Athlone

Art deco styling gives this 1940 building timeless appeal that allows you to forgive the lack of balconies and inadequate parking. Converted to condos by Red Trout Developments in 2005, the Athlone houses 46 mostly-small suites, with one of them a teenie weenie 266 square feet, although most one-bedroom suites range from 560 to 650 square feet. A few are a bit larger, topping out with one suite that's 829 square feet.

There's no guarantee that owners will ever get one of the 20 on-site around-back parking stalls, as they're leased by the year on an annual sealed-bid basis. Come to think of it, this is perfect for those who don't own a car, as 20 of your neighbours will pay for their parking each year, and that money will hold down the condo fees. If you DO own a car, ask the management company what prices have been paid in past years, and make sure you bid more than the lowest successful buyer last time. If you're in, you'll know for a year where you park off the alley. If you're out, you've saved some money, and you'll use your residential parking permit to park on the street wherever you can find a spot.

This is a three-storey walk-up building with a half basement to provide service access only. It is frame construction with a brick cladding highlighted with concrete lintels over doorways and windows and terra cota highlights over a few. Decorative column-like projections called pilasters (I looked it up) and the glass-block wall around the entry door mimic a classical style, but the building lacks the traditional cornice. The Athlone was named after the British Earl of Athlone, who was Governor General of Canada in the 1940s. Interior renovations in 2005 and 06 dragged on for years, but saw both common-area and in-suite improvements, including laundry hookups, mostly for small all-in-one laundry machines.

Condo fees here include electricity, so you don't have to pay a separate bill for that each month. 'Nice location just around the corner from 17th Avenue SW ("The Red Mile"), and 4th Street ("The People Street"), and a short walk to the Elbow River and Lindsay Park. Exterior windows and doors here are common property for maintenance and eventual replacement. I have the Condo Plan on file.