Apartment buildings to avoid in Calgary?

[RW99]

I'm looking at moving to a larger apartment type of building and I'm hoping to stay away from the bad buildings and managers. From this thread about Bromely Square, I'll be sure to stay clear from that place: http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=42497

I've seen some bad posts about Boardwalk on the forum, take with a grain of salt, or stay clear? How about Emerald? Are sales like low deposits and free month(s) with a lease an indicator of bad buildings? Anyone hear of Mainstreet Equity?

I am looking at the $800-$900 plus electricity rage, so not many of the nicer quality places would fit downtown. Looking preferably from downtown to about Elbow Park SW.

Thanks CP

[Regulator75]

Century Gardens / Westview Heights



What a dump.

[Julio]

Ya...it was OK...about 20 years ago!

[Peanut]

I had a decent experience with Mainstreet back about 6 years ago. Our place was in Bankview though (so, not where you're looking?).

[burn_this_city]

Glenmore Gardens in the SW was terrible. They treat their tenants like garbage. The maintenance guy broke into my girlfriends apartment while she was in the shower and she called the cops.

[JD]

About 6 years ago I lived in the Chateau Apartments building on 6th Street and 5th Ave, run by Boardwalk. Nothing but great things to say about the experience. My unit was newly refurbished though so that probably made things a little nicer than otherwise could have been.

[Ducay]

Avoid anything built by "Pointe of View" like the plague.

Unless you like Soviet-apartment block quality and designs.


I remember taking a tour of a few of their properties (Tarjan Pointe, Discovery Pointe, Vantage Pointe) and they were all identical inside, all the same shoddy build quality, same shoddy fixtures, terrible layouts. I was amazed that the buildings were only 2-3 years old but looked worse inside than most 80s developments.


Im just glad Pointe of View was kind enough to have the word 'Pointe' in every buildings name so I know which buildings to steer clear of.

[Dan02]

I'd agree with the avoid Boardwalk.

[T@T]

I missed the thread about Bromley Square, when I moved hear in 1981 I stayed there for 2 months with an uncle, it was actually a nicely run building at the time...state of the art even.

Can't add anything to this thread though as I haven't lived in a apartment for 25 years. I like back yards.

[peter12]

Mayfair Place.

[peter12]

Also, I live by Lougheed Park and I pay $875 for a glorious suite. It's just about finding the right landlord. Checkout www.rentfaster.ca.

[worth]

Originally Posted by peter12

Mayfair Place.

LOL, when I was looking for a place I went in that building.

They showed me an apartment that had a Chinese family living in a 1 bedroom apartment. They were making dinner when i viewed the apartment and the place was a mess. The kid slept on the floor and there was junk everywhere. Apparently, they were leaving at the end of the month. Hopefully to a bigger/cleaner place.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by worth

LOL, when I was looking for a place I went in that building.

They showed me an apartment that had a Chinese family living in a 1 bedroom apartment. They were making dinner when i viewed the apartment and the place was a mess. The kid slept on the floor and there was junk everywhere. Apparently, they were leaving at the end of the month. Hopefully to a bigger/cleaner place.

So did I. They took me into an apartment where the tenants were probably being evicted. It was completely empty except for an old rear-projection TV and a pregnant woman lying on an inflatable mattress. The laminate was peeling, the fixtures were ancient, and they were asking $1000 for the place!

[MJM]

I lived in London House back in 2005. Water was continously being shut off, never any hot water, and never completed renovations to items they had as selling points on their website. For example, the pool was tore up but never started to be completed until the entire building forced them to get it up and running again. I broke my lease before it was finished, so it may not have even gotten finished. There was also a complete lack of parking for the tenants, but they always managed to have corporate tenants they leased spaces out to (and the tenant parking was over $200/month if I remember correctly).

I wouldn't recommend that place to anyone.

[Cactus Jack]

I can't remember the name but my buddy in 07 lived in the building on 2nd St SW between 12 and 13 Ave. People shooting up in the elevator, a murder on his floor, a large amount of blood found on the lobby floor once and lots of shady people waiting to be let in. Of course, that block is like that but stay away.

[Rifleman]

1313 13 Ave is another place to avoid. A friend stays in that apartment complex, and maintenance there is shoddy at best, non-existent at worst. And it's another Boardwalk property.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by Rifleman

1313 13 Ave is another place to avoid. A friend stays in that apartment complex, and maintenance there is shoddy at best, non-existent at worst. And it's another Boardwalk property.

[llama64]

Originally Posted by Cactus Jack

I can't remember the name but my buddy in 07 lived in the building on 2nd St SW between 12 and 13 Ave. People shooting up in the elevator, a murder on his floor, a large amount of blood found on the lobby floor once and lots of shady people waiting to be let in. Of course, that block is like that but stay away.

The Seville? I thought that was a hotel, and I also thought it is boarded up if not condemned (all the street level businesses have closed signs and messages about moving which are dated to 2006).

One of the sketchiest buildings I've seen in Calgary.

However, I do disagree with your assessment of the street. I live on that block - it isn't that bad (the new park on 13th ave and 1st st helps big time). The sketchy people seem to stick to the back of that Soda place (anyone know what the heck that building is? next to the Hopenbrew Pub).

[RW99]

Thanks for the info so far. Thankfully I've never had a really bad experience with a landlord or property I've rented from. I think I'm just going to have to be a little patient and wait for the right one.

[IliketoPuck]

Boardwalk properties are generally maintained with the absolute minimum possible. I'm talking string and ductape here. But it seems to be pretty consistent with regards to accomodations in Calgary, over priced, and becoming a bit worn around the edges.