Bridgeland

One of the more highly regarded communities in all of the city, Bridgeland is a beautiful neighborhood located immediately northeast of Calgary’s downtown. It is bounded by the Bow River which flows  along its southern most border and by a steep escarpment to its west, north, and east that separates it from the neighbouring communities. Bridgeland is primarily residential in nature with a mix of condominiums and single-family houses with an average property value of $384,000 with an increase of property value from 2012 to 2013 of 8.4% with more growth expected in the years to come. The neighborhood is presently in the midst of filling the land left vacant by the old General Hospital with over 2,000 new condo spaces. Bridgeland’s 5,000 residents benefit from the blend of restaurants, food markets, and retail shopping opportunities all within walking distance. Other unique points of interest that those looking to move to the area may note is its’ proximity to the Calgary Zoo and Telus Spark, an urban renewal development plan in place, and its connection to Calgary’s large network of pathways and parks.

Bridgeland is welcoming to young families with students enrolled in both the public and Catholic school systems. Public school students attend Stanley Jones elementary, Colonel Macleod junior high, and Crescent Heights senior high school while Catholic school students attend St. Angela elementary, St. Alphonsus, and St. Mary’s senior high school.

The natural green environment that nestles Bridgeland is very welcoming to residents looking to explore the Bow River and Elbow River. St. Patrick’s Island and St. George’s Island both lie in the southern half of the neighborhood – the home of Canada’s second largest zoo. Telus Spark was recently opened in October, 2011 and is a $160-million facility that is the country’s first purpose-built science centre in twenty-five (25) years. An area redevelopment plan was assigned to Bridgeland in 2006 and since then many new residents and businesses have moved into the community resulting in it being recognized as one of the most livable neighborhoods in all of Calgary with many amenities available within walking distance.

Transportation is made easy for those looking to travel to other parts of the city with the Bridgeland-Memorial LRT station and the Zoo LRT station both being found in different areas in Bridgeland. There are also over a dozen Calgary Transit stops spread throughout the area.

What was once one of Calgary’s oldest communities with many German and Italian immigrants being welcomed in the early 20^th century, Bridgeland has been redeveloped to become Calgary’s primary bohemian-bourgeois community. With its’ European influence on local shops and restaurants, its access to the Bow River Valley and the Rocky Mountains, and its quick and easy access to the downtown core, if there ever was such a community to be described as a perfect mix of Calgary, there’s no doubt that this would be it.