Tell me about Cochrane....

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

Other than Ducks On A Roof and their steak sandwiches (I only say this to balance out the negativity), the place is a dump.

The steak sandwiches at Ducks On a Roof are awful.

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by fundmark19

Don't listen to BlackArcher he is just upset that he tripped while walking up a riverbank on the way for steak sandwiches and can't let it go

Touche

[DownhillGoat]

I'll throw my 2 cents in, although I'm a bit of an anomaly, I'm sure.

I lived in a DT condo for the better part of 10 years, but worked west of town, and got tired of fighting rush hour traffic after night shifts, so moved to Cochrane to be closer to work.

Some of my other reasoning:

- Access to mountains. It took me 15 minutes just to get out of the elevator/parkade on a good day. Then another 15 minutes to the #1. Then another 15 to get to the Petro-can. However I usually ski/hike on weekdays, so throw rush hour into that mix too. Right now I can probably stand on my balcony and hit the 1A with a well thrown stone. Hit the 1A, go through Morley, and onto the #1 cuts down a ton of time. Also, it's nice to come home, grab a bite to eat, then motorbike to Canmore and back on the 1A, but you already covered that.

- At the time I built, it was marginally cheaper than Calgary. I can't comment on the current market.

- As for why would you build in a cookie-cutter community in Cochrane vs Calgary, the yards (I use the term loosely) are slightly bigger. In some cases in my neighbourhood, a lot bigger (the guy across from me parks his RV and his toy hauler in his side yard. Yeah, it's not like a 1960's yard, but I can't touch my neighbour's house and mine at the same time.

- Having everything close by is nice. Dr's office, grocery store, recycling centre whatever. All within 5 mins.

- It has a nice vibe.

Now, for the downsides

- I moved here with my (now) ex. Being single in Cochrane sucks. Your options are either young married women, or high school girls (insert dazed & confused gif here). I really don't recommend going after either.

- As mentioned already, your friends won't come to visit. I know people that will drive 45 minutes from the south of the 22x to see someone in the NW, but put a highway in the mix and you may as well be talking about a different country.

- The 1A/22 intersection sucks. As of the last election, the Tories took the intersection improvements out of the provincial budget. Not sure if that's changed since. The signal is better now, but you can still be stuck for 6 lights before you actually can get into the empty turning lane. Also, all you DT parasites that come out to use Ghost Lake on the weekends just clog everything up. Stay in Sikome!

- It's windy as hell. Annoyingly so.

- The night life is nonexistent. Well, except when fundmark is at BP for cheap schooner night. If you think him ordering off monoprice is funny, you should see him order beer after 4 schooners.

As for your question about taxes, I'm paying around $1900 on a 1600 sqft. walkout. A family member is paying around $1600 on a 1700 sqft non-walkout. I can't really compare that to Calgary since that was a condo, but maybe some of the Calgary homeowner's can chime in.

My ex worked in Crowfoot near the BMW dealership. It was 25mins, door-to-door.

Neighbourhoods I'd look in - Fireside (easy access to 22/#1 - but they're getting a Tim Hortons up there, so that might add for congestion, haven't seen the plans yet), Heritage Hills (easy access to 1A - also, in Heritage Hills you wouldn't have to turn on the 1A/22 intersection, just go straight through to work).

Neighbourhoods I'd stay away from - Gleneagles (they had some retaining wall issues there years ago. I'm sure it's fixed now, but I'm always leery when engineers try to re-route nature...). Also, given the flooding this year, I'd stay away from lower Jumping Pound Ridge, or anything else in the flood zone. I'd also stay out of Riversong. The drive in there is about 4 kms of school zones and other 30 zones. It's a pain since they've re-routed everything. * * * edit : I just found out that it's now 50 km/h there, but they're losing a traffic lane to town homes, so I doubt it'll be any better * * *

I have a few friends in Sunset Ridge. Not bad. You're turning on the 1A/22 to get to the NW, and getting onto the highway from there can be a pain at times, but it's not horrible. Nice enough area, liquor store and a gas station up there now.

I think I got most of it. If you've got anything else specific, shoot me a PM or post back in here.

[Regular_John]

Personally there's no way I'd ever commit to daily highway driving during our winters. I know for other people that's not a deal breaker but there's few things in the world that I hate/fear more than being on an icy highway after dark. Snowstorm or not.

During our handful really bad winter days (when traffic is a mess) theres even neighbourhoods within Calgary (Cranston) where I think "Man am I glad I don't have to drive out to there in this weather".

It's bad enough to face a 45 minutes (or more) in city traffic, but toss on 15-20mins of icy highways on top that? No way.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by fundmark19

We also think moving to Cochrane is the reason we were finally able to have a baby after trying for 2 years.

Nothing else to do?

[TurnedTheCorner]

The highways in the winter are usually maintained as well or better than the city roads. At least between Cochrane and Calgary.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by seattleflamer

You're the first to get snow

Not sure I buy that, because there's times it's dry in Cochrane, but snowing in Calgary. Or snowing in separate parts of Calgary. We're not talking the difference between Calgary and Revelstoke here...

Originally Posted by seattleflamer

[B]bad(worse) road conditions and the last place for it to melt without necessarily the same quality City services.

Chinooks hit here first

But seriously, the road clearing is phenomenal in town, as well as the 1A and 22. In 4 years I've had one bad trip into the city.

Also, I forgot to mention, for the commute if you can leave any time before 7am (even 6:55 will suffice), or any time after 8, you're golden. For whatever reason, 5 minutes can make a huge difference there...

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Nothing else to do?

I wish! We had "given up" on trying once we moved to focus on getting the reno's done. Well now we have a baby and a 3/4 complete house!

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

N
But seriously, the road clearing is phenomenal in town, as well as the 1A and 22. In 4 years I've had one bad trip into the city.
.

When I wake up in the morning after a snowfall my road is already cleaned. I swear they do it 4 times a day.

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

The steak sandwiches at Ducks On a Roof are awful.

What do you expect for 5 bucks? The meat is tender and the veggies taste like butter and the beer is cheap! That is a good meal in my books

[TurnedTheCorner]

I expect a terrible steak sandwich for 5 bucks. Ducks delivers.

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

I expect a terrible steak sandwich for 5 bucks. Ducks delivers.

There is also the 6 dollar steak sandwich at the Texas Gate daily until 8 but I am not sure if I can afford to splurge that extra dollar I am on a pretty fixed income between my wife being on maternity leave and constantly ordering incorrect stuff off the internet.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Having not been there in forever, I cannot confirm or deny - but I hear the Gate moved??

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

Having not been there in forever, I cannot confirm or deny - but I hear the Gate moved??

Oh ya it is confusing as fata. The gate is now in The Hotel and The Saloon is now where the gate was. I would pencil this under things I don't like about Cochrane confusing pub name changes

[woob]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Your options are either young married women, or high school girls (insert dazed & confused gif here). I really don't recommend going after either.

Is this just a common sense bit of advice, or is there a story here? Kinda seems like it might be the latter

[Jets4Life]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Probably why I hate Airdrie so much.

I've never heard anyone say that they like living in Airdrie...

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Jets4Life

I've never heard anyone say that they like living in Airdrie...

Yeah, do you ever notice every comment from people who live in Airdrie starts with a "Well, you just have to get used to...." or "Sure, that part of it sucks, but...".

[Superflyer]

Originally Posted by Jets4Life

I've never heard anyone say that they like living in Airdrie...

I live in Airdrie and I love it. When we were house shopping we were going between Cochrane and Airdrie. The reason we chose Airdrie over Cochrane was that it had more stores and amenities. Plus with the mall 5 minutes away it was great.

The commute is usually very good. Even in winter I don't usually hit bad roads until I am in Panorama. The only exception is if it is snowing hard while I am driving.

Also the old joke about getting downtown from Airdrie in 20 minutes is exaggerated. I tested it 5 times during non rush hour and from my door to the 4th ave flyover it was an average of 24 minutes. During rush hour, well thats another story.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Superflyer

I tested it 5 times during non rush hour and from my door to the 4th ave flyover it was an average of 24 minutes.

Which is sweet, if you work under the 4th ave flyover, and never go to work during rush hour.

It' seems going to bed at 9pm and waking up at 5am is one of the terms and conditions of living one of these places.

[fundmark19]

This thread is about cochrane keep your airdire non sense out of here! Let's talk more about the family friendly drinking establishments! We have the Irish pub kilarnies that allows children until 8 great food! We have Boston pizza which has great schooner nights. And the Texas Gate that has the premium steak sandwich special.

Let's also talk about our fireworks! Great fireworks during Canada day as well as the rodeo labour day long weekend. Not to mention you can get into Canada day concert for 10 bucks. Or listen for free anywhere.

We also have affordable golfing in town and close by. We have a crazy amount of churches for all different people if you are into that kind of thing. A great sports facility with a soon to come aquatic centre. The majority of cochrane is flood free! We only had 1 million of damage which was all pathways which we were smart enough to insure!

We have a great farmers market! Not as good as bearspaw but less lineups.

[MrMastodonFarm]

A Boston Pizza?

Real cosmopolitan stuff here.