Looking at moving back into the city - community advice sought

[Dentoman]

The amount of wind and snow that the NW gets is greatly exaggerated by the south.
One thing can’t be argued though, the Weaselhead and Fish Creek Park have no comparables in the NW.
The many views of the mountains in the far NW are hard to replace though. I would really miss the big sky up here if I had to move.
One thing we can all agree on though ….. Aspen Woods is the most overrated neighborhood in the city.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by Knut

As for the Northwest. Every time I am up there I get lost with the incredibly confusing streets and signage. There is always way more snow and the wind is always much worse. It’s also much too close to Edmonton for my liking. Access to U of C is nice and if you like the mountains it’s a quick out. Personally it’s not for me but I won’t disparage anyone that likes it.

That is the biggest BS in the entire thread! lol

Because you can see that much more snow in Montgomery and Silver Springs from across the hill in Wildwood?hahaha

[SebC]

If you're concerned about snow (or rather, how quickly it melts), North-facing vs. South-facing is probably the bigger factor. You want South-facing.

[Knut]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

That is the biggest BS in the entire thread! lol

Because you can see that much more snow in Montgomery and Silver Springs from across the hill in Wildwood?hahaha

I wasn’t comparing to Wildwood. It gets worse weather than us in Bonavista too.
——
The NW and W have the coldest weather due to being at a higher elevation. It's generally a 1-2 degree difference.

Fun fact, the NW and W are in the subarctic climate zone whereas the rest of the city is in the humid continental zone. The south is about a zone 4a whereas the north is 3b for plants.
——-

From Reddit.

Proof for the first.

https://en-ca.topographic-map.com/maps/fecl/Calgary/

I’ll try and find proof for the other one later.

[Weitz]

It’s balanced by the south being totally unliveable.

[browna]

Lived in 3 of the 4.
1)Bonavista 35 years
2)Lakeview 7 years
3)Canyon Meadows 3 years.
13) Varsity

Bonavista and Lakeview feel self contained. Bonavista given the Lake and the mall and decent accesses to west and Deerfoot, and Lakeview with it's mall, Resovoir, and access everywhere (but tucked in with no access from south), just make it seem more like a community.

CM has a mall but it's at the one edge which loses some points and no full service grocery store. But Fish Creek to the south and a couple minutes closer to the RR west.

With the RR, accesses to the NW and UofC is an extra 10 mins from south on a wide open road for those 10 minutes, then you run into the same traffic the Lakeview folks do.

That all said, empty nest living is a bit different. Condos in LB are in not the greatest place, Lakeview has some apartments but nothing of note. As Jiri said, across the road in Garrison is better for that.

But really, you can't beat a lake to skate or swim, fish, or play Tennis or have a picnic or just for a nice walk.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by Knut

I wasn’t comparing to Wildwood. It gets worse weather than us in Bonavista too.
——
The NW and W have the coldest weather due to being at a higher elevation. It's generally a 1-2 degree difference.

Fun fact, the NW and W are in the subarctic climate zone whereas the rest of the city is in the humid continental zone. The south is about a zone 4a whereas the north is 3b for plants.
——-

From Reddit.

Proof for the first.

https://en-ca.topographic-map.com/maps/fecl/Calgary/

I’ll try and find proof for the other one later.

Sure it may be 1 or 2 degrees warmer but what did you type?

There is always way more snow

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by browna

Lived in 3 of the 4.
1)Bonavista 35 years
2)Lakeview 7 years
3)Canyon Meadows 3 years.
13) Varsity

Bonavista and Lakeview feel self contained. Bonavista given the Lake and the mall and decent accesses to west and Deerfoot, and Lakeview with it's mall, Resovoir, and access everywhere (but tucked in with no access from south), just make it seem more like a community.

CM has a mall but it's at the one edge which loses some points and no full service grocery store. But Fish Creek to the south and a couple minutes closer to the RR west.

With the RR, accesses to the NW and UofC is an extra 10 mins from south on a wide open road for those 10 minutes, then you run into the same traffic the Lakeview folks do.

That all said, empty nest living is a bit different. Condos in LB are in not the greatest place, Lakeview has some apartments but nothing of note. As Jiri said, across the road in Garrison is better for that.

But really, you can't beat a lake to skate or swim, fish, or play Tennis or have a picnic or just for a nice walk.

I like how all you South pompom wavers NEVER mention anything about the deal breaking traffic to live in the south.

I mean I guess you are all 65+ seniors who never have to drive anywhere except to church..

I actually goto Lake Bonivista every 2-3 weeks on weekdays and it's always gridlock on Deerfoot starting at Glenmore. I think Macleod might even be faster....

[browna]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

I like how all you South pompom wavers NEVER mention anything about the deal breaking traffic to live in the south.

I mean I guess you are all 65+ seniors who never have to drive anywhere unless it's to church.
I actually goto Lake Bonivista every 2-3 weeks on weekdays and it's always gridlock on Deerfoot starting at Glenmore. I think Macleod might even be faster.....

To work downtown in 22 minutes door to door isn't bad from LB as I do daily. Options of McLeod or Deerfoot.

Home from downtown, Blackfoot to Southland, Deerfoot far too jammed. Macleod works too since lights are properly synced.

Lakeview drive was 13 minutes but if Crowchild or Bow has an issue, longer. Same issues goes for Crowchild drivers coming from the North though.

[btimbit]

This thread went predictably off the rails and I love it
At least Sliver is on brand and entertaining, some of you take this way too seriously without realizing personal need and the fact that everyone has different criteria for an area to live in

[Slava]

These threads are great entertainment! I don’t think most of us take it too seriously, and it’s even better when people do.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Slava

These threads are great entertainment! I don’t think most of us take it too seriously, and it’s even better when people do.

nailed it

[Roughneck]

As far as I'm concerned none of those neighborhoods are actually in Calgary. 16th Ave N, Deerfoot, Glenmore and Crowchild make up the only city limits worth anything.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

You know, one thing the NW has for it is that you never see someone throw a temper tantrum trying to justify why it’s the best and why some other part of the city is worse. People in the NW just have a level of confidence in their neighbourhoods that make insecure people living in the South look silly.

That’s why they huddle a few houses around a dinky little runoff pond they call a lake down there. It’s both a lure for the plebs, and a nice option to cool off in when people get too heated trying to defend their inferior living situation.

I don't think the South is bad or anything. All my Calgary years at a kid, teen, and early 20's was spent in the south and I can't recall ever not liking it. We move up to the NW for SAIT and university and simply liked it better. It's all opinions here much like the brand of car you prefer or phone you own. I don't understand why anyone would get upset or overly defensive.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

I like how all you South pompom wavers NEVER mention anything about the deal breaking traffic to live in the south.

I mean I guess you are all 65+ seniors who never have to drive anywhere except to church..

I actually goto Lake Bonivista every 2-3 weeks on weekdays and it's always gridlock on Deerfoot starting at Glenmore. I think Macleod might even be faster....

The new ring road changed everything for the South locations. (South of Glenmore / West of McLeod.). 22x is 20-25min (not airdrie time) from Dowm town now and Kensington is not much furtherZ. University, not by car or downtown not by car is still not great.

[btimbit]

People just have a hard time thinking that other people's needs/interests are different from their own. Like how on the Calgary Reddit page the majority get angry and confused at the fact that not everyone wants to live inner city. Or when I used to live in Airdrie people would be like "Wow, how long does it take you to get to work!?!?" Uh, well I don't work where you do, it's not an issue trust me

[Captain Otto]

Originally Posted by you&me

There are two things at play here.

There's the things like Sliver's predictable Bonavista drum-beating (cute that he thinks it's the best community in the city), where posters talk about why their neighbourhood is best for them.

And then there are the posts that consider the parameters in the OP and make recommendations based on that particular situation.

With the OP working in Highfield, his wife working in Kensington and their son attending MRU or UofC, anyone suggesting Bonavista or Canyon Ghettos, er, Meadows isn't being genuine with their recommendation.

The only two choices that make sense as listed by the OP are Varsity and (only because of Crowchild) Lakeview.

Hey!!! For the record, Canyon Ghettos was the houses along the train/ctrain tracks and Anderson. And, unless you grew up there, you aren't even allowed to use that phrase.

I grew up in Canyon Meadows and you haven't lived until you've experienced the hidden gem in the middle of the community - Babbling Brook Park. The NW can't hold a candle to that.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

I like how all you South pompom wavers NEVER mention anything about the deal breaking traffic to live in the south.

I mean I guess you are all 65+ seniors who never have to drive anywhere except to church..

I actually goto Lake Bonivista every 2-3 weeks on weekdays and it's always gridlock on Deerfoot starting at Glenmore. I think Macleod might even be faster....

Hm, my experience was the opposite, traffic in the North seemed so much busier, and at more hours of the day. Maybe the south just jams easier during peak times but then it gets nice and quiet

[Ozy_Flame]

If I could move back to Calgary, I would be looking around the Glenmore Reservoir, particularly in Bayview or Oakridge. It's such a huge benefit to have outdoor paths and a lake in your backyard, and with the BRT system going through and Stoney Trail connected, it's got good bones to move around.

I grew up in the inner city, and I would do that again too, but happy to go to the "outer core" for a balance of urban and nature access as I approach middle age.

[Captain Otto]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

I like how all you South pompom wavers NEVER mention anything about the deal breaking traffic to live in the south.

I mean I guess you are all 65+ seniors who never have to drive anywhere except to church..

I actually goto Lake Bonivista every 2-3 weeks on weekdays and it's always gridlock on Deerfoot starting at Glenmore. I think Macleod might even be faster....

I grew up in the south and I think the traffic gets a bad rap. I'm guessing it was some northwesterner who propagated that bit of fake news. The south is perfectly set up for traffic flow - clear north/south routes and clear east/west connectors. The NW is a convoluted, circuitous mess.

Anyone who say's gridlock on Deerfoot in the south is bad, clearly hasn't driven Deerfoot anywhere north of 32nd Ave. What a colossal cluster ####.