Tell me about your SE community.

[Fuzz]

If you are worried about the shopping issue, go do it. Go shop there at the same time you would on a normal day living there. Go try the commute a few times. I'm amazed at how many people buy a place having no idea what their day to day life is going to be like.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Aegypticus

I would say 130th is tolerable. It's never been nearly as bad as the Chinook Centre are can get. 130th is just maddening because it didn't have to be a ####show.

Yeah, Chinook is a disaster. About once a year I forget just how awful it is and head down that way. Then you get inside and it feels like you're on the Stampede midway. Can't believe how popular that place is.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Yeah, Chinook is a disaster. About once a year I forget just how awful it is and head down that way. Then you get inside and it feels like you're on the Stampede midway. Can't believe how popular that place is.

What is Southcentre like since the expansion?

[Zarley]

I'd vote for Midnapore, Sundance, or Bonavista as far as SE communities go. Lake communities, good schools, traffic isn't that bad, Fish Creek Park adjacent, and there's a good mix of local and chain restaurants.

[psicodude]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

What is Southcentre like since the expansion?

Compared to Chinook, it's a dream. Just so much more laid-back. Yeah, it's missing a few stores and the theatre, but I don't care. Every time I go to Chinook, I feel that it takes 6 months off my life.

[Vox]

Originally Posted by sa226

Thanks guys.

The commute is to the airport for both of us. Me randomly, her 4-5 days a week. So Stony is where its at.

Iv'e heard the growing sentiment about 130th. Is it truly the worst shopping district in the city? Or is it just kind of getting bad? For instance, I make a point of avoiding Chinook at all costs.

I like the contrasting opinions of fundmark and Vox. One would go south of 130th if he(she?) had the chance again the other would never go south of 130th, for differing reasons of course. I like it!

Stoney from the airport is an excellent drive. I actually take that on occasion when I drive home from visiting family in the Hamptons and Edgemont. It is about 10km longer for me, but time wise it is very close to driving home on Deerfoot. When I take Stoney I effectively drive past Mahogany and Auburn Bay and turn back north to on Deerfoot to backtrack to Douglasdale.

Seton, Auburn Bay, Mahogany have great access via Stoney. I loved the advice from a previous poster about trying the shopping at 130th to see how you like it. Try driving Stoney from the Airport to the south as well.

Another consideration is that homes in the new managed communities seem to be holding their value and appreciating faster than surrounding communities. The communities are maintained better which adds to the resale value. (This info came directly from a senior manager at Brookfield that I know very well, and from the former GM of McKenzie Towne, who estimated that homes built by Brookfield managed communities increased in value by as much as 5% more than homes built in non managed communities). Douglasdale does have the LEAF program, which gives us some extra maintenance of the boulevards and park land, which not all communities have. I'd say their is a noticeable difference in communities that have RAs, followed by communities with the LEAF program. If you move to Douglasdale please keep supporting our vote for LEAF!

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by sa226

Thanks guys.

The commute is to the airport for both of us. Me randomly, her 4-5 days a week. So Stony is where its at.

Iv'e heard the growing sentiment about 130th. Is it truly the worst shopping district in the city? Or is it just kind of getting bad? For instance, I make a point of avoiding Chinook at all costs.

I like the contrasting opinions of fundmark and Vox. One would go south of 130th if he(she?) had the chance again the other would never go south of 130th, for differing reasons of course. I like it!

Given this I would focus on communities that have good access to Stoney, and I think not all of the south ones have that. And if Stoney is your primary route then don't be afraid to look on the south side of it either. the further north you go (eg Douglasdale etc. the worse your access is going to be since you either have to backtrack south or go through the industrial parks heading east which may negate any advantages of being in the older communities. If your airport commute is going to be long term then I would put a lot of thought into your house location as you will have to live with the drive for a very long time.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by psicodude

Compared to Chinook, it's a dream. Just so much more laid-back. Yeah, it's missing a few stores and the theatre, but I don't care. Every time I go to Chinook, I feel that it takes 6 months off my life.

Yeah, this. It's so chill. In the winter on a really cold days, sometimes I'll take the kids there just to walk around and munch on some Kernels. It's big enough that you can walk a couple of KMs, but never crowded. Food court is very good (Ruby Thai) and there are enough stores that you can get pretty much anything you need.

Have you seen that wicked pub they're putting in? I think there's going to be a roof-top patio, too. That's going to be awesome.

New Outdoor store should be cool, too.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Have you seen that wicked pub they're putting in? I think there's going to be a roof-top patio, too. That's going to be awesome.

In the mall or in the mall parking lot?

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

In the mall or in the mall parking lot?

Actually in the mall with an outside entrance. Right around where the movie theater was (I think) in the 90s.

[KTrain]

It's the south(er) Craft Beer Market that's going in there. I'm excited.

[Sliver]

Have they said when they're going to open?

[CMPunk]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Have they said when they're going to open?

The usual Summer 2016 time frame

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Yeah, this. It's so chill. In the winter on a really cold days, sometimes I'll take the kids there just to walk around and munch on some Kernels. It's big enough that you can walk a couple of KMs, but never crowded. Food court is very good (Ruby Thai) and there are enough stores that you can get pretty much anything you need.

Have you seen that wicked pub they're putting in? I think there's going to be a roof-top patio, too. That's going to be awesome.

New Outdoor store should be cool, too.

I just think its weird though. A rooftop patio so you can see a mall parking lot and Anderson?

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Slava

I just think its weird though. A rooftop patio so you can see a mall parking lot and Anderson?

Possibly. I think if they put up some kind of visual blockers so you're not staring at the parking lot, some nice couches, lots of flowers, etc. it could be nice. Kind of like that Brewster's in McKenzie Towne or wherever that is. That has a deadly patio and it's just a bar in a strip mall at the end of the day.

[Firebot]

Originally Posted by sa226

Thanks guys.

The commute is to the airport for both of us. Me randomly, her 4-5 days a week. So Stony is where its at.

Iv'e heard the growing sentiment about 130th. Is it truly the worst shopping district in the city? Or is it just kind of getting bad? For instance, I make a point of avoiding Chinook at all costs.

I like the contrasting opinions of fundmark and Vox. One would go south of 130th if he(she?) had the chance again the other would never go south of 130th, for differing reasons of course. I like it!

If the commute is to the airport, why would you consider the SE over places like Harvest Hills or Beddington Heights that are west of Deerfoot (i.e. the good side of the tracks) and as nice or nicer than most SE communities, with a quick drive to Cross Iron Mills?

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Slava

I just think its weird though. A rooftop patio so you can see a mall parking lot and Anderson?

Or a roof top patio so you can sit outside enjoying a lovely day/evening while having some beers.

[Regular_John]

Originally Posted by KTrain

It's the south(er) Craft Beer Market that's going in there. I'm excited.

I've always found the crowd/service at Craft on 10th to be a major turn off.

But if they can manage to relax the environment a bit (I'm thinking Brewsters Mckenzie Towne or National Westhills kinda vibe) it'll be a pretty decent dining option in the south.

[Red]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Wonder what houses go for in Parkland these days. That is a sweet area and Park 96 or whatever it's called is sick. Basically all the amenities of a lake property, minus the lake. That may sound like a slight, but most of the fun you have at these lake communities is just because you're in a non-crowded private oasis of fun stuff to do. The lakes are great, but Park 96 is not far behind. North of Fish Creek, too.

Well it depends how much work you want to put in to a place. They range from 500+ to north of a mil.
But I agree that its a great area. Quieter than Bonavista because there is no thru traffic. And we have a lake, Sikome Lake Kidding, but if you have kids, they will have friends from across the street that have Lake Bonavista access. So now you have 2 lakes, Park96 and you are on the Fish Creek. Hard to beat.

Going back to the OP question, I'd look in MacKenzie Lake. Better built homes, wider streets etc. The MacKenzie Town side is quite tight. All streets are packed with parked cars and the streets are super narrow. 2 cars can't pass at the same time on some streets. Douglasdale and Riverbend are good options to.

[Vox]

Originally Posted by Canehdianman

I've lived in Douglas Glen for 6 years. Really love it. If our house was bigger we would stay here forever (got another kid on the way).

It's not though, so we are selling it and moving. Just listed this week too. A tiny bit above your price range though (480k).

Anyways, it's close to Deerfoot and Glenmore, so I can get most places decently fast.

Nice green belt that goes through the neighbourhood and connects to the river path system.

Feel free to PM me any other questions you might have.

Congratulations! Every time we go to Timbits soccer down by your house I wonder how you guys are doing. Great to hear this - funny that it is through CP!