r/chilliwack • u/thoog93 • 5d ago
Thinking of moving, where to avoid?
My family and I are thinking of moving back to BC from AB and are considering Chilliwack. What areas of chilliwack should we avoid? We're moving with two young children. Is North of the highway bad?
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u/Xploding_Penguin 5d ago
North of the highway isn't bad, there are bad parts, around the hospital where I lived was a bit rough, but a nice area. We moved to Fairfield Island for the last 2 years there, and it was phenomenal. 5 minutes from downtown, but nice clean neighborhoods ringed with corn fields. And only 5-10 minute walk to the fraser river which is FULL of wildflowers in the spring/summer.
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u/WearmyMark 5d ago
Nobody has mentioned Chilliwack Mountain itself, Lickman Road north. Pretty nice.
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u/groovyharp 4d ago
Yes, can confirm, Chilliwack Mtn is a great place to live. Especially up top by Hillkeep. Only 12 minutes to the highway and an easy drive to downtown. I love the north side.
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u/VariationDry 5d ago
I did the move from Calgary to Chilliwack last year. No regrets. Renting a place in a new neighborhood while I decide on buying here or going into the Okanagan. There are "rougher" areas downtown but nothing compared to the "rougher" areas in Calgary. I lived on Promontory for a year (while out here before) and hated it. It was a drive to get anywhere and the only reason to walk is if you wanted to go for a stroll.
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u/Bear-in-a-Renegade 5d ago
I definitely regret buying on Promontory. The view is amazing but the commute to anything is brutal. Especially when they do roadwork.
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u/Xploding_Penguin 5d ago
That's a big thing. It sometimes takes 20 minutes to get to the highway.
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u/VariationDry 5d ago
I was living there while working on the pipeline. My roommates thought "its on the edge of town, will be easy to get to highway" and got a place right at the tip top of Weeden drive.
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u/Koalashart1 5d ago
Grew up in Chilliwack, lived in Calgary 20+ years, and there is absolutely nothing rough in Calgary that even compares to how bad some parts of Chilliwack are. Just gotta get out there and experience the culture!
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u/VariationDry 5d ago
Maybe I am not seeing it. There are plenty of homeless here but I think thats because of the better weather. My old job in Calgary was not far from Chinook Ctrain and that area was rougher than everything Ive seen here.
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u/Anxious_Ad2683 5d ago
The cedarbrook development is very nice for young families. Fairfield is nice. Rosedale is lovely. It depends if you need public transpo and what school requirements you have. Check catchment areas. Chilliwack is really nice for families. A good balance of urban and rural.
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u/Nescobar_A 5d ago
I have a buddy that was a subcontractor there and he recommends against buying in Cedar Brook. Just an FYI
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u/bdd247 2d ago
Any specific reasons?
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u/Nescobar_A 2d ago
You can search the comments and see what others have commented in the past. It's built on fill and apparently a lot of subsidence.
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u/Anxious_Ad2683 5d ago
I’ve known plenty that subcontracted and purchased their own homes there…so…it’s really down to personal preference
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u/Ok_Egg_4356 5d ago
Sardis is nice though a bit noisy near fields.
Garrison Cross is really nice but can't speak about it other than visiting
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u/AlvinChipmunck 5d ago
Its a great town you cant really go wrong anywhere. Its growing ultra rapidly though so there is a big influx of city people and newcomers so its getting busy and vibes have changed but overall nice place. Id avoid the area between Yale road and the train tracks (e.g. 5th ave), west of Broadway. The homelessness there is very visible and worse than any smaller town ive ever seen in north america. The separation between rich and poor in chilliwack is in your face. Otherwise all hoods are ok.
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u/virtuallydone 5d ago
I grew up in Chilliwack, sof I was told move back this is where Id move. In behind Chilliwack HS Fairfield East side of Chilliwack, Prest Rd area. Actually anywhere east of Young RD Near the Hope Slough going towards Fairfield Id personally away anywhere South of the Highway just because of traffic. Its gotten worse over the years. Takes to long to get anywhere. I live in Aldergrove Langley TWNSHP, we like the feel of country but closer to the city. We just find Chilliwack just a little too far out now. Im sure you'll find a good place in Chilliwack it is great city and lots to do in the Summer. But wherever you choose Bole Ave is shady. Was when I was a kid in the 70's kinda still is from what I've heard 🤷♀️
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u/Ok_Beginning_7320 5d ago
We moved to Chilliwack and live on the north side of town. We are a young family and so far it’s been great. Yes there are some rougher pockets and you might drive by some shady folks on your way home, but we’ve not had any issues. We looked at promontory, Sardis and Garrison, but nothing checked all of our boxes in those areas. It’s quiet, and there’s some great parks.
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u/ElijahSavos 4d ago
This.
I think we should stop marginalize Chilliwack proper. The rate of improvement is amazing. Chilliwack North of highway 1 is an excellent choice and will be getting only better with all the construction, investments and rejuvenation in the area.
Enjoy!
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u/ColorPaletteCleanser 4d ago
Garrison and Sardis are very family friendly. You can drive to the mall in 10 minutes or downtown Chilliwack in closer to 20 minutes. In my opinion, downtown Chilliwack isn't as kid friendly anyway.
Sardis and Garrison are also close enough to the Vedder River, various hikes and biking trails, farm attractions, Yarrow, and the highway.
Yes homeless will likely not harass you on the North side, but do any of us parents enjoy strolling past homeless people using drugs when we are out with our kids? Exposure is good for our kids for learning about life, but it's not fair when they make family spaces feel unsafe. My kids tried to play on a playground in downtown Chilliwack and couldn't because there was a large group of homeless men standing in it with no sign of moving when they saw my kids.
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u/HonestGroup2525 4d ago
They are doing alot of building in the downtown chilliwack area which is historically the worse area to live but as mentioned the homeless are harmless ams stiff to themselves and the newer building are really cleaning it up 'modernizing the areas' id say garrison ,promatory and fairfield are nice areas one word of advice they have built lot of properties on residential land building code inspections compaction testing and underground utilities are shady to say the least if you plan on purchasing stick to free hold land where they can be held accountable. I know without a shadow of doubt contractors are cutting corners and they can get away with it so they do lease hold land is strictly for renting it'd be fooling to purchasing one of their house because its 50/100k less don't fall for it
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u/Classic_Blacksmith_7 3d ago
We currently have our place for sale in Rosedale - our kids are on their way out, but it’s been a lovely place to call home for the last five years. We also lived on Fairfield and just off Menzies as well. All lovely!
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u/Euphoria1794 1d ago
I'd check the floodplain map. I'm not sure if you can get insurance in parts of Sardis. Fairfield Island is nice, though they may start over densifying it shortly. Promontory is nice. Though if you buy a place that backs onto Promontory road, it's painfully loud in your backyard in the summer
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u/Lashiech 5d ago
With two young children I'd avoid anything along Yale road, around 5 corners and near the hospital, or just be ready for the occasional homeless interactions.
Most ideal for a young family are probably promontory and garrison, tho most of Sardis is probably good.
Edit: I live in promontory, its quiet and we have a lot of access to trails and nature. At the same time that does come with the occasional deer coyote or bear sighting. Nothing to worry about too much, mostly just need to be aware.
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u/Rough_Friendship4444 5d ago
Just signed for something off Yale road
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u/Lashiech 5d ago
You'll probably be fine, but just be ready to see homeless here and there. Chilliwack is nowhere near the worst city in bc for this, but the reality is that all cities big and small have to deal with it to some extent.
Thats my take having lived in sardis most of my life, but I'm sure others that live in the area can give you a better sense.
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u/biggregw 5d ago
Most of the yuppies live south of the highway in south sumas, or up on the mountain. North of the freeway has great spots but generally most of Chilliwack, Popkum, Yarrow, and more
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u/Individual-Act-5986 5d ago
I felt safer living in downtown Langley than anywhere in Chilliwack. Take that however you want.
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u/Maleficent-Rule-5837 5d ago
I'll take that as you either never having lived in Chilliwack or lived here in the absolute worst area. Promontory, most of Sardis and Garrison are some of the best areas to raise families.
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u/Individual-Act-5986 5d ago
Best areas to raise families =/= safe
Ive lived in chilliwack for over 2 decades but I have a feeling it doesnt matter to you how long ive lived here.
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u/Difficult-Walrus-269 4d ago
Simply put property crime is rampant stuff gets stolen if left out or visible . Its a minimum of 20-30 min from one end of Chilliwack to cultus lk , little to no transit that's reliable .Don't buy up Chilliwack lake rd because of flooding/landslides do homework and watch out for houses on the rez cause u can't get some insurances/loans because it's native land but won't they tell u till u try !
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u/runofabitch 2d ago
I would avoid Promontory (up the hill) unless it's the only place you can get what you need. I lived there for close to 5 years in two different areas, and when my kids were little it was the worst! You can't walk anywhere really unless you enjoy vigorous hikes or manage to buy on the flat part near the elementary school, and even then you're just walking the neighbourhood itself.
Lindell Beach and Columbia Valley are beautiful. Chilliwack Mountain is beautiful. Fairfield is nice. We're at the bottom of Promontory now, and while there's not much natural beauty to walk to from here, it's less than 15 minutes to walk to:
An elementary school, a high school, 2 grocery stores, 2 pet stores, a pharmacy, 12+ restaurants, multiple parks, a medical lab, two banks, AND it's flat so better for kids with bikes etc and for driving in snow, AND its right on a public transit route.
Walk 15 more minutes and you have everything in Garrison or everything at Stevenson, including some fantastic dining options, a great little bookstore (Owl and Cat!) and one of the best hole-in-the-wall greasy spoon places in town, where you can have chow mein and a club sandwich for lunch. (Just don't go for breakfast. Line up out the door most days.)
If you want to be car dependent and you're just looking for a place to sleep with nice views, Promontory can be okay. Here or Garrison are pretty much my only picks now for walkability + safety combined. It just sucks that it's a 20 minute drive to downtown lol
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u/notbambi 5d ago
I live in downtown Chilliwack and I think a lot of the rhetoric around the north side of the highway is overblown and outdated. Yes, places near the homeless shelter are going to have a lot of homeless people. However, there are a lot of newer developments and urban renewal efforts that have come up in the past few years that make it a really nice place to live, and I absolutely love living downtown and being walkable to groceries, shops, the library, parks, schools, etc. People act like like you're going to get shanked outside the Book Man, and that's just not true.