Tell me about your SE community.

[Canehdianman]

Originally Posted by Vox

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!

Haha I walk by timbits soccer with my dog every day. I'll start looking for you!

[polak]

130th is the ####ing worst. I HATE IT.

I grew up in Somerset so I think I was spoiled with how well the Shawnessy shopping area flows compared to 130th but now I refuse to go to 130th unless it's to get burgers from Southstreet. Whoever thought putting that 4 way stop 100 meters after the first entrance to the 130th shopping area should be taken in front of city hall and shot. Just awful planning.

BUT

They're building a pretty big Urban village in Mahogany and another shopping area across 52nd in Auburn Bay so the scourge that is 130th is something that I'll never have to put up with again soon.

Also just to echo what someone said earlier, the access from Mahogany/Auburn Bay/New Brighton/Copperfield to both Deerfoot and Stony is super convenient. Once they finish the SW portion you'll be able to get anywhere in the city pretty quick. It took me 25 minutes to get from Mahogany to the car dealerships in Country Hills this morning, Stony is the best.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

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

Lol, thanks? I mean I understand what a patio is and why people (including me) enjoy them.

[KTrain]

Originally Posted by Slava

Lol, thanks? I mean I understand what a patio is and why people (including me) enjoy them.

Sliver mentioned the McKenzie Towne Brewsters patio. It really is one of the best patios in the city. It's weird because of the location but they've done a great job making it feel like you're not in suburbia and able to soak in the great weather.

[rohara66]

It'll be interested to see what happens to 130th after the current Mahogany and Auburn Bay commercial developments finish... I bet it gets a lot less busy.

And 5-10 years down the road (after Seton starts to take off) I bet 130th starts to shrink like Dougles Glen shopping center is starting to die off now.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Slava

Lol, thanks? I mean I understand what a patio is and why people (including me) enjoy them.

Please expand.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by KTrain

Sliver mentioned the McKenzie Towne Brewsters patio. It really is one of the best patios in the city. It's weird because of the location but they've done a great job making it feel like you're not in suburbia and able to soak in the great weather.

I haven't been there, and I'm not saying that this place is a terrible idea. I'll probably be there checking it out, so its not that I think it's doomed to failure and is totally stupid. It just strikes me as a weird location, but it could work obviously.

[polak]

Originally Posted by Slava

I haven't been there, and I'm not saying that this place is a terrible idea. I'll probably be there checking it out, so its not that I think it's doomed to failure and is totally stupid. It just strikes me as a weird location, but it could work obviously.

High walls and lots of investment into the patio really does wonders. It's big too so it's easy to get a table.

[temple5]

I live in Riverbend (west side)

You are likely to find a home in the your price range but it will be a fixer-upper or a garage-in-the-back style.

If Transit is a big part of your daily life I would avoid Riverbend. I am not complaining (not enough density to justify), just something that might be important to you if you are a single car household etc. I dont think the Greenline will improve transit options in Riverbend either imho.

Biggest positives are the pathway system, options to get downtown, location to Deerfoot and Glenmore interchange, you get more home for your $ closer to downtown than almost anywhere in Calgary. Its also great to be close to Deerfoot meadows (5 minutes to get to Costco, Superstore, Walmart or Ikea).

If schools are important both the public and catholic schools are accepting new students and FFCA is relatively close for the charter option.

I just saw your post about commute to the airport. Unless its durring off peak times I would avoid Riverbend. Its faster to take Deerfoot to the airport then get to Stontey from Riverbend.

[Vox]

Originally Posted by rohara66

It'll be interested to see what happens to 130th after the current Mahogany and Auburn Bay commercial developments finish... I bet it gets a lot less busy.

And 5-10 years down the road (after Seton starts to take off) I bet 130th starts to shrink like Dougles Glen shopping center is starting to die off now.

We find the traffic has dropped noticeably since the new Superstore opened in Seton. The Superstore on 130th in particular is WAY less busy now. My wife used to go at 9:00 AM or late in the evening if she wanted to shop without massive lines; now it is reasonable any time of the day. I think you're right that the new developments will take a lot of pressure off 130th. Which is good, as the design of the area just can't handle the volume.

[Redliner]

Another vote for Sundance/Midnapore. All three levels of school are a stone's throw away, Lake access, and established neighborhoods with mature trees. The houses are a little older (late 80s/early 90s) but you can still get into something suitable for a family for less than $500K. Everything you need shopping-wise is right across Macleod in Shawnessy Town Centre. It does get a little congested on the weekend but compared to the gong show on 130th it's a walk in the park.

[peter12]

Sundance is a great neighbourhood.

[Aegypticus]

Originally Posted by polak

130th is the ####ing worst. I HATE IT.

I grew up in Somerset so I think I was spoiled with how well the Shawnessy shopping area flows compared to 130th but now I refuse to go to 130th unless it's to get burgers from Southstreet.

I find this to be a bit of a weird comparison. While I've stated before that 130th certainly has a lot of problems, I wouldn't exactly hold up Shawnessy as some sort of gold standard. I've cursed the traffic problems down there plenty of times.

[polak]

Originally Posted by Aegypticus

I find this to be a bit of a weird comparison. While I've stated before that 130th certainly has a lot of problems, I wouldn't exactly hold up Shawnessy as some sort of gold standard. I've cursed the traffic problems down there plenty of times.

I can't think of any part of Shawnessy that is overly bad? Right now it's all a disaster with the construction but before? I guess the initial left turn off 162nd could get bad but nothing like what you see at 130th and it's going away as you'll no longer be able to turn right into the shopping area from Macleod at 162nd.

[Aegypticus]

It's probably more because I don't think 130th is as bad as some other people do. The design is insanely poor, sure, but I think I've only gotten stuck in a snarl that took more than maybe 10 minutes to get clear of one time.

[mrkajz44]

I do find it funny comparing 130th to Shawnessy and saying Shawnessy comes out on top. I've lived in both areas (living in Douglasdale right now and lived in Millrise before), and 130th is a way better experience. Shawnessy is ultra bad for no left turn advances down that middle street, and the intersection just west of the Mcleod / 162 ave intersection was a gongshow before construction, and even worse during it.

While 130th can get busy at peak times on weekends, I've rarely had a major issue with it whenever I've gone there. Remember if you are living close by, you are far more likely to go there when traffic is not at its peak and then its actually a really good shopping center.

[polak]

Originally Posted by mrkajz44

I do find it funny comparing 130th to Shawnessy and saying Shawnessy comes out on top. I've lived in both areas (living in Douglasdale right now and lived in Millrise before), and 130th is a way better experience. Shawnessy is ultra bad for no left turn advances down that middle street, and the intersection just west of the Mcleod / 162 ave intersection was a gongshow before construction, and even worse during it.

While 130th can get busy at peak times on weekends, I've rarely had a major issue with it whenever I've gone there. Remember if you are living close by, you are far more likely to go there when traffic is not at its peak and then its actually a really good shopping center.

I think a lot of it has to do with your orientation and usual access point. Coming from the west (Somerset, Silverado, Bridlewood etc...) I always thought 162nd was smooth sailing besides when there was a train. If you're coming in all of the time from the Sundance side then that would probably get as annoying as 130th.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by polak

Whoever thought putting that 4 way stop 100 meters after the first entrance to the 130th shopping area should be taken in front of city hall and shot. Just awful planning.

To be fair, it wasn't planned to be that way at all. There was supposed to be an entrance into McKenzie Towne behind Walmart. Walmart bought the land and was supposed to build that entrance, and decided against it. (I've heard conflicting reports as to why- pressure from residents, etc.)

The 4 way stop was supposed to be back where the crazy 2 way stop is by Winners. By the time they tried to remove the 4 way, it was too late. They removed it and all hell broke loose. Dozens of crashes in the first few days, so they put it back.

I still think they should put a NB only entrance/exit on the western most part by Marshalls, using the off ramp for Deerfoot. The problem would be that you'd have to enforce a 50 km/h on the off ramp, which could cause issues on Deerfoot.

[mrkajz44]

As for the main OP question about my SE community...

I live in Douglasdale and really enjoy it. It really is not as far away as most people make it out to be, and having Deerfoot right there is a huge plus. I've found that moving to Douglasdale from Millrise has actually shortened my travel time as I can avoid McLeod trail now. Things can get backed up during rush hour, but Barlow and Glenmore are good alternatives that I use (sound like Stoney will work for you). Those advising to stay north of Fish Creek are right if you are using McLeod, but if you are on the east side of the park, it doesn't really matter.

I don't have kids, so cannot comment on schools or activities, but our little area has lots of kids running around and playing, so it does have more of a little neighbourhood feel, which is nice. Biking and walking have great options nearby, and the community has a nice little path system to it.

Some downsides: you basically have to drive anywhere. The walk to 130th is 20+ minutes for us, and usually we don't have the motivation to do the round trip after buying something to carry back. Also, the houses in there are about 20 years old or so, so there are house maintenance issues that are cropping up here and there more than a newer community (new roof for example).

Final score: I love it there and don't plan on moving anytime soon

[psicodude]

Originally Posted by Vox

We find the traffic has dropped noticeably since the new Superstore opened in Seton. The Superstore on 130th in particular is WAY less busy now. My wife used to go at 9:00 AM or late in the evening if she wanted to shop without massive lines; now it is reasonable any time of the day. I think you're right that the new developments will take a lot of pressure off 130th. Which is good, as the design of the area just can't handle the volume.

Yeah, I agree. If they would just build a (can't believe I am saying this) Wal-Mart, Canadian Tire, and some fast food places in Seton, traffic on 130th would be way better. Do I recall correctly that Seton was going to avoid a lot of the big box retailers and try to go for a small town shopping experience?