For more than a decade, most of Victoria Park has languished, abandoned and checkered with asphalt parking lots after the city expropriated land from about 200 property owners to allow the Calgary Stampede to proceed with expansion plans.

But, a few new residential hi-rises have cropped up around its edges, signaling that investors and buyers find promise in the area's future.

Calgary's land agency recently added fuel to that promise by hiring a team of urban designers and architects to create a master plan for the area as part of its Rivers District Revitalization Plan mandate.

Matt Greer is not a fan of car travel. "Anytime I drive in Calgary, I feel it's a disconnected, slow way to get around," he said.

Greer's attitude toward driving has been shaped by his decade long experience living in Calgary's Beltline community. Greer estimates he and his wife, who also have a two-year-old daughter, only use their car once a week. They can often bike or walk where they need to go. It's something he considers the ultimate benefit of living in the city centre.

In fact, proximity to the workplace was the main reason Greer purchased his apartment-style condo in the Beltline in 2007.

When it came online almost 17 years ago, the southeast community of Cranston, with its characteristic windmill at its entrance, was at the forefront of new and exciting urban planning – design that pushed forward a new way of thinking about community, where access to nature and connecting people was top-of-mind.

"Cranston is a great example of thinking differently about community. It creates plenty of opportunities for residents of all generations to meet up, get outside, have fun, and engage in community events," said Jessie Seymour, senior manager of strategic marketing at Brookfield Residential, the developer behind the community.

Over the past decade Marda Loop has evolved and changed, transforming from a quiet, off-the-radar neighbourhood into a hip, city centre destination. The change is being fueled, in part, by Marda Loop's business district, which runs along 33rd and 34th Avenue south west.

"Marda Loop is growing up from a commercial area in a suburban setting to a much more urban, walkable and lively business community," said Bob van Wegen, executive director of the Marda Loop business district.

Named after the Marda Theatre and the old 33rd Avenue streetcar, which "looped" back to downtown, Marda Loop was originally limited to the business district.

Michael Podwalski and his wife Kate relocated to Calgary from Ottawa three years ago and purchased a starter home in upper Cranston, practically sight unseen.

The experience worked out exceptionally well. So last year, they commissioned the builder, Cedarglen Homes, to build their dream home in Cranston's Riverstone.

When an opportunity arose to expand their financial portfolio and leap into real estate investment, the couple went with Cedarglen Living, the multi-family arm of Cedarglen Homes, purchasing a two-bedroom, two-bathroom condominium with an east-facing balcony at Seton Park Place in Seton's new urban district.

Sanda Peric made a happy discovery since moving into her new condo, Vivace at West 85th, in Calgary's West Springs community.

"I basically don't need a car," said the 20-something of her first home purchase.
"I can go grocery shopping; I can get my nails done, all within walking distance. There are a ton of amenities nearby."

"West Springs is the perfect mix of suburban living with its sense of quiet and community and being close to the Core. I hop on the train, and I'm there in 10 minutes," said Peric, who takes the LRT to her job downtown.

A large grant aims to improve the economic development of the multicultural business district along 17th Avenue S.E.

The northwest community of Bowness offers plenty of diversity, thanks to the area's long and varied history. Just take a stroll along the main street and you will feel as though you have stepped back in time.

"Bownesians have this incredible sense of pride. They are proud that they are a small town in the big city," said Jacqui Esler, executive director of the Mainstreet Bowness Business Improvement Area and former main street business owner.

The great thing about living in Calgary is that every neighbourhood comes with bragging rights and the southeast riverside community of Quarry Park is no exception.

"There really isn't anything that compares to Quarry Park in Calgary – the location, the variety of housing types, the strong sense of community and the strong identity with great architectural character," said Glen Deibert, residential director at Remington Development Corp., the developer behind the community.

Situated on a historic quarry site adjacent to the Bow River, Quarry Park graces 400 acres of reclaimed land that features over 90 acres of park land, a 50 acre nature reserve and 10 km of paved walking and cycling paths that weave through the area, connecting to the Bow River pathway system.

In the course of striving to make a safer community, polish its image and improve home values in the area, something amazing happened in Coventry Hills – a truly close-knit community was created.

The North Hills Community Association formally launched its Building Safer Communities program last April in an effort to reduce crime in Coventry Hills.

The need for a neighbourhood watch program became apparent when a number of informal groups and initiatives began to pop up in isolated pockets, with residents using social media to alert each other about suspicious activities and crimes in the area.