I am moving to Edmonton

[Igster]

Yeah, prices around the river valley are quite steep. Good luck in your search.

[-TC-]

Glenora is nice...Westmount not as. I live out in the west in Glastonbury, it's really nice out here. And where you are working it's not a long commute time-wise, as you are right off the Henday.

Other nice places are Terwillegar and Windermere....basically anything south and west ranges from pretty good to very nice.

Don't go to the north side or the north east... badbadbad

[V]

Glenora's beautiful, and is being revitalized this year and next, so all the roads, curbs, sidewalks, streetlights are going to be brand new. I think the area south of Stony Plain Road is pretty pricy, though. It's right by the river valley, too, which is really nice.

I don't get the appeal of living close to Whyte unless you're younger. The river valley is what would appeal more to me, so the right areas in West Edmonton could give you the river valley without paying through the nose for it.

I've lived in St. Albert for the majority of my life, and as any good St. Albertan will tell you, it's heaven on earth. I'd stay here forever if my wife didn't want an acreage. The commute to your work would be easy. As long as your wife doesn't work central the commute could be fine, too. The Henday comes right next to St. Albert, and I can actually get to the south side of Edmonton in 20 minutes now, although I've never tested the Henday in rush hour.

[Igster]

Originally Posted by V

although I've never tested the Henday in rush hour.

It sucks both ways.

[Yeah_Baby]

Congrats. I love living here.

[trackercowe]

Originally Posted by GP_Matt

So, it looks like I will be moving south to Edmonton from the sunny city of Grande Prairie.

I realize that this is a Calgary board so there will be a lot of jokes about being stabbed, but I was hoping to get a few legit responses thrown in from the folks who live in Edmonton.

The first step is finding a place to live. Online I have been looking at infills in Bonnie Doon and around Westmount/Glenora as well as considering the satellite communities like St Albert.

I will be working at 142 Ave and 118th Street but my wife could be working almost anywhere so central seems better.

Thanks for the advice.

That's where I live, and also considered moving to the Bonnie Doon/Ottwell area before ending up settling near Oliver Square (technically in Westmount). Much of Westmount is definitely on the upswing, and there are some really nice shops close to Stony Plain and Jasper Avenue. Some spots are actually similar to what you'd find on Whyte Ave, just it's not as expansive, and you can avoid the vast amount of drunks and jerks that flock to Whyte on most nights.

With the Brewery District being developed the area is only going to get better, as the old Moulson Brewery was kind of a eye sore. Although the brewery itself is going to remain, as a city landmark (gulls gotta nest somewhere).

Much of the area is pretty safe, but I would try and stay clear of moving too far North (around 108th ave), and then there's also a lot of trouble around the Boyle and Queen Mary Park (around MacEwan) areas.

When I was checking out condos in the Bonnie Doon area I found they had a lot of problems. Many of the developments were old, had poor reserve funds, and were kind of run down. Since you're buying a house it will be different, but it's an older area. There's nothing really wrong with it I suppose, and it still provides an easy commute to downtown.

I like the Westmount area though, and I've never experienced any issues. There are a few too many credit loan places and pawn stores, but I don't see bad people hanging around them too often. Westmount Mall is kind of run down, but they're starting to put some money into it now that there's a Wal-Mart.

Oh and +1 to the areas down south, even the new areas in Elerslie that are being developed. A few of my friends have bought places down there, and the prices are pretty decent since they're getting in now. The only problem though is that it can take an hour to get downtown on many days (especially during the winter).

[CalgaryFan1988]

I lived there for a few years many moons ago, but go back for work on occasion. Many have said the good areas so I won't repeat. If you are thinking out of town a little, I would stay out of Sherwood Park. Poor air quality.

The commute from anywhere is never that bad, unless there is an unforeseen incident. "Rush hour" in Edmonton is laughable.

[Sainters7]

+1 for St. Albert, moved away a year ago after spending several years there. Love being home in Calgary again, but I miss "the bubble" sometimes. Commute isn't even that bad from your work either, definitely reasonable.

Property taxes are definitely higher than Edmonton, but IMO you get what you pay for, such a clean and safe city. The entire city is basically connected by jogging/biking trails, you can walk everywhere there. After moving back to Calgary I had to get used to not greeting everyone I walk by on the street anymore, as people in St. Albert do this all the time, it's nice. Great place to raise a family, lots of parks. Great sports town too, seemed like everyone i met there was a freak athlete.

My only issue there were speed limits, which are way too slow everywhere (like Edmonton), and are vigorously enforced by their very well funded, very bored (since nothing ever seems to happen there) local RCMP. Got 4 tickets there my first year alone, after never having 1 in my life before. Everyone drives so slow too, it amazed me how long it took to run errands around that small city sometimes.

Long story short, I recommend.


Posted from Calgarypuck.com App for Android

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Edmonton has it's great points. Summers are nice and warm, the River Valley is nice, and there is some great walking around the U of A / Garneau / Whyte Ave / Westmount / Oliver / Glenora / Queen Alexandra and through the River Valley to connect them all.

Edmonton actually has decent farmers markets, and good golf can be found throughout the city.

Why am I telling you this? Because I am likely moving up there next year, and I'm trying to convince myself of the same thing

In addition to this, St. Albert has been mentioned so I'll tell you that taxes there are extremely high. Was having dinner with a client and his SA taxes are about 70% higher than mine with a similar house. By all means look at the areas that have been mentioned, but look at area communities like Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove and Stony Plain. Those are the ones I'd recommend.

There are some very nice communities in Edmonton. Don't believe the crap that's spewed about Edmonton. In summer there may be no better city, with festivals all over the place and the most awesome river valley you'll see. It's the city's finest feature.

Find a good realtor who can ask the right questions and suggest areas in which to live. Depending on your needs, Glenora is very nice and in the city centre. There are lots of nice neighbourhoods on both the north and south sides and, as I said, some wonderful communities around Edmonton. Look at Sherwood Park. It's very close to Edmonton city centre and has low taxes because of all of the commercial assessment.

PM me if you want help. I've lived in Edmonton and area for a very long time.

[DuffMan]

Originally Posted by V

I've lived in St. Albert for the majority of my life, and as any good St. Albertan will tell you, it's heaven on earth. I'd stay here forever if my wife didn't want an acreage. The commute to your work would be easy. As long as your wife doesn't work central the commute could be fine, too. The Henday comes right next to St. Albert, and I can actually get to the south side of Edmonton in 20 minutes now, although I've never tested the Henday in rush hour.

Sounds like Airdrie.

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

In summer there may be no better city,

You have lost your damn mind.

[Igster]

Originally Posted by Makarov

You have lost your damn mind.

If you like festivals, he's most likely right. It is known as "festival city". They are constant and no other city does the majority of them better.

[dubc80]

Originally Posted by DuffMan

Sounds like Airdrie.

Distance wise, I think it would be way closer since its basically attached.

edit: Looked it up and Google maps says it is about 14km so basically as far as Dalhousie is to downtown Calgary.

[Igster]

St. Albert really is part of Edmonton. Never really seems like you leave Edmonton to get there. Just consistent houses and then businesses.

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by Igster

If you like festivals, he's most likely right. It is known as "festival city". They are constant and no other city does the majority of them better.

You can't be serious.

[Igster]

Originally Posted by Makarov

You can't be serious.

Why not? What's your problem here? Edmonton is known as Canada's Festival City. Not sure what more needs to be said. My wife goes to just about every festival...there are tons.

http://globalnews.ca/news/1379636/ed...harity-events/

[killer_carlson]

I live where it would be considered on the edge of downtown. It has its challenges.

Forest Heights is a great little area just south of the river on the east side of the city. Check that out. Way in the North East (WAY) is actually really nice. There are some great new developments up there.

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by Igster

Why not? What's your problem here? Edmonton is known as Canada's Festival City. Not sure what more needs to be said. My wife goes to just about every festival...there are tons.

http://globalnews.ca/news/1379636/ed...harity-events/

Money Guy suggested that there may be no better city than Edmonton to spend summer in. Even if you want to measure quality of summer life solely by the number of festivals, there are dozens and dozens of cities in the world with more and bigger and older festivals than Edmonton. That is not a criticism of Edmonton. Its just an observation.

The same will be true of practically any other objective measure of quality of summer life in a city.

Now, purely subjectively, its entirely possible that a person might prefer to spend their summer in Edmonton (if, for instance, all of their friends and family live there and spending time with friends and family is the most important thing to that particular person.) However, I don't understand that to be what Money Guy was referring to (because there isn't much point in discussing purely subjective things like that.)

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by DuffMan

Sounds like Airdrie.

LOL

Actually the Henday is a fantastic ring road and the claim he makes is true.

[Igster]

nm...