J'adore Altadore
The original Altadore is worth protecting.
Altadore has all the ingredients that make an inner-city neighbourhood valuable: big lots, mature trees, trails and off-leash parks, downtown views, Marda Loop and a location close to almost everything.
It also has a lot of construction.
Drive through the neighbourhood and you will see cranes, construction bins, portable toilets, trucks, parked cars and a steady procession of tall and skinny three-storey duplexes. Altadore used to have a lot of mid-century modern homes with long driveways and big yards with mature landscaping that have been replaced with oversized duplexes, and small yards that access the garage in the alley. The result is congested parking in front of the duplexes, while adding in construction and that combination feels busy and overwhelming for an area that used to feel quiet and luxurious.
Double Trouble
The redevelopment economics are easy to understand. Take an older house on a valuable inner-city lot, replace it with a large semi-detached building and suddenly there are two homes where there used to be one.
Multiply that across an entire neighbourhood and the streetscape dramatically changes, and in our opinion, not always for the better.
Altadore has some beautiful older homes, huge mature trees and streets where the original proportions still work beautifully. Those are the properties we hope people start saving.
Rezoning 2026
Hopefully with the Calgary being returned to the previous zoning in August 2026, there will be a moratorium on further Altadore duplex construction. It would be very nice to see the next chapter of Altadore development be more thoughtful when it comes to the limited street parking. At some point, the character that remains in Altadore is worth protecting.
For us, the most interesting Altadore property might be a restored 1950s house with the enormous backyard, the mature trees and the original character that someone has taken the time to restore properly. A restored home with a massive yard is the epitome of luxury, especially when it is located close to a green space.
Restore Character Homes
It makes economic sense not to overbuild, because the people who did buy a new duplex in the last 5 years, they will see their investment diluted if developers keep building multiplexes. It is good for everyone if original character homes are restored, it will add balance and maintain a better quality of life to the neighbourhood. As realtors it makes more sense to champion more houses to sell, but when it starts to drastically devalue an area, it is time to reevaluate.
J’adore Altadore
Altadore is in demand. Detached homes in Altadore are averaging $1,767,500 with an average Days on Market at 37. An average of 13% of detached listings go over list price and the average premium is $77,000.
There was double the turnover of duplexes in the area because there are many on the market at any given time. A smarter investment for Altadore would be to live and restore an older home on a larger lot because these homes and lots are quickly becoming scarce. Email us today and get started on finding the best lifestyle and investment in a popular area.
Altadore Real Estate Specialist: This guide is maintained by Albertine Huizing, a licensed REALTOR® with Magnolia Group at First Place Realty. Specializing in historic inner-city Calgary character homes and preserving Calgary's vibrant communities. Providing a personalized experience is my priority, all client consultations and private home viewings are arranged exclusively by appointment. Please call or text +1 403-471-7587 to connect directly. Registered brokerage office address: 1822 10 Ave SW #305, Calgary, AB T3C 0J8.
