Nice areas in Calgary to live

[Eddie Bronze]

Originally Posted by guzzy

If you want close in - Bowness and forest lawn are said to be the next "IT" communities. I don't really see how they remove the trash from Forest Lawn and make it an "IT" community but it is still very affordable and a good location. Bowness has already come along way and there are lots of expensive housing in that area. The diversity is there as well. Rich and poor living together.

The big difference I see between a place like Bowness and Forest Lawn (aside from the fact the river runs through Bowness which has to be a selling point, especially with all those parks) is that whenever you hear of a crime related incident, there's probably a 1 in 4 chance it happened right in Forest Lawn or a community very close to there like Applewood or Marlborough. Bowness, from my understanding, used to be just like that but now you hardly ever hear similar types of crime stories happening in that area. I watch the news every night and don't remember the last time they mentioned that place.

Jayems mentioned some of the communities he worked in. I can do the same. All in the NW and northern part of the SW. Valley Ridge, Royal Oak, Arbour Lake, Griffith Estates at Discovery Ridge, Willows of Wentworth, Westpark in West Springs, Aspen Stone and Aspen Hills. These are all places that require a commute to downtown and it would be a significantly long drive. I see the lineups on 17th, Bow, 16th, Crowchild, etc. It looks like a nightmare.

They aren't cheap areas either, as you'll probably struggle to find a home in any of these areas under $500k with a good number of them croaching up on $800k to $1m and beyond. I do know if that is in your price range that there a ton of houses in Aspen Hills in the 2000 sq-ft size all going for $600k and over if that's up your alley you can get one there fast. A good realtor should be able to run the price tag down a bit considering the large volume of spec homes they have just sitting there waiting for an owner. The LRT is being expanded to that area but it won't be there for a couple years I would say. I did work in areas like Evanston and MacKenzie Towne but they're no better, if not worse for travel issues because then you have to deal with Deathwish Deerfoot.

[Eddie Bronze]

Originally Posted by Aeneas

But only Discovery if you like bears and some occaisional flooding.

Elbow Valley is right beside Discovery and they had massive flodding during the downpour of a couple years ago. You could definitely come across some bears there as well. Not trying to nit pick, just saying.

[OILFAN #81]

I just moved into Tuscany in the NW about 3 weeks ago and I love it here. Beautiful area, the people are so friendly and a great view of COP and Downtown.

[Ryan Coke]

Originally Posted by Eddie Bronze

Personally I recommend living in the NW or SW because there's less chance you'll need to use Deerfoot which happens to be hell on earth.

The only thing worse than having to drive deerfoot, is having to get around town on a slower, more traffic lighted roadway.

I know lots of people have the deerfoot-a-phobia, but I really like having a freeway nearby to jump on. Beats the heck out of being in some other areas (like somerset and evergreen) and having to drive Macleod Trail to get anywhere. Or Tuscany and having to drive County hills blvd (until Stoney trail is done).

Don't get me wrong, those are all nice areas, but I would just rather be able to get on deerfoot a little easier.

[Locke]

I hear Forest Lawn is pretty bitchin', plus its right on Deerfoot.

[flip]

Originally Posted by OILFAN #81

I just moved into Tuscany in the NW about 3 weeks ago and I love it here. Beautiful area, the people are so friendly and a great view of COP and Downtown.

i lived here first please stop infesting my neighborhood with oiler fans.


of course i am kidding....?

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by Eddie Bronze

I did work in areas like Evanston and MacKenzie Towne but they're no better, if not worse for travel issues because then you have to deal with Deathwish Deerfoot.

Actually, Evanston and Creekside are decent for travel. Instead of Deerfoot, you can head out on 144th Ave, to 85 St, then jump onto Stoney Trail. It's gonna be even better when the Stoney Trail extension is done, because we'll be able to jump on right at Evanston and head all the way south without any lights. You can get to UofC in about 20 minutes this way, downtown isn't much further.

-Scott

[Eddie Bronze]

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

Actually, Evanston and Creekside are decent for travel. Instead of Deerfoot, you can head out on 144th Ave, to 85 St, then jump onto Stoney Trail. It's gonna be even better when the Stoney Trail extension is done, because we'll be able to jump on right at Evanston and head all the way south without any lights. You can get to UofC in about 20 minutes this way, downtown isn't much further.

-Scott

That's true, Scott. I haven't been up in that area for a long time, I stopped working up there in the fall of '05 and have only been back up in that area a couple times, they were doing A TON of construction up there. Getting Stoney Trail finished will be good but it still won't get you into downtown any faster if that's where he's going.

I used to travel on 14St. and I was lucky to be on the side opposite of the rush-hour traffic because it got pretty crazy there as well.

Originally Posted by Ryan Coke

Don't get me wrong, those are all nice areas, but I would just rather be able to get on deerfoot a little easier.

I understand what you are saying and I'm sure it works well for some people but everytime I've had to use it I see my life flashing before my eyes. It's not so much the road itself but the way people drive on it. I can honestly say I've never felt less safe anywhere in my life than on that highway as it exits the city to the north. 6 inch following distances going 40 over the speed limit isn't an enjoyable driving experience for someone like me but to others I'm sure it's the thrill of a lifetime. That's not to say other parts of the city aren't bad but Deerfoot always seemed worse.

[Aeneas]

Originally Posted by Eddie Bronze

Elbow Valley is right beside Discovery and they had massive flodding during the downpour of a couple years ago. You could definitely come across some bears there as well. Not trying to nit pick, just saying.

I should have typed "only choose Discovery if you like..."; rather than "only Discovery..." wasn't implying those two things only occur there. Just commenting on the bear on the loose in Discovery this week.

[Eddie Bronze]

Originally Posted by Aeneas

Just commenting on the bear on the loose in Discovery this week.

Yeah I know, we're actually framing a house there right now and hoping we don't show up some morning to see a bear wondering around on our site!