Introduction
The quaint tree-lined neighbourhood of Sunalta is located in the southwest quadrant of Calgary. One of Calgary’s oldest neighbourhoods, Sunalta is an inner-city community that is southwest of downtown and south of the Bow River. Although it is close to the vibrant 17th Avenue neighbourhood, Sunalta is a quiet community.
Lifestyle
Despite being so close to downtown and the bustling thoroughfare of 17th Avenue SW, Sunalta is a very calm and peaceful neighbourhood. While it does have a wide selection of condos and apartments, there is definitely a strong presence of heritage homes in the area. Walk-up apartments were introduced to the area in the 1950s.
Dollars & Sense
Sunalta is categorized as a mixed income neighbourhood. In the 2012 City of Calgary municipal census, it was reported that the median household income was $32,409 and housed 30.1 per cent low-income residents. The businesses located in Sunalta are typically averaged priced — for example there is a mix of fine and casual dining making it affordable for a variety of budgets.
The Good, the Bad & the Rest
Sunalta is full of charm and history. It's an excellent neighbourhood for anyone who wants to live an inner city lifestyle. The location can often be seen as a negative — 14th Street is a very busy street, which can affect traffic entering the neighbourhood. There is also some transient people coming and going, largely due to the Greyhound bus station, LRT station and general busy-ness of 17th Avenue.
3.3 km
Planes, Trains & Automobiles
Sunalta was lucky to be one of the inner city neighbourhoods to benefit from the West leg of the LRT service. It was the first station on the West LRT line. This station also acts as an overpass to connect pedestrians to the Greyhound Bus Depot. Sunalta is also great for cycling and walking as it is located to closely to downtown — everything is accessible from this great neighbourhood.
In the Area
There are two schools in the Sunalta area: Sunalta Elementary School and Sacred Heart Elementary School. There is a lot of greenspace and opportunities for outdoor activity, such as the Calgary Tennis Club and an outdoor skating rink in the winter. The Sunalta Community Centre is located on 10th Ave SW and is a hub for all kinds of community events including yoga, dance lessons and more.
Meet the Neighbours
Sunalta is a diverse neighbourhood thanks to the wide variety of housing options. Sunalta is a mixed-income community according to the City of Calgary’s 2000 municipal census — 30.1 per cent of the population are low-income residents. This is a very family-friendly area with a lot of green space in which to enjoy the outdoors.
The Vibe
Sunalta has a friendly and vibrant community that lives an active and energetic lifestyle. Being so close to 17th Avenue SW, this neighbourhood is a refuge from inner city life. The people of Sunalta are early to adopt new trends, shops and restaurants in the neighbourhood, yet they find retaining the history of the area extremely important.
Gallery
Neighbourhood Hotspots
Sunalta Comm. Wildflower Garden
This gorgeous garden features beautiful wildflowers and vegetables. Residents can obtain membership from the Sunalta Community Association however there may be a waitlist as these community gardens are in high demand.
more infoSunalta Community Centre
The Sunalta Community Centre is at the heart of this community. The neighbourhood is very focused on creating events for its residents such as yoga classes, dance lessons and dances, Stampede pancake breakfasts and more.
more infoCrossFit Sunalta
Active residents love CrossFit Sunalta. It's a great place where people can take their fitness to the next level. The CrossFit community has made this a hub for activity in the city's southwest end.
more infoOne Way Foods & Deli
This corner shop is a favourite among locals. Not only do they make fresh and tasty food like cheeseburgers and tacos, but they have everything you need without having to run to the grocery store.
more infoHeritage Posters & Music
Heritage Music is a landmark and icon in Sunalta. The brightly decorated barn-style building houses thousands of records and various music paraphernalia. It's a great place to spend a Saturday afternoon hunting for new music.
more info