Few local Calgarians are aware of the geographic change that occurred in 2016 when the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB®) chose to divide the city into eight distinct districts. Most of its residents see Stampede City as divided into merely four corners—the northwest, northeast, southwest, and southeast. Calgary’s Districts are North, Northeast, Northwest, East, City Centre, South, Southeast, and lastly, West.
To help you decide in which direction in Cowtown you forge, we have partnered with Calgary’s own Jesse Davies, REALTOR® and the leader of the Jesse Davies Team. Whether you’re looking for a condominium, semi-detached or detached, we will collaborate to give you a plethora of food for Calgary real estate thought.
McKenzie Towne
Our first stop on this train is in the southeastern district of McKenzie Towne. There are lots of noteworthy things about this master-planned residential neighbourhood, including approximately 20,000 citizens, a median age of 33 years old, and people who pride themselves on their front porch.
Maybe one of the best aspects of McKenzie Towne is its hall. The word “hall” is a bit of a misnomer, as it’s more like a recreational centre. It contains a gymnasium, meeting and banquet facilities, a private outdoor park area, and a facility rental for events. The McKenzie Towne Council offers recreational programming for children, youth, families, adults, and seniors, as well. It’s a great place to invest in as the population is projected to increase by 50% in the next 20 years.
Coventry Hill
Coventry Hill is our next point of exploration, and it’s in the northeast part of Calgary. It’s unique in that it is bounded by the Stoney Trail to the north and the Deerfoot Trail to the east. There are about 17,500 citizens who live in the neighbourhood, with an average age range of between 40-44 years old, and 59% report having some sort of post-secondary education. Although it has all types of residential buildings, its mainly comprised of single-family residential buildings and has a rental rate of approximately 4.2%. In addition to boasting Coventry Hills Park, this up-and-coming community is poised to see an influx with the building of the North Trail High School.
We asked Jesse Davies for intel on why his clients like the Coventry Hill Community:
“Coventry Hills is a vibrant and contemporary community with a wonderful vibe. It’s well-suited for each of the various walks of life because it’s a great little neighbourhood with a low-key atmosphere. The low-street noise, neighbourhood-community association, and close proximity to parks are very much a draw for many people.”
Mahogany Lake
If we veer in a southeasterly direction, the next up-and-coming neighbourhood we want to highlight is Mahogany Lake. The astounding variety of home designs available in this emerging neighbourhood in southeast Calgary includes condos, townhouses, single-family homes, and estate holdings. There’s got to be something to this burgeoning community because it seems that families who relocate to Mahogany stay there.
Many locals re-purchase properties there when their requirements change, whether their family is expanding or they’re ready to downsize. The lake itself, the largest freshwater lake inside the boundaries of Calgary, is the neighbourhood’s standout attraction. Mahogany Lake offers a splash park, a quiet fire pit, and two private beaches. Daycares and preschools, banks, bakeries, physicians’ offices, and restaurants are all conveniently located thanks to the Mahogany Village Market retail area. With so many amenities, Mahogany Lake resembles its own standalone little village within the larger city of Calgary.
South Calgary
While we’re in the south, let’s swing by the appropriately named South Calgary!
While it’s not the shiny new neighbourhood that some others are on the list, it rightfully holds its place on our up-and-coming neighbourhoods because of regal resilience and its ability recently to gain even more prominence.
The southwest Calgary area of South Calgary was built in the early 1950s and has a mix of endearing bungalows characteristic of the area and the modern pockets you’d expect to see. One reason for this area’s continued popularity is location, location, location! Southwest Calgary has easy access to downtown Calgary and is only a short distance from a variety of parks and green areas.
The amount of green space is a plus that Calgary has over other major Canadian capitals. If the Giuffre Family Library in the neighbourhood isn’t your cup of tea or another hot bevy, the South Calgary outdoor pool is a fantastic spot to cool off, plus it’s free to locals throughout the summer months. It also has drop-in activities, study areas, and a wide range of books on every subject.
If you’re less about wading and more about waving that credit card, there are numerous hip markets, shops, and cafes in the nearby Marda Loop retail area. Here you can find everything from artisanal foods to specialty alcoholic beverages, Greek-style pizza, and bespoke pet care items. The ideal community for busy professionals or new families, South Calgary offers great retail, recreation, accessibility, and green spaces.
University District
Our last stop on our magical mystery tour of Calgary is the aptly named University District. In this case, it earned its moniker for its proximity to the University of Calgary. So, if you’re an investor, you already know that there is a significant and built-in rental market here. Mainly comprised of newly built homes and those under ten years old, this community touts itself as “an award-winning urban community offering a bold new vision for living in the northwest.” This upscale community is curated to balance residential, retail, and breathtaking natural scenery with practicality and accessibility.
We leaned again on Davies for his insight into whether the University District is a flash-in-the-pan or has staying power:
“The University District definitely is one that will stand the test of time. The careful contemplation that has been put into it ensures that it checks all the boxes for both appeal and longevity.”
Conclusion
Whether you choose to live in a community with longer roots or a neighbourhood that is cultivated to be cutting-edge really depends on where you are in your life. However, it seems like there isn’t anyone that couldn’t happily call Calgary home.
Heather McDowell is a mother and a REALTOR®. Heather has spent most of her real estate career selling residential real estate, and its leasing and has dealt with the additional complexities of the cottage, timeshare and rural properties, and condominiums. She has dabbled in new construction and is expanding her portfolio to include commercial sales and leasing. Heather is also a dedicated volunteer for both the local women’s shelter and a national hospice organization and is an emerging playwright.
Heather describes her focus as diversifying real estate content that not only addresses national matters but explores those issues unique to each province and territory.
You can contact Heather at heather@crewmedia.ca or find her on socials at:
As part of its response to Canada’s ongoing housing challenges, the federal government has added another 12 new properties to the Canada Public Land Bank,...
As part of its response to Canada’s ongoing housing challenges, the federal government has added another 12 new properties to the Canada Public Land Bank,...
