Housing Choices - where you choose to live

[KrisYYC]

I live in an apartment condo in Haysboro just off Elbow Dr. in the SW. in the Hays Farm complex. It's nothing special but pretty nice for me considering I grew up in low income rentals from Calgary Housing. It's concrete construction and is renovated. Also has a private pool and tennis courts.

I love this part of the SW. Easy access to Glenmore, MacLeod, Chinook or Southcentre, two Superstores . Glenmore park etc. Established community with large trees and green spaces. Not many children either.

[fusili]

My turn: I will make it quick.

I live in Emerald Stone. Renting a two bedroom with my roommate off my roommates parents. It's a sweet deal, and it gives either of us the option to buy later (he would take precedence, but if he doesn't want it, I would consider it). I grew up in Edgemont, and have spent a little time living overseas- Arequipa, Peru and Barcelona.

Reasons for choosing to live here:

Location. Everything is close. I don't think I have to list off the number of restaurants etc that are within walking distance. I am 3 blocks from Safeway, so I walk for my groceries. This also gives us the option of renting out our parking stall if I don't need my car anymore. I bike or walk to work and really the only use I have for my car is to go to my parents house for Sunday dinners.

Character: Basically, I am a super-urbanist. I love noise, I love having lots of people around. I like the fact that sometimes I see an old granny smoking her lungs out when I go to Safeway. It adds character.

I could not stand to live in the suburbs, but I totally understand why people do. Especially if they have kids. That being said, kids are raised in towers all throughout the world, and the idea that kids can only grow up in single family homes (which I don't believe anyone here thinks) is ridiculous.

EDIT- And the fact that around 10 of my close friends live within 4 blocks of me helps.

[YYCguys]

Originally Posted by Jay in Cowtown

Amenities was a bad choice in words... how's shopping?

IMHO, and that of alot of other people I talk to here, we could use a Wal Mart Supercenter, Home Depot, Wendy's & Taco Time... but that's just me being petty!

Don't get me wrong, like I said I love it here... but compared to Airdre & Okotoks, Cochrane is lacking in the big box discount shopping & franchise restaurant department. But as for scenery and the entire looks of a town, Cochrane has the other two beat all to hell, especially it's downtown area.

I think Cochrane Town Council and fellow Cochranites fought to keep Walmart out of Cochrane. Walmart wants to be there, trust me, but it's the town impeding this. I think the idea is to keep most big box type of shopping out of Cochrane.

My partner and I had considered selling our respective homes and finding somewhere new to live in Cochrane, as we really love it out there and go out there for a drive and to walk the dog often, but decided to wait out the recession and the ensuing aftereffects before we consider this idea again.

[mersar]

Yep, we don't want Walmart (town council, and a good number of the residents who have lived here for quite a while such as myself). The fear is that it would destroy whats left of the retail sector in the town, just Safeway and Canadian Tire opening years ago marked a significant downturn and while things aren't horrible a lot of businesses are struggling and theres huge amounts of empty space that has been empty for years. It may end up not being the town's decision though if Walmart comes, theres been rumors that they may look at trying to setup in the the county, the most commonly suspected location is on the west side along highway 1A in Rockyview.

[ByeByeBaby]

Well, maybe I should lurk less and post more. Here goes.

I rent a high rise apartment in the Beltline. And for me it's all about accessibility and the financial impact.

I grew up in Temple, and while it was a fine place to grow up, I didn't really experience neighbourhood life as much as many do.

When I was looking to move out of home in 2001, I came up with an accessibility model, measuring weighted walking distances to key amenities; my work, of course (which was downtown), as well as grocery stores, transit, libraries and so on. I think the best possible location for me to live was a block from the building I actually moved into. (I wonder if I still have the spreadsheet?)

Of course, the reason I used walking distances was that a key part of my plan was to go carfree. I never really enjoyed driving, and I only owned my own car for about 18 months (the last year of University, when I was really busy, and also because I knew that many jobs for newly graduated Civil Engineers involved going to remote job sites.)

I love the Beltline; there's loads of interesting things to see, lots of great places to stroll around. Always something interesting, with a real urban feel.

And, of course, almost everything I need is within walking distance. For the things that aren't, I have an entire mobility portfolio:

• Biking to inner city areas, at least six months of the year
• Transit is centred on downtown, and almost every part of the city has a good connection, especially going there after work
• Taxis are generally pretty easy to get, which is mostly for airport trips or the occasional time I'm just in a real bind
• I have a CATCO carshare membership, which is mostly "mobility insurance"; 3 or 4 trips a year where transit is unacceptable (working a charity night at the Deerfoot Casino, for instance) or where I need to buy a lot of stuff

My 1 bedroom apartment is adequate. I'm not a real do-it-yourselfer or decorator; I can hang up a few pictures, and plant tomatoes on my balcony, and that's good enough for me. The walls are concrete, so I only hear loud noises from the hallway or (much more frequently) from the CPR. And I grew up under the 10/28 flightpath, so I learned to tune that out.

Okay, so there's the occasional drunk dimwit yell-a-thon at 2 AM, and the occasional hobo hanging around. But if that's what it takes to keep rent down, I can deal with that. My building has changed (especially in the last two or three years) to become ever more multi-ethnic, particularly with a lot of Koreans and a burgeoning African population. There's usually some awesome cooking smell in the hallway at 6 PM.

[Jimby]

This is my condo and why I choose NOT to live there! It started with the ceiling and wall being damaged last July in a hailstorm when the roof was being replaced and has turned into major demolition. The roofing company's insurance is paying for a new ceiling and paint and I'm of course paying for the renos.
I used to live in a condo near Chinook and I liked living there. The only drawback is the lack of supermarkets close by.
The present condo is in Rideau Towers, or Fawlty Towers we like to call it!
A great location, like living in a resort within walking distance of downtown.
On Bowen, I'm renting a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom bungalow with an attached double garage and a bbq on the deck for $1,500 a month, no damage deposit. I have never met my landlady, but we have talked on the phone. Almost like suburbia except there are no sidewalks or street lights. Oh, and I have a beautiful ocean view.


[IMG][/IMG]

[YYCguys]

Originally Posted by Jimby

...On Bowen, I'm renting a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom bungalow with an attached double garage and a bbq on the deck for $1,500 a month, no damage deposit. I have never met my landlady, but we have talked on the phone. Almost like suburbia except there are no sidewalks or street lights. Oh, and I have a beautiful ocean view.

Could you post a pic or two of your abode and your view on Bowen? I've never been to the Gulf Islands and have always wondered what the houses/views look like there.

[Jimby]

The Deep Bay neighbourhood on Bowen. My house is under the big round tree in the middle wth the flag pole. This shot is from the ferry.
The house is about a 3 minute walk to the beach and about a 12 minute walk to Snug Cove, the partially quaint village where the ferry docks. The population of the island is about 3,500 and may soar to 10,000 on summer weekends.
There is a water taxi service to Granville Island so lots of people commute to work in Vancouver. Bowen is part of the GVA.
There was a recent (dreadful) TV show called Harper's Island that was filmed here.
Bowen has a long history as a resort for Vancouverites. It is called the Happy Isle!



A 94 year old man died here last summer and the family is maybe deciding what to do with the house as they have a nicer summer place somewhere else. The interior is dated but I don't care. I have a dishwasher, washer/dryer, high speed internet, an ice maker, basic Shaw cable TV, and NO PHONE.
The garage is on the right side of the house behind the big tree. The lot is apparently worth $1 million so out of my price range for sure if they were to sell it.





My next door neighbour had a party with a band playing. She works in Vancouver and bought her house 2 years ago in a bidding war for $600,000.
The locals are friendly! It was way outside of my comfort zone knowing only one person at the party, but a good time was had by all.




it has been very hot and dry, I don't water the grass as there are watering restrictions.



my deck looking across the water at the lights of West Vancouver. The glow in the sky is from the city.



I have never been to the Gulf Islands, but I would like to see them. Bowen is usually lumped in with the Sunshine Coast, not the Gulf Islands. It is a 20 minute ferry from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver. Horseshoe Bay is 1,000 kms from Calgary, at the end of the continental TCH.

[agent_imperial]

Good thread… I’ve enjoyed reading everyone’s living situations and the reasoning behind them.

I grew up in McKenzie Lake. I admit that I loved it as a kid being so close to Fish Creek Park and the lake. But once I hit high school I became less and less happy living out there as the years went on. I hated the long transit rides to meet friends. Even once I had my license and bought a car it was still a long way to everything. I refused to take the #96 bus from McKenzie to Anderson Station as part of my commute to U of C because it had to be the longest route in the city since it wove through Douglasdale and Douglasglen on the way out and back. It often took 45 mins to an hour just for the bus ride. Even without taking the bus the commute to U of C was still pretty grueling; traffic would be brutal driving to Anderson Station especially because the entire time I was at U of C there was construction on one interchange or another on Deerfoot. Once the C-train made its way out to Somerset in my last year of school things were far better… I even took the bus to the station instead of driving due to its new short convenient route.

After finishing my undergrad at U of C I went to Edmonton for my masters and lived near the west end of Jasper Ave and loved it. I swore I would never live in the far suburbs ever again. Having everything you need within steps of your apartment and only driving when you wanted to was liberating. Not to mention the beautiful perk of never having to take a $50 dollar cab ride home from the bar.

After 2 years in Edmonton I moved back to Calgary and have been living in downtown / inner city Calgary for the 3 years since.

I started off renting in Rocky Mountain Court right downtown on 6th Ave. It was a great location and close to most things. The lack of a nearby grocery store was one of the worst aspects. I would often walk to and from the Safeway in the beltline but if you needed anything more than a few things it was too big of a pain in the ass to walk the 14 or so blocks with armfuls of bags and I would have to take my car which kind of defeated the purpose of living downtown. What the downtown core really needs is more amenities for residents. It still sorely lacks some critical things to allow people live a more sustainable lifestyle. That said, even in the few years I was living there I saw a marked improvement in the street life of downtown. I saw more street life develop on the weekends and after hours and more stores keeping longer weekday hours and opening on the weekends which was huge.

Recently I just bought a 2 bedroom concrete midrise condo in the Beltline, I moved from Downtown to the Beltline to be closer to grocery stores, parks, cafes, pubs, etc. The area is much more livable in my opinion. There are far more things close to my new place and they also keep far better hours for residents. I thought about moving further out into a townhouse or single family spot but I really enjoy the simplicity of condo living. I like keeping my belongings as minimalist as possible. One of the things I do have a lot of and cannot downsize is the amount of sports equipment I have. I spend many of my weekends in the mountains doing some sport or another so I needed space to keep my bikes, skis, climbing gear, camping equipment, etc. For really active people this is hard to overcome in a condo. You can minimize furniture and belongings, but if you use your sports equipment every weekend it will end up lying all over your apartment if you don’t have a proper storage spot. I managed to find a condo with a large storage room in the parkade but that was not and easy task and I probably got lucky. I like to be able to walk everywhere which is why I chose the Beltline over other inner city neighbourhoods. Even living as close to downtown as Mardia Loop or Bankview limits your option of walking to work or to grocery stores (it is of course do-able, but would take quite a commitment... especially in the winter) I live within 2 blocks of almost any store I need including the Co-Op grocery store. That is close enough to lug home even the largest of grocery runs. Another thing I love about the Beltline is the limitless restaurant choices. I love food and love to be able to walk to all the restaurants and cafes in the Beltline; although in all fairness I also had this luxury in my old place downtown. I dined my way up and down Stephan Ave and all around Chinatown.

I could see one day moving into a townhouse or single family once my future kids are 5-6. But it would certainly be inner city. After seeing the benefits of inner city living I will pay a premium for a high quality smaller place in the inner city than a massive McMansion out in the burbs any day.

Anyways… there’s my long winded situation.

[Calgarian]

I live on 2nd st and 15Ave SW. There are some sketchy people around here (crack whores/heads and dealers), and the noise from 17th can make it difficult to watch the TV if the door is open, but it is really close to lots of amenities and is a 10 minute walk to work.

I still rent, but am looking to buy soon. I imagine I will try to find something in the same area as I like downtown, I can't imagine living in a stale community like Douglasdale again, you are too disconnected from everything there.

[freeweed]

One common thing I've noticed is that here in Calgary, kids growing up seem to go to much more of the city than I experienced back in Winnipeg. Not sure if this is self-selection by forumers or an overall trend in Calgary, but it's interesting.

Through high school and well into university, living in the 'burbs never was an issue for me because 90% of the people I knew lived within 5km of my house anyway - we went to the same school and odds are lived close to it. Maybe in Calgary kids tend to go a lot further away for schooling? Also, Winnipeg is full of suburban bars. Not the local strip mall pubs like we have in Calgary, I'm talking full on multi-level dance clubs right in residential areas. I used to walk home from the bar all the time (in summer anyway!) - or worst case, it was a $10 cab, tops. We also used to have DDs because again, living close to each other, it's practical.

As everyone got older and started to meet with people from different parts of the city (and go to more downtown bars) sure, it got more difficult. But most people I know virtually never left their neighbourhood for socializing until they were well into their mid 20s. We certainly weren't traipsing all over the city in high school - well I was, but I've always been a wanderer.

Just kinda neat, because almost all of you say the same thing - by high school, the 'burbs became a huge annoyance. It's not something I ever would have thought about. By the time I really was hanging out with folks from all over the place, I had pretty much outgrown the constant boozing and so driving wasn't a big issue. I think I've averaged maybe 6 cab rides a year over my adult life, not exactly a major expense.

[hulkrogan]

I bought my first place in 2004 in Rocky Ridge. It was a 740 sq ft one bedroom condo with a great view of the mountains. I had looked closer to downtown, but decided I really couldn't afford it. (I looked at one of the Lewis lofts for $180,000 and decided that would be pushing my budget too much... hah!). Got my place for $140,000. Enjoyed my time there, but got frustrated with the idea of driving to take transit every day. I also hated how playing hockey would often send me on 30-40 minute drives to arenas around the city. I said no to a volleyball team I would have had a lot of fun on because it was at RallyPoint. I often wouldn't drink when I'd go out downtown because cab rides were expensive and getting my car the next day was a hassle. Or sometimes I wouldn't go out at all if it was pretty late anyway and it didn't feel worth the drive. Dating girls that lived in the deep south sucked. My condo got toxic mold and I was sick for a year until it was discovered, and the repair process disenchanted me with the condo lifestyle for good. It was a great starter place though, and it appreciated $70,000, so 150% of what I bought it for 4 years prior, which helped me get into a place I hopefully love.

I just bought a 1100 sq ft house in Bridgeland in April. It was built in 1911 and has been fully gutted and redone in the last 3 years. It's on an RC-2 lot which opens options for the future. The house could easily be added on to with the width of the lot. It was scary being a contractor and buying in the middle of the recession, but it already got appraised by the bank $20,000 more than I paid. Hopefully I look back and think how lucky I got with timing. I get possession this Friday. Very excited! It's still ghetto enough there that I could afford something (I would love Crescent Heights or Sunnyside). Very close to downtown for what you pay. Lots of shops (except for groceries sadly). I don't have to drive to work anymore. I have Flames season tickets and play volleyball at Talisman, so those trips just got a lot shorter. I realize I'll have to fight off the odd hobo and the air pollution is definitely worse, but I think I'm going to love it.

[CanadianTurbo]

I will add a bit of my tale here:

Was born and raised in Calgary, spent my entire up bringing in the deep south of the city in areas such as Parkland, Deer Run, Millrise and Douglasdale. Purchased my first place (townhouse condo) in 2000 in McKenzie Towne, with my significant other at the time, was happy with the area as was close to work and family. That relationship went downhill and I kept the place but started spending more and more time in the center of the city so I began to get interested in moving closer to the core, and in 2004 I put a deposit on a unit in Chocolate. My wife grew up in Erlton, so she was very unhappy in McKenzie Towne when we first moved in together so we went ahead with moving to Chocolate in 2006. We have been here 3 years now and really have no major complaints, the location is good, and now that 1st Street is coming along, lots of things in walking distance.

Personally I do not have a big desire for a house, I am not into yard work or gardening and I spent enough time shoveling and mowing lawns growing up that I really have no care to do it, so a condo works great. We do have a deposit in Arriva 42 to have a larger unit, one that would be more comfortable for raising a family but obviously that is all up in the air now.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by CanadianTurbo

Personally I do not have a big desire for a house, I am not into yard work or gardening and I spent enough time shoveling and mowing lawns growing up that I really have no care to do it, so a condo works great. We do have a deposit in Arriva 42 to have a larger unit, one that would be more comfortable for raising a family but obviously that is all up in the air now.

Have you looked at any of the larger units for sale in arriVa 34?

[Riise]

Rundle [1985-2003]
Single Family House
Family Owned
0-23 y/o


Description
I think the best description of this house/area is: surprisingly close to being livable, culturally rich, and the only suburb in which I could survive suburbia. It is surprisingly close to being livable because while it is your typical Canadian suburb, the proximity and way in which the typical suburban amenities are provide is serendipitously convenient. The source of this convenience is Rundle Station and Sunridge Mall. Although my father bought a house within direct walking distance to a CTrain station on purpose (he was a typical Englishman), Sunridge Mall was a bonus as it ended up being a quasi-Town Centre for me during my adolescence.

For a good portion of my life Sunridge Mall had all the things a good Town Centre would have (food, entertainment, shops, and social spaces) and it was located within walking distance of my house and my friend's homes. When this quasi-Town Centre didn't have what we needed we could hop on the train and try to head somewhere that did, though unfortunately, this did not always work. Rundle Station took on more importance as I grew up and allowed me to turn Rundle into a true bedroom community.

The Beltline, Downtown Calgary, and the U have provided me with most of what I need to live for the past 6 years. Most of my daily life occurred in these areas and at the end of the day I could conveniently take the train back to my shower and bed. Everything else was either within a normal walking distance, extended walking distance, or short motorized trip. Reading my thoughts here, you might think that Rundle has provided me with a decent place to live and it has. However, it has only given me a quasi-urban neighbourhood.

After visiting and staying in truly amazing urban urban neighbourhoods across Europe I have a thirst for them that simply cannot be quenched by Rundle. The multicultural nature of the area is a great help at watering my mouth but does not help with the maddening thirst. Multicultural areas like the N.E. are freakin' amazing, it is such a pleasureable expereince to walk to the train station and smell all these sumptuous dishes being cooked and languages being spoken.The diversity couldn't help with my work though.

After I got a job that was outside of the core and my neighbourhood, a wrench was thrown into my quasi urban lifestyle. It became a hassle to get from my work, home, and back out again. It pushed my dependency on the automobile and disappointment with the entire transit network beyond tolerable levels.


Pros

• Diverse Population
• Elementary and Junior High Within Walking Distance
• Great Access To City Centre
• Number Of Services Within Walking and Extended Walking Distance
• Quasi-Town Centre
• Quasi-Town Centre Within Direct Walking Distance
• Train Station Within Direct Walking Distance

Cons

• Auto-Oriented
• Does Not Provide Many Alternatives To SFH
• Lacks Functional Green Space
• Lacks Quality Public Spaces
• Only Quasi-Urban
• Requires A Strong Attempt To Live An Urban Lifestyle
• Stigmatized By Silly Stereotypes
• Walkability Decreases By Hostile Walking Environments and Seasonal Weather

Stockwell, London [2009 Onwards]
Terraced Row House
Family Owned
23 y/o Onward


Description
I won't starting residing here until September but I have visited the placed many times. It's within walking distance of two tube stations and there is a pub 150m from the front door, which is absolutely brilliant!


Pros

• A Pub 150m Away
• Two Tube Stations Within Walking Distance
• Others TBD

Cons

• TBD

[Ferreth]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

I just bought a 1100 sq ft house in Bridgeland in April. [...] Very close to downtown for what you pay. Lots of shops (<b>except for groceries sadly</b>). I don't have to drive to work anymore. I have Flames season tickets and play volleyball at Talisman, so those trips just got a lot shorter. I realize I'll have to fight off the odd hobo and the air pollution is definitely worse, but I think I'm going to love it.

Top tip for 'ya: Check out "Family Foods" by driving/walking over the 8th Ave bridge over Deerfoot up to 19th St. Depending on where you are in Bridgeland, it may be your closest grocery. Family Foods is like a Safeway, but with extra goodies they bring in themselves (like way better meat than a typical Safeway). I only wish I had clued into that one while I was living in Bridgeland, 'cuz I was really close to it - I even knew it was there, I just never groked that it was a 20min walk / 5 minute drive away.

[Ferreth]

Originally Posted by Riise

Pros

• A Pub 150m Away
• Two Tube Stations Within Walking Distance
• Others TBD

Cons

• TBD

Oye - If that was me I'd have to list the pub as both a pro and a con. My beer budget would have to double

[hulkrogan]

Originally Posted by Ferreth

Top tip for 'ya: Check out "Family Foods" by driving/walking over the 8th Ave bridge over Deerfoot up to 19th St. Depending on where you are in Bridgeland, it may be your closest grocery. Family Foods is like a Safeway, but with extra goodies they bring in themselves (like way better meat than a typical Safeway). I only wish I had clued into that one while I was living in Bridgeland, 'cuz I was really close to it - I even knew it was there, I just never groked that it was a 20min walk / 5 minute drive away.

Thanks for the tip!! Never would have known to look there.

What about for walking routes into downtown? I know I can walk past the drop in centre, or stay North along the river and pop over Centre Street or Prince's Island. Is there a way in further to the East?

Any tricks for walking to the Saddledome?

[Surrealplaces]

I live in Cambrian Heights, a neighborhood not known for its density, but a nice area for sure. I bought here in 1998 when the prices were still reasonable. Some of the reasons I chose the area were:

1 - Good central location, with decent amenities. Close to downtown, SAIT, UofC, North Hill Mall, Kensington. There's decent retail within walking distance...four strip malls within walking distance.

2 - Schools (Elementary, JH, and HS) all within walking distance.

3 - Confederation Park. Two golf courses within 5 minutes.

We'll probably live in this house for another dozen or so years and then get an inner city condo.

As far as winters go, well I'm intending to go down south for 3 or 4 months of each winter. We've got a place down by Myrtle Beach that should suffice We'll spend the rest of the year up here, hopefully looking out the windows of a high rise condo with floor to ceiling glass.

[kap384]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Any tricks for walking to the Saddledome?

When I lived in Crescent Heights I used to stumble home drunk from the 'Dome through the train yards. There's a hole in the fence somewhere by Cowboys(Coyotes/Dusty's at the time) I could find drunk, but sure don't know where it is sober. Wouldn't recommend it though. Not the smartest idea.