I agree that The Bridges is the next big area. Every month, it just gets better and better around there, with more good restaurants and businesses.
I also agree that 11 Ave is also improving, but it's not growing by leaps and bounds like Bridgeland.
I walked from the Beltline to the Stampede grounds last weekend and I have to say that the new condos between MacLeod trail N and S are going to absolutely transform that area. I think that you could possibly have some interesting stuff happen running N-S on MacLeod between 10th and 17th, and then all the new condos in the warehouse district (Arrive et al.) could revive this area. At the moment, though, walking by foot's still a "work in progress." The population explosion may force this area to change drastically into a pedestrian-friendly area, especially since most of the condos going up (Keynote, Arriva, etc) have main floor businesses.
Someone mentioned Ramsay, and... well... I work in Ramsay and while it's a quaint little neighbourhood, it's still too much of a dead end to really be terribly fashionable like Inglewood to the north. Once Ramsay Crossing is built, then let's talk again -- I could see Ramsay Crossing opening the doors for more interesting fashionable business either along Spiller or between it and the Crossroads market. However, it needs to surpass two problems: The NIMBYs and the general poor shape of the neighbourhood, what with a concrete factory and a chicken plant along the south edge of the neighbourhood. (PS: anyone notice the house at the top of the Elbow bridge retained the ice cream shop on the corner?)
Finally, I have a bone to pick about my own area... I live in Coventry Hills, a few blocks from Cardel Place. In general, there's some good things to say about this area, for a suburb -- there's some decent density, a good variety of businesses, lots of restaurants, schools, and a lake. It's central to the Northern Hills community and serves as a hub for the community.
However, my beef is that I feel that they wasted a golden opportunity. Sure, there's a lake, right next to business and condos, etc... but there's almost no businesses or foot-friendly access to the lake. There could be a variety of restaurants and activities that border the lake but instead there's only condos, and only one business -- the Italian restaurant next to Sobey's -- actually has a patio within eyeshot of it.
If I were in charge and had 20/20 hindsight, I would have made the lake, the condos and the businesses into a more integrated environment, where the path around the lake would be wide, there'd be businesses like cafes, restaurants, etc. facing onto the lake, and it would be integrated so that it would encourage foot traffic between the schools, Cardel Place, and the businesses along Country Hills. It could have been so good, but alas, most people don't even know there's a lake in the middle of that thing and the paths remained mostly unused.
Given that the future C-Train station will possibly sit on the west side, next to the schools, this area could have been a far more friendly, interesting area but alas, it'll continue to be boring and car-oriented like the rest of the burbs
I mean, yeah, it's a lot better than some areas *cough*Citadel*cough* but the potential is wasted on stupid condos with no street access... oh, and a ridiculous lighthouse gimmick!
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