Calgary's new communities

[Hockeyguy15]

We looked in Evanston, probably would have moved there but we couldn't find something we liked. Sister in law lives there and so do another couple we know, one thing I did notice is that parking is a bit of a disaster since a bunch of places don't have garages yet.

[Bunk]

What kind of house budget are you looking at?

Originally Posted by Scrambler

After having lived in Japan since 2012 I am ready to make a triumphant return to Calgary in 2017. I lived in Vancouver from 2006-2012 so this will really be a homecoming long in the making.

After looking at some options for housing I have more or less convinced myself that I would rather build new in a new community rather than buying an existing property in an established neighborhood.

Haven't nailed down which community I will be building in, but it will be in the North, somewhere like Evanston, Livingston west of Deerfoot or Firestone, Cornerstone east of Deerfoot.

Evanston would be by far the most established neighborhood out of them all. If we build there we are building in one of the last phases for the neighborhood whereas with Livingston that would be phase 1 that has not even started yet.

Anyone here already live in a new neighborhood? If you have any feedback to share it would be much appreciated.

From downtown Fukuoka City to a new community in the outskirts of Calgary's northern city limits... going to be quite a change.

[Scrambler]

Originally Posted by Bunk

What kind of house budget are you looking at?

We're looking at a 1560 sqft Laned Home (zero lot line) with heeps of upgrades inside along with a backyard deck and 2 car garage. We've been quoted in the range of $450k.

Lot is starter size, with the garage and the deck not going to leave much of a yard, but hopefully big enough for a little veggie garden and at least some grass.

[OutOfTheCube]

I'm in Redstone, the neighborhood directly east of Cornerstone. We like it so far -- were sandwiched right in between the mega retail developments they're doing off of Metis and Country Hills so in 3 years or so we'll have a ton of amenities. 5 mins to Cross Iron Mills (large new mall), 10 mins to Airdrie, 2 mins to Stoney Trail. It's significantly more developed than Cornerstone is while still having the new neighborhood feel and you avoid the ugly traffic jam getting out of Skyview in the mornings.

[Scrambler]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

We looked in Evanston, probably would have moved there but we couldn't find something we liked. Sister in law lives there and so do another couple we know, one thing I did notice is that parking is a bit of a disaster since a bunch of places don't have garages yet.

For our purpose and for resale I am doing a 2 car garage with the house at the same time. Hail storms in summer and bitter cold winters are enough for me to not want to park on the street or on a gravel pad!

[Scrambler]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

I'm in Redstone, the neighborhood directly east of Cornerstone. We like it so far -- were sandwiched right in between the mega retail developments they're doing off of Metis and Country Hills so in 3 years or so we'll have a ton of amenities. 5 mins to Cross Iron Mills (large new mall), 10 mins to Airdrie, 2 mins to Stoney Trail. It's significantly more developed than Cornerstone is while still having the new neighborhood feel and you avoid the ugly traffic jam getting out of Skyview in the mornings.

I was looking at Redstone too actually, not sure why it dropped of the radar, perhaps I should take a look at what's still available there.

[Amethyst]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

I'm in Redstone, the neighborhood directly east of Cornerstone. We like it so far -- were sandwiched right in between the mega retail developments they're doing off of Metis and Country Hills so in 3 years or so we'll have a ton of amenities. 5 mins to Cross Iron Mills (large new mall), 10 mins to Airdrie, 2 mins to Stoney Trail. It's significantly more developed than Cornerstone is while still having the new neighborhood feel and you avoid the ugly traffic jam getting out of Skyview in the mornings.

Wouldn't Redstone have the same traffic issues as Skyview?

[Amethyst]

Originally Posted by Scrambler

For our purpose and for resale I am doing a 2 car garage with the house at the same time. Hail storms in summer and bitter cold winters are enough for me to not want to park on the street or on a gravel pad!

Prior to this house, I had never had a garage before but decided it was time to treat myself. Now that I have one, there is no way I could go back to non-garage living. I don't understand people who fill their garages up with other stuff and park outside.

[OutOfTheCube]

Originally Posted by Amethyst

Wouldn't Redstone have the same traffic issues as Skyview?

Surprisingly no. We're not as developed as Skyview to start, so probably have about half the total population. And to get on to 128 Ave from the 4-way stop we get the easy right turn instead of the long wait at the left. Makes an enormous difference.

[HotHotHeat]

We have been living inner city in a infill home the past three years or so - The commute is great, and for the most part we enjoy it. Not a fan of many of the new communities out there, they seem utterly depressing.

That said - We are exploring this place liveinharmony.ca

It's further out, but is well thought out.

[Peanut]

Originally Posted by Amethyst

Prior to this house, I had never had a garage before but decided it was time to treat myself. Now that I have one, there is no way I could go back to non-garage living. I don't understand people who fill their garages up with other stuff and park outside.

I also don't understand filling a garage up with stuff. However every time I've moved I've said "THIS time, I'm buying a house with a garage.". And every time, I end up buying a house without a garage. (Well, one house I had a garage but the door didn't work very well so we basically didn't even use the garage while we lived there).

You get used to it, I guess.

[Amethyst]

Originally Posted by Peanut

I also don't understand filling a garage up with stuff. However every time I've moved I've said "THIS time, I'm buying a house with a garage.". And every time, I end up buying a house without a garage. (Well, one house I had a garage but the door didn't work very well so we basically didn't even use the garage while we lived there).

You get used to it, I guess.

When I bought this house, I told my realtor that I wanted either a house with a garage already, or one where I could build a garage. I ended up buying a house without a garage, because I liked that house best and thought, no big deal, because I'd never had one before. That year though, you got a tax break for home improvements, so I decided to have a garage built.

The best part is that now in the cold mornings before work, the most I have to do is warm up the car for a minute or two. It also helps in the summers during our hail storms. This past July, my neighbours all had their windshields smashed out.

[taco.vidal]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

He asked for feedback on living in a new community. Not for random judgement on his decision process.

I made an observation that he had made a decision.

A judgemental post may have been more along the lines of commenting on the fact that hasnt lived in Calgary for about a decade, a period during which Calgary saw unprecedented growth and sprawl, and that he made a decision of not only which neighbourhood but the exact phase that he was going to build in, within mere hours of asking a broad question about neighbourhoods.

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by Peanut

I also don't understand filling a garage up with stuff.

Garage Parties! You all make fun of Sliver but they are the way to go! I have two double garages one attached heated, one detached heated next year. I park 1 car in each and are both set up for entertaining! Nothing beats hanging in the garage playing darts watching sports and playing arcade basketball and crokinole with the boys and kids while the women sit around and talk about boring women things. I make sure to still have room to park my vehicles though and I know not everyone has the luxury of having 2 garages.

[btimbit]

My next house I want a triple garage. Never living without one again

[Scrambler]

Originally Posted by taco.vidal

I made an observation that he had made a decision.

A judgemental post may have been more along the lines of commenting on the fact that hasnt lived in Calgary for about a decade, a period during which Calgary saw unprecedented growth and sprawl, and that he made a decision of not only which neighbourhood but the exact phase that he was going to build in, within mere hours of asking a broad question about neighbourhoods.

No worries, I respect your comment and would agree with you that I am in fact leaning towards Evanston, though nothing signed or any full commitment yet. Heck if the builders I am working with don't agree to my asking price I will continue searching/considering options. In other words any feedback from anyone with experience living in a new neighborhood is appreciated.

[Scrambler]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

We looked in Evanston, probably would have moved there but we couldn't find something we liked. Sister in law lives there and so do another couple we know, one thing I did notice is that parking is a bit of a disaster since a bunch of places don't have garages yet.

Just curious, what were you hoping for that you couldn't find? I'll admit my own real complaint from what I can tell from way over here is the architectural styles of the homes. Nothing wrong with them, everyone has their own tastes, but I prefer a more contemporary/modern exterior, like this:



more so than this:



But that's not a deal-breaker for me.

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by Scrambler

Just curious, what were you hoping for that you couldn't find? I'll admit my own real complaint from what I can tell from way over here is the architectural styles of the homes. Nothing wrong with them, everyone has their own tastes, but I prefer a more contemporary/modern exterior, like this:



more so than this:



But that's not a deal-breaker for me.

We didn't want to build, we wanted something a few years old so the area was a title more established. We also wanted an attached garage and and open floor plan. There were a couple of places that we considered but eventually decided against because it seemed like they were over priced compared similar places in Sage Hill. I found a lot of the places we looked at in Evanston in our range (450-475) were more choppy layout wise.

[Scrambler]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

We didn't want to build, we wanted something a few years old so the area was a title more established. We also wanted an attached garage and and open floor plan. There were a couple of places that we considered but eventually decided against because it seemed like they were over priced compared similar places in Sage Hill. I found a lot of the places we looked at in Evanston in our range (450-475) were more choppy layout wise.

I was also going to look at Sage Hill, but then when I checked the website I saw: "SAGE HILL IS NOW SOLD OUT."

So you can be very glad you found what you were looking for!

Not sure what year you you were looking, but apparently things have gotten cheaper (as they probably have in every part of the city in recent times). A comparative home build that we are looking at now is about $15,000 less now than a couple phases ago. Building seems cheaper than buying existing now too, not sure if that makes any sense but I am quite OK with that.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by fundmark19

Garage Parties! You all make fun of Sliver but they are the way to go! I have two double garages one attached heated, one detached heated next year. I park 1 car in each and are both set up for entertaining! Nothing beats hanging in the garage playing darts watching sports and playing arcade basketball and crokinole with the boys and kids while the women sit around and talk about boring women things. I make sure to still have room to park my vehicles though and I know not everyone has the luxury of having 2 garages.

Entertaining is what your house is for.