Calling Calgarians

[skibee]

When you visit, as much as you may want to DO NOT visit Banff this year... we are in construction HELL right now with the entire main street dug up tp replace 100 year old infrastructure. Ugh. There are so many great mtn biking trials, hiking trails and general quieter mountain experiences to be had in Kananaskis Country (which is also closer to Calgary). Check out Canmore especially if you can do any telecommuting. I know many folks who live in Canmore and telecommute and only go to the big shitty when they have to. Canmore has it all for the partners to... great cafe's, vibrant arts community, lots of daytime activity clubs and stuff. The biggest drawback to Canmore is that th housing market there makes Calgary look sensible. Keep us posted.

B

[finbar]

When you visit, as much as you may want to DO NOT visit Banff this year... we are in construction HELL right now with the entire main street dug up tp replace 100 year old infrastructure. Ugh. There are so many great mtn biking trials, hiking trails and general quieter mountain experiences to be had in Kananaskis Country (which is also closer to Calgary). Check out Canmore especially if you can do any telecommuting. I know many folks who live in Canmore and telecommute and only go to the big shitty when they have to. Canmore has it all for the partners to... great cafe's, vibrant arts community, lots of daytime activity clubs and stuff. The biggest drawback to Canmore is that th housing market there makes Calgary look sensible. Keep us posted.

B

Telecommuting not an option for now unfortunately so will need to stay closer to town. Living in the permanent construction site that is Houston though it will probably take more than a dug up Main St in Banff to create a bad impression

[Eldo]

More weather info...

A bonus of living here is that winter is never far away. Pissing rain today in Calgary but doing this at Nakiska only 45 minutes away.

[taynton]

Calgary is a pretty cool place. I've lived there since last September when I went to Vancouver for some school. As far as cities go if you're a skier, its is in the same league as Denver and Vancouver (i.e. can't get much better in N.A., maybe SLC). It does get damn cold sometimes in the winter, but its sunny a lot too. I prefer Calgary's winters to Vancouver's, except for the fact that all the rain we get in Van turns white in a big way.

There are quite a few ski hills near Calgary, a similar snow pack to Colorado.

Mountain biking is ok. COP has decent freeriding for what they have terrain wise to work with. Kananaskis and Canmore I've heard have good XC, but haven't made it out there yet.

For places to live, I'd recommend the NW. The west side of the city is foothills, while the east is more plains. Also, the NW has a quicker commute time than most of the SW, and it is closest to the TransCanada Hwy, the road to the mountains.

Weather is pretty good. Rain usually comes in quick, strong storms in the spring and summer (pretty good lightening to watch almost every night in the summer). Summers are sunny and warm, and you have the Chinook winds in the winter that warm things up a lot.

One thing I dont like about the city is unless you live in one of a handful of older neighborhoods, you have to drive for pretty much anything. Compared to Vancouver where you can do a lot of shopping at mom and pop places and corner stores, Calgary is more dependent on malls and megastores. It was a quite nice city to drive in until recently when a lot of construction got started.

[f2f]

BTW was that pic taken on Barranca or North mesa?

it's neither, that's 33rd st overlooking pueblo canyon. the picture doesn't show it, but the mountains burnt in the fire are much greener now, especially after a pretty wet spring.

as for the lab, i'll tell you more stories when i get back to calgary and we go for beers

[DougW]

Not much to add. We're in the NW and like it. Wife bought house and looked at over 60 ( real estate agent's nightmare) all over the city and bought in NW.


Bowness or Montgomery would be would be good if you want something close to river and bike paths. Biking to downtown is an option all year round. Lots of Oil companies have pretty good facilities. Hey your going to be pres so they can be great .

Right downtown Mount Royal is nice and $$$. But the lower parts do have crime. Know people that moved out of Mount Royal and moved to Cresent Heights after having been broken in a couple of times. Farther up hill the more of a buffer. From both these areas can walk to work. All the oil companies are downtown so once downtown a car is of no value.

[finbar]

Well bugger me as I look at the last post it is a couple of weeks short of a year since I declared my intended move to Calgary. A lot of water has flown under many bridges since, but at last the move north is imminent. Had a short trip last week and found some time to view a few 950 sqft $3,500/mth (furnished) Eau Claire condos Looks like it may take some time to find something decent for the money. Anyway, thanks again for the good info. provided earlier which should come in handy now

[Eldo]

Eau Claire area is very cool being right next to Prince's Island and downtown, but it is also really, really expensive.

If you don't mind walking a few blocks to work then check out across the river in Sunnyside or Bridgeland, or in the beltline between 10th and 17th Avenues SW. There's actually more services (restaurants, bars, grocery stores) in those areas than Eau Claire. Also, they will be tearing down the Eau Claire Market soon so that will be a mess for a while.

We need to get the Calgary-area Maggots together for beers sometime this summer. Lots of new people in the past year or so.

[finbar]

Eau Claire area is very cool being right next to Prince's Island and downtown, but it is also really, really expensive.

If you don't mind walking a few blocks to work then check out across the river in Sunnyside or Bridgeland, or in the beltline between 10th and 17th Avenues SW. There's actually more services (restaurants, bars, grocery stores) in those areas than Eau Claire. Also, they will be tearing down the Eau Claire Market soon so that will be a mess for a while.

We need to get the Calgary-area Maggots together for beers sometime this summer. Lots of new people in the past year or so.

Agree, thought Eau Claire was a bit souless so leaning towards beltine areas like Erlton that have decent access to riverside trails as well as being staggering distance from 17th Ave etc. Good quality furnished digs like rocking horse shit at the moment though.

[Caucasian Asian]

We need to get the Calgary-area Maggots together for beers sometime this summer. Lots of new people in the past year or so.

It's aboot time. I just realized i've been here for nine months already

[gramboh]

Agree, thought Eau Claire was a bit souless so leaning towards beltine areas like Erlton that have decent access to riverside trails as well as being staggering distance from 17th Ave etc. Good quality furnished digs like rocking horse shit at the moment though.

Eau Clair is insane in my opinion, very expensive (although you can get some very high end units) but $3,500 for 950 sqft, wow. I live in Erlton (the Waterford is the name of the complex, right by the Talisman Centre) about 100 feet from the river and just off MacLeod Trail South. The location is in my opinion the best in the city. I can walk to the office in 20-25minutes, right by Talisman Centre for training, can walk to 4th Street, 1st St and 17th ave for restaurants/lounges, can walk to the Saddledome for concerts/Flames games and the Stampede in under 10 minutes and have relatively quick access out of the city to the mountains. It's so nice (after growing up in the suburbs 30min away) to be able to walk to various events and have a few beers then walk home, rather than face a $30-40 cab ride like the old days.

I own my unit, but I figure it would rent for around $1,500-$1,700 (2 bedroom 2 bath 1050 sq ft condo built in 1999), but I haven't been paying attention to the renters market. I think you can find some really nice new places under $2k/mo in the area. My friend lives across the river in Mission (21st Ave and 2nd St SW, directly on the west bank of Elbow river) and I believe he pays $1,600 for a large (~900 sq ft) one bedroom with upgraded furnishings. There are a ton of new condo buildings coming on the market in the next year which is going to boost inventory even higher, so who knows, maybe rental rates will come down. Good luck.

[wren]

Not a Calgarian, but visited quite a few times for fun (I love that place) and do a lot of business there. I agree with pretty much everything that has been said. With regards to housing, a lot of people are saying NW, which is a pretty good call, however, the neighbourhoods are generally nicer (and more expensive) in the south/southwest. That is of course, you want to go with a house instead of a condo. On average the south/sw have older neighbourhoods with less cookie cutter homes. That being said, MacLeod Trail is a fucking traffic disaster. It is easier getting to and from DT being in the NW. Bonus for living in the NW, the new ring road (which will eventually encircle most of the city, and all of the city if the T'suu T'sina gets on board) will be open in the fall, making it much easier to get to the airport for one, as well as north of the city if you so wanted. The portion heading south/sw to the mountains is already finished. Personally (if I had the money) I'd live in the southern part of the city, somewhere within decent distance of Glenmore trail so I could escape to the mountains fairly quickly when that portion of the ring road is completed (2011). But that's me, not a local talking, so I may not know best in that area.

With regards to your wife, if she likes outdoor type stuff, Banff/Lake Louise is pretty-much as must do for hiking and stuff as said before (Spa at the Fairmont in Lake Louise would probably impress as well), Canmore/Kananaskis for more of the same or whitewater rafting or golf. Since you have been in texas for a while, perhaps you like the whole cowboy thing, if so check out the Spruce Meadows area for horseback riding, and/or if you guys want to party, book the trip during Stampede. Lol.

Also, the 140km/h zipline at Canada Olympic Park is FUN.

[finbar]

Eau Clair is insane in my opinion, very expensive (although you can get some very high end units) but $3,500 for 950 sqft, wow. I live in Erlton (the Waterford is the name of the complex, right by the Talisman Centre) about 100 feet from the river and just off MacLeod Trail South. The location is in my opinion the best in the city. I can walk to the office in 20-25minutes, right by Talisman Centre for training, can walk to 4th Street, 1st St and 17th ave for restaurants/lounges, can walk to the Saddledome for concerts/Flames games and the Stampede in under 10 minutes and have relatively quick access out of the city to the mountains. It's so nice (after growing up in the suburbs 30min away) to be able to walk to various events and have a few beers then walk home, rather than face a $30-40 cab ride like the old days.

I own my unit, but I figure it would rent for around $1,500-$1,700 (2 bedroom 2 bath 1050 sq ft condo built in 1999), but I haven't been paying attention to the renters market. I think you can find some really nice new places under $2k/mo in the area. My friend lives across the river in Mission (21st Ave and 2nd St SW, directly on the west bank of Elbow river) and I believe he pays $1,600 for a large (~900 sq ft) one bedroom with upgraded furnishings. There are a ton of new condo buildings coming on the market in the next year which is going to boost inventory even higher, so who knows, maybe rental rates will come down. Good luck.

Thanks for the insight, I think in part I am getting quoted over-inflated rates from the relocation agent our co. uses. I saw a 1,300sqft condo next door to Waterford which they were looking to rent for $3,500..ridiculous. Mind you given that you won't get much if any change from $500k to buy one its not that outrageous. Agree though Erlton location wise is spot on. Any good local source for finding places for rent you would recommend ?

[Kirby]

Why is everyone so positive? This is Calgary we're talking about, the most hated city in Canada. Just ask any BC local what they think of Calgarians and Alberta license plates.

[Gripen]

Thanks for the insight, I think in part I am getting quoted over-inflated rates from the relocation agent our co. uses. I saw a 1,300sqft condo next door to Waterford which they were looking to rent for $3,500..ridiculous. Mind you given that you won't get much if any change from $500k to buy one its not that outrageous. Agree though Erlton location wise is spot on. Any good local source for finding places for rent you would recommend ?

PM me. I own a house in Ranchlands that I "might" be willing to rent out as a whole. 3bedroom 2/5 bath. 2 car garage. Lot less the 3.5K a month. Plus within walking distance of new Ctrain stop at Crowfoot.

Either that, or I'll sell it to you in September.

[waxman]

Why is everyone so positive? This is Calgary we're talking about, the most hated city in Canada. Just ask any BC local what they think of Calgarians and Alberta license plates.

are you fuckin kidding me? Toronto/GTA claim the title of most hated city...by BC local you mean the Quebecois that has been in town a week...

[Kirby]

by BC local you mean the Quebecois that has been in town a week...

Ah...touche sir.

[powslut]

Why is everyone so positive? This is Calgary we're talking about, the most hated city in Canada. Just ask any BC local what they think of Calgarians and Alberta license plates.

It's because British Columbians can't accept the fact that their entire economy is riding the coattails of the boom in Alberta.

[waxman]

It's because British Columbians can't accept the fact that their entire economy is riding the coattails of the boom in Alberta.

i think you mean "legal" economy......

[f2f]

i heard there's a B&B opening in Banff soon, we should all get together and party there

[powslut]

i think you mean "legal" economy......

Even the illegal economy...I'm sure a healthy portion of the blow and heroin coming in through Vancouver and Prince Rupert as well as the homegrown meth and weed are making there way into Alberta. I drove through downtown Calgary yesterday and it even seems like the homeless people are leaving Van and coming this way.

[powslut]

i heard there's a B&B opening in Banff soon, we should all get together and party there

There will be a housewarming party which may or may not include a lamb roast and the TGR community will be invited if everyone promises to be on their best behaviour.

[Caucasian Asian]

Why is everyone so positive? This is Calgary we're talking about, the most hated city in Canada. Just ask any BC local what they think of Calgarians and Alberta license plates.

I never said I liked it here. I fucking hate it. I go home every chance I get.

[Dr. Crank]

Thanks for the insight, I think in part I am getting quoted over-inflated rates from the relocation agent our co. uses. I saw a 1,300sqft condo next door to Waterford which they were looking to rent for $3,500..ridiculous. Mind you given that you won't get much if any change from $500k to buy one its not that outrageous. Agree though Erlton location wise is spot on. Any good local source for finding places for rent you would recommend ?

Try craigslist or househunting.ca. That $3500 sounds way steep.

are you fuckin kidding me? Toronto/GTA claim the title of most hated city...by BC local you mean the Quebecois that has been in town a week...

I know many a true BC local that complains about the constant influx of Albertans and their inability to negotiate corners on the highway. Of course, half of these whiners ended up moving to Alberta anyways! As for the economy of BC riding on Alberta's coattails, that's mainly tourism driven, which has a lot of ramifications in respect to real estate and can be to the detriment of local families starting out.

[waxman]

There will be a housewarming party which may or may not include a lamb roast and the TGR community will be invited if everyone promises to be on their best behaviour.

will Woz be there?