So what can you tell me about living in Airdrie...

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by Yeah_Baby

If someone can afford to buy a mansion I highly doubt they do they're own cleaning.

And he wants to own his own plane..

Rich people don't even wipe their own asses! They hire some loser from Edmonton to do it.

[Peanut]

^^ I think he means like "McMansion" sized. So 2000+ sq ft houses like you see a lot of in Cranston, Chapparal, and similar communities. 2000+ sq ft is still a huge house (especially for 2 people!!), albeit not really a mansion.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Peanut

^^ I think he means like "McMansion" sized. So 2000+ sq ft houses like you see a lot of in Cranston, Chapparal, and similar communities. 2000+ sq ft is still a huge house (especially for 2 people!!), albeit not really a mansion.

yeah this, i was referring more to people that buy big houses for 2 people, what are they particularly looking to use so much space for?

or does OP plan on starting a family?

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Kryzsky

If you value your privacy and like to be left alone then I guess Airdrie would be great.

Hell, I have a friend who lives in Cranston and I finally drove down to visit him last weekend for only the 2nd time in 4 years. It's just too far away. And he never comes downtown to hang out of 17th, catch movies or go to a baseball game becuase he doesn't want to drive so far. Might as well move to Lethbridge.

Yup. Totally agree. I see my friends who lives in Evanston maybe 3 or 4 times per year. And they rarely come downtown because of the drive. I took a cab home from their place a couple months ago and it was $45 from there to Bankview. This is why I like being central. Most of my friends will come down here to go to 17th to do the drinking thing. My cab home is never more than $10 with a good tip.

[mykalberta]

Why would anyone want to move closer to Edmonton. Closet Oilers fan maybe

[Fugly]

Originally Posted by fotze

You wait until that baby comes around. The 700 sq ft sunnyside house was horrific after that. We are not space hogs but you need 1500 minimum with a kid, unless you are all ultra patient weirdos.

Add 200 ft2 per living grandparent due to the volume of baby crap they buy.

Truth. We have both sets of grandparents living within 10 minutes of us right now. The only reason I developed our basement was to increase the storage room for toys. With three kids aged 4, 2 and 6 month you can imagine the amount of space we need just for toys.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Fugly

Truth. We have both sets of grandparents living within 10 minutes of us right now. The only reason I developed our basement was to increase the storage room for toys. With three kids aged 4, 2 and 6 month you can imagine the amount of space we need just for toys.

I can def understand having a big house if you have kids, for sure.

But (I'm guessing OP is young) when you're young, your friends and job are probably central (see: 4x4) and you don't have a family, I'm wondering what the motivation is to have a big home.

(I'm more asking what the OP's motivations are kermitology, not really stating my own.)

[Peanut]

Originally Posted by fotze

You wait until that baby comes around. The 700 sq ft sunnyside house was horrific after that. We are not space hogs but you need 1500 minimum with a kid, unless you are all ultra patient weirdos.

Add 200 ft2 per living grandparent due to the volume of baby crap they buy.

Noooooo... don't tell me this! We just moved into a 1050 sq ft house. And I think it's safe to say I'm basically the opposite of patient.

Perhaps the 5-year plan to develop the basement will become the 1-year plan.

[habernac]

My folks have a big house because they like having friends over.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by Peanut

Noooooo... don't tell me this! We just moved into a 1050 sq ft house.

Perhaps the 5-year plan to develop the basement will become the 1-year plan.

believe it. My TV room is a stack of 3 year old's toys and other assorted crap.

[Zarathustra]

I agree with most posters here. Living in Airdrie is a waste. The last time I drove to Edmonton I saw a huge traffic jam on one of the exits to Airdrie, I laughed. You move away from Calgary to avoid traffic, then get stuck in a massive traffic jam in Airdrie. Hilarious.

I don't get this "Calgary is too big" argument. How is a city of a million people too "big"?

[Red]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

I can def understand having a big house if you have kids, for sure.

But (I'm guessing OP is young) when you're young, your friends and job are probably central (see: 4x4) and you don't have a family, I'm wondering what the motivation is to have a big home.

(I'm more asking what the OP's motivations are kermitology, not really stating my own.)

I get what you're saying, but there's more to that.

First, bigger houses are usually in "nicer" neighbourhoods. So if you want to be in a nice spot, you will have to buy a big house.

Then there's the fact that some people just like having nice things. Not necessarily to impress the Jones' either. They just like nice things, nice house in a nice spot, nice furniture, car etc. Not all "those" people are just trying to impress friends.

And lastly, a 2000sqft house in Cranston is hardly big. Actually, it's comparable to a 1500sqft house built 10 years ago. The extra sqft comes from the bonus room which is a ripoff as the house's curb appeal is similar to an infill. And so is the lot and the basement.

[malcolmk14]

I went to high school in Airdrie and go out there almost every weekend to hang out with friends. I prefer to live in Calgary, but that's mostly because I work downtown and I'm 22 years old and like going down to 17th and drinking. If you're starting a family and don't mind the commute, then there's absolutely nothing wrong with Airdrie.

As far as the traffic thing goes, they fixed the north exit so it doesn't jam up anymore, and they're in the process of fixing the south exit as we speak. Just a booming city with growing pains, much like Calgary. There are some kinks to work out.

My mom still lives out there and works by the airport. Commutes every day and likes it out there (she lives in Stonegate too, actually!)

[Phanuthier]

^I can understand the community thing.

I guess what I was getting at, was new McMansion homes usually have 2 living rooms (main floor and upstairs), dining room and a section of the kitchen for a dinner table. (and the dinining room sized table is more or less the size of the section of the kitchen for a dinner table) Seems a little redundent.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Zarathustra

I don't get this "Calgary is too big" argument. How is a city of a million people too "big"?

The infrastructure can't handle the size of the population of Calgary. Rush hour driving in Calgary is a nightmare. That was my reason for moving to a small town.

[Zarathustra]

Originally Posted by Dion

The infrastructure can't handle the size of the population of Calgary. Rush hour driving in Calgary is a nightmare. That was my reason for moving to a small town.

And people moving to Airdrie will only hurt in this aspect. Just another car on Deerfoot during rush hour.

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Originally Posted by fotze

Sure as hell looks like traffic when I drive through there at the hometime rush hour, it is backed up from Airdrie to Calgary with traffic stoipped every time. I think the most significant reason living there is way more house for less money. All the other outlier communities are more expensive per square foot Cochrane, Bragg Creek, Okotoks and are all "nicer". It's a starter community for people who want to skip the "starter home".

Redwood Meadows (5 km east of Bragg Creek) is a nice little community with decent houses at a decent price...prices are discounted because the community is on leased land from the Tsuu Tsina (the current lease expires in 39 years...but the town is working on a 75/99 year extension). A great place for a young family...and if you work in the NW by the University your commute is 25 min tops with no.traffic.ever.

[mykalberta]

If you move to a small town and work there, that is one thing. If you move to a small town and still work in the "big city" how do you avoid rush hour.

I dont think many people are moving to these bedroom communities to work.

[3 Justin 3]

You buy a big house so there are more rooms to have sex in.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Zarathustra

And people moving to Airdrie will only hurt in this aspect. Just another car on Deerfoot during rush hour.

I live in High River and i don't clog up the Deerfoot during rush hour. I use the #2 when driving to Calgary