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11-07-06, 03:04 PM
I can only speak for St. Catharines, Ontario. Small city of 135,000 people across the lake from Toronto.
1.bike friendly
+++
Not too many bike lanes on the roads, but I've never had a problem with motorists. They are very aware of cyclists. Also being a "GM town" there are a lot of cyclists.
2.weather friendly
++++
We have one of the warmest climates in Canada outside of BC. We get very little snow, very little rain compared to the rest of the country. We have the Niagara Escarpment that protects us from snow.
3.least volume of motor vehicle traffic
++
It can get busy with vehicle traffic, but like I said above, I've never had a problem with people here. Most get on the highway and head to Toronto anyways.
4.cultural activities
+++
Our main festival is the Grape & Wine festival. When your in the Niagara region, your in wine region. (So many nice trips out in the country along the wineries.)We do have many other festivals but there not as publicized as the Grape & Wine.
5.access to creative shopping and diverse places to eat out
+++
Well our downtown is non-exisitant now. We have the largest mall in the region with many big named stores. The west end of the city is being built up with box stores. Food wise. I don't eat out much nor do I pay attention to restaurants, however we have a great German restaurant a little ways away from where I live. It's called the Heidelberg.
6.culturally diverse populace
92.2% of the population is White. 1.5% Black, 1.2% Aboriginal, 1.1% Asian, 1% Mixed race. We have a strong English, Scottish, Irish, German and Italian population here.
7.diverse housing stock of moderate cost homes and/or rentals
+++
Prices vary from which end of the city your living in. Downtown is the cheapest. You can find a place for $90-120,000. North-end (where I live) I haven't seen a place for less than $160,000. South-end (where I grew up) depends on where abouts in the south-end. But average prices range from $170,000-300,000. West-end...Good luck finding a place. Western Hill is booming now with new stores being built and homes. Average price I'd guess would be about $200,000. The North-east end of the city (my personal favourite) you can find a place for $150,000-225,000.
Of course all these are just general prices that I notice when I read the paper/real estate section.
As for renting, I don't pay attention to what the costs are. The south-end is probably the most expensive though seeing as it's very close to Brock University.
The kicker here is property taxes. We have the highest in all of Ontario (probably Canada). Saw a chart comparing us to Toronto (and surrounding areas) and while those cities are at 2,3 &3.5%. Were at 5.5%
8.average to above average air quality
++
Not the greatest, but I still find it better than Hamilton, Toronto and most other Ontario cities. Because of how were situated it kinda flows past us.
1.bike friendly
+++
Not too many bike lanes on the roads, but I've never had a problem with motorists. They are very aware of cyclists. Also being a "GM town" there are a lot of cyclists.
2.weather friendly
++++
We have one of the warmest climates in Canada outside of BC. We get very little snow, very little rain compared to the rest of the country. We have the Niagara Escarpment that protects us from snow.
3.least volume of motor vehicle traffic
++
It can get busy with vehicle traffic, but like I said above, I've never had a problem with people here. Most get on the highway and head to Toronto anyways.
4.cultural activities
+++
Our main festival is the Grape & Wine festival. When your in the Niagara region, your in wine region. (So many nice trips out in the country along the wineries.)We do have many other festivals but there not as publicized as the Grape & Wine.
5.access to creative shopping and diverse places to eat out
+++
Well our downtown is non-exisitant now. We have the largest mall in the region with many big named stores. The west end of the city is being built up with box stores. Food wise. I don't eat out much nor do I pay attention to restaurants, however we have a great German restaurant a little ways away from where I live. It's called the Heidelberg.
6.culturally diverse populace
92.2% of the population is White. 1.5% Black, 1.2% Aboriginal, 1.1% Asian, 1% Mixed race. We have a strong English, Scottish, Irish, German and Italian population here.
7.diverse housing stock of moderate cost homes and/or rentals
+++
Prices vary from which end of the city your living in. Downtown is the cheapest. You can find a place for $90-120,000. North-end (where I live) I haven't seen a place for less than $160,000. South-end (where I grew up) depends on where abouts in the south-end. But average prices range from $170,000-300,000. West-end...Good luck finding a place. Western Hill is booming now with new stores being built and homes. Average price I'd guess would be about $200,000. The North-east end of the city (my personal favourite) you can find a place for $150,000-225,000.
Of course all these are just general prices that I notice when I read the paper/real estate section.
As for renting, I don't pay attention to what the costs are. The south-end is probably the most expensive though seeing as it's very close to Brock University.
The kicker here is property taxes. We have the highest in all of Ontario (probably Canada). Saw a chart comparing us to Toronto (and surrounding areas) and while those cities are at 2,3 &3.5%. Were at 5.5%
8.average to above average air quality
++
Not the greatest, but I still find it better than Hamilton, Toronto and most other Ontario cities. Because of how were situated it kinda flows past us.