Mount Royal Courts

A spacious 11-stall concrete common-property parkade lays the foundation for this three-storey frame walk-up building that dates from 1982 and was condo converted in 1995. Parking stalls are extra long, so there's room for three or even four-feet-deep storage lockers in front of cars. There are only four suites per floor and three on the main, so every suite has a corner location. In fact, because the building narrows in the middle where the stairs and central hall is, every suite has a window in three directions, which is unusual. All suites were upgraded with white kitchens in '95, and these are still in good condition at the time of writing, 2007. Many owners have added laundry machines to their suites, although none that I know of have dryer venting to the outside; 'no big deal in Calgary's dry climate. A small coin laundry room is available off the lobby.

Ten suites here measure the same 760 sq. ft. in two-bedroom one-bathroom layouts. One main-floor at-the-front suite measures 817 sq. ft., and it enjoys access to the large concrete deck atop the parkade entry, so they could spread out with some patio furniture. The suite behind it also has a 500-square-foot brick-paved patio carved out of the slope around back. All other suites have balconies of 62 sq. ft. Exterior doors and windows are common property for maintenance and future replacement.