Good/Bad Areas of Downtown Calgary?

[Misterpants]

Is that area around the Orange lofts (East Village) still super sketchy? I remember I was toying with moving downtown 10 years ago and went to go look at the Orange Lofts. I got within 100 meters of the building, counted 3 crackheads and 4 prostitutes (on a Sunday afternoon no less) and told my real estate agent to keep driving.

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by Bunk

The entire north side of Lower Mount Royal is flanked by 17th Avenue - so I would assert that it is perhaps the most amenity-laden and walkable. You can't be more than 3 blocks away from 17th Ave in any part of LMR. The only amenity that's far-ish is a full grocery store - but both Safeway and Co-op are 5 short blocks away - if one could consider that far. Also a movie theatre - but there's only one in downtown at Eau Claire.

Don't forget the Globe!

What I meant is that you need to walk a few blocks to get to pretty much any business in those neighbourhoods. LMR is almost entirely residential whereas other nearby communities are a mix of residential and commercial.

In reality, though, I tend to consider the Beltline, LMR, Cliff Bungalow, and Mission to all be one big neighbourhood. If you live in any of those areas, you are within a reasonable walking distance of all the same amenities, albeit some might be closer or further depending where you live.

[Jbo]

To the OP - What kind of budget do you have? Will you be renting solo or with a roommate? What kinds of things are important to you?

Also make sure that you sign up for rent faster alerts. You can set it for any neighbourhood and get an e-mail the second the ad pops up. In my experience nice places anywhere in the inner city have huge demand, and you have to be ready to move in for a viewing quick.

[Table 5]

That's a very creative way of coloring sections, Bunk. It's very Bob Ross of you.

[GreatWhiteEbola]

Originally Posted by Table 5

That's a very creative way of coloring sections, Bunk. It's very Bob Ross of you.

Most likely government funded.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by GreatWhiteEbola

Most likely government funded.

My tax dollars paid for that MSPAINT? OUTRAGE!

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Table 5

That's a very creative way of coloring sections, Bunk. It's very Bob Ross of you.

That represents the outer reaches of my visual artistic talent and graphic capabilities - Paint.

On a side note, I was once Bob Ross for Halloween. Only the cool people got it.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Misterpants

Is that area around the Orange lofts (East Village) still super sketchy? I remember I was toying with moving downtown 10 years ago and went to go look at the Orange Lofts. I got within 100 meters of the building, counted 3 crackheads and 4 prostitutes (on a Sunday afternoon no less) and told my real estate agent to keep driving.

Not really. The complexion of that area has completely changed with the new infrastructure in place. Social disorder issues have also largely declined for the neighbourhood as a whole.

[Table 5]

I think in 10 years the East Village will be pretty fantastic. The only problem is having to put up with 10 years of desolation and/or construction till it reaches the tipping point.

[chemgear]

^ Well, I was physically there nearly 10 years ago when I was looking at the Orange Lofts. They were saying the exact same thing back then. To be fair, there has been progress - but it has been said before.

[Table 5]

Yeah, 10 year is probably the optimists time frame. To really have it hopping, it might take 20-25...it will all depend on the market demand and how Calgary keeps moving foward. It will get there though. Unlike 10 years ago, there's an actual plan of action now, not just rhetoric.

[MonsieurFish]

Originally Posted by J-bo09

To the OP - What kind of budget do you have? Will you be renting solo or with a roommate? What kinds of things are important to you?

Also make sure that you sign up for rent faster alerts. You can set it for any neighbourhood and get an e-mail the second the ad pops up. In my experience nice places anywhere in the inner city have huge demand, and you have to be ready to move in for a viewing quick.

I'll be renting with a roommate, and we're looking to pay around 1000$/month between us if possible. Would like to be somewhere that has a good nightlife, so around 17 ave or 4 st, as well as somewhere within walking distance to work (4 ave 1 st sw).

Will be signing up for rent faster alerts right now... thanks for that tip.

[Jbo]

Originally Posted by MonsieurFish

I'll be renting with a roommate, and we're looking to pay around 1000$/month between us if possible. Would like to be somewhere that has a good nightlife, so around 17 ave or 4 st, as well as somewhere within walking distance to work (4 ave 1 st sw).

Will be signing up for rent faster alerts right now... thanks for that tip.

No problem. RentFaster is how I managed to snag my place.

Not going to lie, $1000 for a two bedroom inner city will not be easy to find. I would add an extra hundred each on that. Also, make sure you are clear when negotiating about who pays condo fees, utilities etc. A great deal may not be so great if you are picking up all the utilities.

As a base of reference, a couple places I know:

I pay 1400 in Mission with all utilities but cable included and one parking stall.

My buddy that lives in Marda loop pays about 600 with a roommate. All in.

My other buddy that lives off of 12th Ave (a few blocks from Amsterdam Rhino) pay 900 for a one bed room.

Hope this helps!

[Table 5]

$1000 for a 2 bedroom might get you a basement suite....but probably not in your preferred locations.

But you're young, you can make sacrifices and adapt. My first apartment (tiny 1 bedroom in a 5th floor walkup, with a roomate)....I slept on the floor for 2 years in a sleeping bag. And it was still awesome to be independent. If you're a young guy, chances are you're not going to be spending too much time at home anyway.

[wireframe]

rentfaster.ca is pretty good in Calgary. I also recommend Padmapper. it scrapes a few other sites, has great search functions, displays the places on a map, and keeps track of what you have already looked at.

You should think about what sorts of things you want to be close to and how you are getting around. If you like to cycle, remember to consider altitude. If you drive a lot, make sure you can park and try to avoid high traffic intersections.

[Flames_Gimp]

My first apartment was at 16th ave and 10th st sw. Loved it there. Mind you that was 12 years ago, no idea how it is now.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Bunk

Here's how I would characterize "downtown" living in Calgary. Not precise.

Green is the best areas - well built up, very liveable.

Yellow is slightly less desirable to live - either because it's underdeveloped as with the case with places like 10th/11th Ave or along 14th Street in Beltline or does not actually have a lot of living opportunities - like the commercial core. Other areas like East Village are currently underdeveloped but have a lot of potential in the near future and are actively being redeveloped.

Red are the areas the typical person my consider a bit "sketchy" due to some of the activity on the street such as drug dealing, concentrations of the homeless (although they're still generally very safe in any event).

It's all green man. Go to Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, heck even Edmonton and then you will see sketchy areas. The weather stinks in Calgary but we are pretty spoiled by how safe the entire city is overall. There's not a street in this city that I would be really scared to walk at night by myself.

[FlyingDonutz]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It's all green man. Go to Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, heck even Edmonton and then you will see sketchy areas. The weather stinks in Calgary but we are pretty spoiled by how safe the entire city is overall. There's not a street in this city that I would be really scared to walk at night by myself.

I plan to move to Calgary at some point in my life and when I do, the Flames are number one reason.. desirable living condition number 2.. and weather number 3. Bad weather is awesome. I live right in between the 3 biggest lakes in the world. I'm used to horrible weather.. lol.

[Kswiss]

Originally Posted by surferguy

i live in the beltline on 15th near 1st SW. The area had changed heaps in the last 8 years. I have to admit that yes it does still have some undesirables, but lets be honest it is in the core of a city with 1.2 million people. Incidents will happen but they are isolated. I am more annoyed by the asshats on their motorbikes trying to get to 75 kph in first gear between every light. That is the biggest issue in the beltline IMO.

I live on the beltline too and I was so happy with that noise bylaw. Who the heck are these motorists impressing at 2 in the morning?!?!?!

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It's all green man. Go to Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, heck even Edmonton and then you will see sketchy areas. The weather stinks in Calgary but we are pretty spoiled by how safe the entire city is overall. There's not a street in this city that I would be really scared to walk at night by myself.

Yellow is not relating to safety per-se - more that the physical environment is such that it's less desirable to live. For instance, it's much nicer on 13th Avenue in the Beltline compared to 10th Avenue. That's not to say 10th is less safe, it's just less nice (at least right now - it will evolve and build up). The red areas are just very small pockets with some less than desirable activity. Of course it's relative. 14th Avenue at 2nd street is no Vancouver Downtown East Side.