post suggests.

This neighborhood scores points for being central and having the river and nice parks and green space, but there's literally nothing here. Unless you go antiquing every day and enjoy pompous coffee shops and restaurants that close by 5:30, Inglewood seriously lacks.

Although Inglewood Pizza is some of the best in town.

What's rampant? We had human poop on the front step about every week. The hookers were around in the back alley every day. So are the bums.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Bunk

5. Beltline (Connaught - between 12th and 15th avenues and 14th street to 4th street NW). I know when people think of The Beltline sometimes 10th avenue in its current state comes to mind, but many parts of Beltline have gorgeous tree-lined streets, a variety of building scales and great access to 17th ave, 4th street, Stephen Ave, 11th street etc. Walkable distance to downtown can't be beat and there are tons of 1bdrm condo conversions or new condos being built. The areas east of 4th still is a bit spotty, but its complexion is obviously changing rather quickly with all the new condo projects. Given 10-20 years of reurbanization, Beltline could just as good as say much of Yaletown in Vancouver. It's already changed a lot in the past 3-4 years.

Don't forget the gay hookers near the Red Cross

I'd rank Crescent Heights, Sunalta, Lower Mount Royal and Erlton higher than Cannaught.

[JD]

Originally Posted by Shazam

What's rampant? We had human poop on the front step about every week. The hookers were around in the back alley every day. So are the bums.

OK, and I don't have those things. Who's right?

What you describe sounds like the East Village. I have never seen a hooker in Inglewood. Maybe I don't look hard enough.

[MickMcGeough]

Originally Posted by Shazam

What's rampant? We had human poop on the front step about every week. The hookers were around in the back alley every day. So are the bums.

Human poop on the front step every week? I demand a sample be tested. My guess is you ticked off a neighbor with a dog.

I have never seen a hooker in Inglewood.

Some homeless people hang around, which is a concern if you're somebody who is afraid of homeless people. Much less since closing up the bottle depot though, I've found.