Calgary Community Guide
If you’re a Calgary resident, you probably already know where you want to look, but if you’re new to our fair city, you should come on a bit of a tour before you start serious home hunting.
Calgary Quadrants
The communities of Calgary are divided roughly into quadrants – NW, NE, SE, SW. These quadrants have developed around Calgary’s location at the junction of the Bow and Elbow rivers and are now are considered to be divided at Centre Avenue and Centre St. If you are north of Centre Avenue, you’re in the northern quadrants and if you’re west of Centre Street, you are in the western quadrants. The numbers of Calgary’s streets and avenues begin at this juncture and radiate outward.
Calgary’s quadrants contain a total of 184 neighbourhoods. These range from the most upscale addresses in Mount Royal to the latest condo developments in the city’s Beltline. Depending where you want to settle, there’s a neighbourhood that can meet your needs.
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Northwest Calgaryis north of the Bow River and is a rapidly developing area, with luxury homes being built on acreages near and just beyond the city limits. On the Bow River, new condo and infill developments offer beautiful riverside views and low-maintenance lifestyles conveniently near the downtown core. While the luxury properties and riverside condos are some of the most popular real estate in the area, NW Calgary also offers some starter homes for people just beginning real estate ownership. |
Northeast Calgaryfeatures rural communities, farmland and acreages farther to the north and upscale condos and older single family detached homes closer to downtown. Older neighbourhoods offer many fixer-upper possibilities as well as solid mid-century construction. Closer to the downtown core, condos and infill homes start to predominate, offering people plenty of real estate choices closer to the heart of the city. |
Southwest Calgarylies south of the Bow River, contains some of the most affluent communities in the city, including Mount Royal and Elbow Park. Many of these districts also contain some of the finest examples of turn-of-the-century architecture and neighbourhood layout styles. Close to the river, SW Calgary features many riverside home developments. Equestrian properties and ranchlands farther to the south are another feature of the area. |
Southeast Calgarycontains the most lake communities of all the quadrants and consequently has many upscale homes. There is an ample variety of home styles and prices here – from heritage homes to modern neighborhood developments. As one gets closer to downtown, the single-family homes give way to more condos, townhomes and infill homes. Along the Bow River, riverside condos reign supreme, but there are strips of single-family homes across from the ample parklands along the banks. |
Notable Calgary Areas
Calgary has many terrific areas for people to spend time in (even if they end up buying in a different area!). Click on the links for more information about these neighbourhoods and attractions.
Mount Royal: One of the oldest neighbourhoods in the city, Mount Royal is still a prestigious address and shows a variety of Calgary's most impressive turn-of-the-century architecture.
Marda Loop: A very popular shopping district that lies along the Calgary neighbourhoods of Altadore / Garrison Woods, Bankview and South Calgary.
Inglewood: The oldest neighbourhood in Calgary containing a number of attractions including the Calgary Zoo, Fort Calgary Historic Park, the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary and more.
Kensington: A business revitalization zone that hosts a number of events: The Bizarre Bikes & Bazaar in May, the Sun and Salsa Festival in July and Christmas in Kensington Village in December.
Forest Lawn International Avenue: A destination for those looking for a variety of ethnic restaurants and the host to GlobalFest in late August.
The Beltline & 17th Avenue: The Beltline is made up of the Victoria Park and Connaught communities and is very popular, in part because the shopping district of 17th Avenue lies within it.
Mission: Historic neighbourhood containing 4th Street, a popular place for shopping and dining. Hosts the May Lilac Festival.
Check out more great places to go on the Calgary Hotspots page!
If you're new to Calgary, someone who knows the city is a great companion on home hunting trips. Contact SmartCalgaryHomes.com to find out more about Calgary communities and to find the best fit for you.
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