Looking at moving back into the city - community advice sought

[nik-]

imagine being triggered that hard to type that all out. Oof

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by nik-

imagine being triggered that hard to type that all out. Oof

The anti-fun police have arrived.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by nik-

imagine being triggered that hard to type that all out. Oof

That was magnificent. Magnificent!

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by btimbit

North or South aside, we can all agree West is Best, right?

Correct.

Varsity is fine, but I wouldn't move there because my kid is going to spend 4 years at the UofC (5 years? How smart is this kid?)

The Ring Road (eventually) opens up a lot on the west side. Mountains were always easy, but Airport and points south should be much easier no matter where you end up.

OP, I am a fan of Lakeview, if you can swing it.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by nik-

imagine being triggered that hard to type that all out. Oof

You know what? I am fataing triggered. How can this even be a question at this point? I've given way too much of my time and insight in explaining to this forum like they're five all the ways in which the south is better only to have this question come up with all the same predictable answers singing the virtues of a pile of #### quadrant yet again. It's absurd. I think it's being done on purpose, quite frankly. How can a guy - with a straight face, mind you - ask about living in either Lake Bonavista or Varsity as though they're in any way comparable? I can't even. It literally ruined my day.

[nik-]

You need new writers

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by Sliver

You know what? I am fataing triggered. How can this even be a question at this point? I've given way too much of my time and insight in explaining to this forum like they're five all the ways in which the south is better only to have this question come up with all the same predictable answers singing the virtues of a pile of #### quadrant yet again. It's absurd. I think it's being done on purpose, quite frankly. How can a guy - with a straight face, mind you - ask about living in either Lake Bonavista or Varsity as though they're in any way comparable? I can't even. It literally ruined my day.

You're giving off real "The River Valley is great" vibes.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by nik-

You need new writers

Hell no, he's doing great

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by nik-

You need new writers

I think we've heard enough from the non-contributing zero over here.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

When is the "Rank the Neighbourhoods" article coming out. We can do this all again!

[Jbo]

Originally Posted by Sliver

You know what? I am fataing triggered. How can this even be a question at this point? I've given way too much of my time and insight in explaining to this forum like they're five all the ways in which the south is better only to have this question come up with all the same predictable answers singing the virtues of a pile of #### quadrant yet again. It's absurd. I think it's being done on purpose, quite frankly. How can a guy - with a straight face, mind you - ask about living in either Lake Bonavista or Varsity as though they're in any way comparable? I can't even. It literally ruined my day.

Your entire shtick is parody right?

[mrkajz44]

I've lived in both the NW and the SE (Edgemont, Douglasdale) and Sliver is right, the NW is objectively worse. Naturally people are going to pump up wherever they live, but its true that people don't really know much about the city other than where they live.

Let's do some key comps. Parks and Access

South: Fish Creek, Sue Higgins, Glenmore Reservoir, Sandy Beech, Stanley Park, Carburn Park
North: Nose Hill, Bowness Park, Confederation

South: Deerfoot, Macleod, Glenmore, Ring Road, Crowchild (no lights)
North: Crowchild (lights), Ring Road (ish?)

Yup - sure seems like the north is great...

My ranking based on the four you listed:

1. Canyon Meadows
2. Lake Bonavista
3. Lakeview
4. Varsity

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by greyshep

Well I admittedly have a bit of a mental block when it comes to the NW in general I guess. Varsity seems like one that may be able to help me break it somewhat due to the convenient location and nice ravine park nearby.

story time...

When I was in University I was a foreman for College Pro painters as a summer job. My territory the first summer was communities in the SW (Brittania, Elbow Park, etc) it was a pretty good summer of earnings and the weather was pretty decent. The next year I switched with a friend and took the Edgemont/NW area, he took the SW location. My earnings got murdered that summer with the storms and gross weather that seemed to roll thru way too often. I would be up on the hill looking down South at the dry sunny conditions that they were still having. He had lots of fun teasing me about how much less weather interruption he had vs me up in the NW.

That plus the traffic impression I spoke of previously makes the NW a really tough one for me to get my head around, especially the higher density ones beyond Crowchild Trail.

North of John Laurie and West of Varsity does have the reputation you describe. Most of Varsity, certain parts of Silver Springs, most of Mongomery, University heights and Parkdale seem to typically be a pocket where they're relatively unscathed from the worst weather in the area. Then Banff Trail, Capitol Hill and Hillhurst seem to get the butt end of the stick for bad weather again.

I'm not sure what part of the traffic impression you're speaking of, but I found that I was more frustrated with rush hour traffic for Deerfoot N (Calf Robe), Glenmore and Macleod on a regular basis than I ever was with 16th Ave, Centre street, Edmonton trail, Memorial drive, Crowchild SB and Deerfoot SB. NW does have more dummy Sunday drivers than the other quadrants, sure. But you kinda mentioned that you guys will mostly be at home. The quality of home vs price you'd pay for Varsity vs the other communities you mentioned is likely higher per square foot as well which is a factor to consider as well.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by mrkajz44

I've lived in both the NW and the SE (Edgemont, Douglasdale) and Sliver is right, the NW is objectively worse. Naturally people are going to pump up wherever they live, but its true that people don't really know much about the city other than where they live.

Let's do some key comps. Parks and Access

South: Fish Creek, Sue Higgins, Glenmore Reservoir, Sandy Beech, Stanley Park, Carburn Park
North: Nose Hill, Bowness Park, Confederation

South: Deerfoot, Macleod, Glenmore, Ring Road, Crowchild (no lights)
North: Crowchild (lights), Ring Road (ish?)

Yup - sure seems like the north is great...

I grew up in the North, and never had any specific interest living in the South so I’ve never had any reason to compare the two. That said, I was intrigued by your list but noted a few omissions:

Parks: South definitely wins

Access: In the North, Crowchild has no lights past 24 Ave, you’re also missing John Laurie and Beddington Trail in the NW, 16 Ave and McKnight in the NE. I’ll also take Deerfoot North over Deerfoot South although they both have their issues.

Other stuff in the North: UofC, SAIT, McMahon Stadium, airport, Children’s Hospital
Other stuff in the South: MRU, Ikea? Spruce Meadows?

The North is also closer to Banff/Canmore and Kananaskis, the South is closer to… High River? (j/k) The south can try to claim the Stampede grounds/Saddledome but I don’t think it qualifies unless you’re talking about C-Train accessibility.

[blankall]

My advice would be to live somewhere that is easily accessible to UofC via train.

An hour+ commute in rush hour is going to kill your kid's enthusiasm for school and drain his energy like nothing else. He's going to spend half his time recovering from the commute and the other half hungry.

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by mrkajz44

I've lived in both the NW and the SE (Edgemont, Douglasdale) and Sliver is right, the NW is objectively worse. Naturally people are going to pump up wherever they live, but its true that people don't really know much about the city other than where they live.

Let's do some key comps. Parks and Access

South: Fish Creek, Sue Higgins, Glenmore Reservoir, Sandy Beech, Stanley Park, Carburn Park
North: Nose Hill, Bowness Park, Confederation

South: Deerfoot, Macleod, Glenmore, Ring Road, Crowchild (no lights)
North: Crowchild (lights), Ring Road (ish?)

Yup - sure seems like the north is great...

My ranking based on the four you listed:

1. Canyon Meadows
2. Lake Bonavista
3. Lakeview
4. Varsity

Sliver's post is objectively wrong on almost every point, but at least it was funny. This one is just terrible.

Somehow Deerfoot doesn't continue through the North half of the city? Crowchild goes through all of the NW, but in the South ends at Glenmore, yet somehow counts as great access in the South. You skipped 16th Ave, Memorial, John Laurie, Crowfoot and more for your North list.

Your list of parks is equally spotty.

[#-3]

Get the best bang for your buck move to Rundle or something.

Lower relative land values under the houses, means you can get in cheaper.
Close to transit
Close to Downtown
easy access to 16th, Deerfoot, Barlow, Memorial



Hope you're all triggered.


Really I'd think about what you are going to spend your time doing, work, social activities, friends... and move as close as possible to there, in consideration of the affordability of property.

People in the SE touting city parks doesn't sound like a bright side to a community just isn't appealing to me at all. I spend my weeks out of town or at my kids sporting activities, and I am constantly underwhelmed by any urban park I go to, I'd much rather just get out of town. But if your goal is to spend a bunch of time meandering around Fish Creek park, I'd move somewhere close to Fish Creek .

[CETokyo]

Lakeview
Weaslehead / Reservoir
Easy access to everywhere

Mostly Single Family
Generally large lots (Space between houses)

[Johnny Makarov]

I live in Varsity and my kids go to school in Lakeview.
True story bro. I can drive them to school in 14 mins in rush hour traffic!

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

Whatever you do, don't come to Renfrew. Definitely not worth looking at.

The Renfrew chapter of CP is waitlisted right now. If he does come here, he will have to surrender his CP account until there is room for him.