LiShelle Trembath WRECK CITY Making the most of small spaces
Transforming homes slated for demolition
LiShelle Trembath A6
community A8
Chestermere/Langdon feature a10 – A12
FREE apr 19 to apr 25 2013 issue 03-15
real estate news from industry experts
Walk
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Calgary’s most walkable neighbourhoods also growing in value
This Way
KELSEY HIPKIN
REPORTER/PHOTOGRAPHER
E
arth Day, this coming Monday, gives people a chance to reflect on reducing their ecological footprints through things like energy reduction and cutting on carbon emissions by riding transit or walking instead of driving. The inclination to live in a community where everything is easily accessed using your own two feet is reflected by an increase in inner city residential prices, according to the Real Estate Investment Network. “The city of Calgary has seen innercity neighbourhood real estate prices skyrocket in recent years as people become fed up with long commute times from outer suburbs,” REIN research analyst Allyssa Epp told the Calgary Herald. “Between 2000 and 2012, 10 communities that saw the largest spikes in average home prices were in the city’s core and surrounding neighbourhoods.” The inner city edge comes at a time when the rest of the city is taking a bit of beating in terms of walkability. Calgary was dubbed the least walkable of Canada’s 10 largest cities in January by the U.S.-based company Walk Score. “Sadly, through many years of building, we didn’t build walkable communities,” said Ward 7 Alderman Druh Farrell. She noted there are communities within the city that don’t have sidewalks on both sides of the street or trees lining the street. “Those communities will always struggle to be walkable. But in the last year — it took decades to get this done — in the last year, we brought in residential street standards that require sidewalks on both sides of the streets and tree-lined sidewalks on both sides of the streets.” Adopted in November 2012, the City’s Residential Street Design Policy balances the need for improved streetscapes with efficient use of land in new residential communities.
Walkability A3
cody stuart, Managing Editor
SINGLE FAMILY
4024 MAR11 4395 APR11 4616 MAY11 4744 JUN11 4630 JUL11 4573 AUG11 4753 SEP11 4486 OCT11 3761 NOV11 2761 DEC11 2980 JAN12 3093 FEB12 3367 MAR12 3501 APR12 3842 MAY12 3817 JUN12 3646 JUL12 3535 AUG12 3486 SEP12 3114 OCT12 2586 NOV12 DEC12 1859 JAN13 2075 2048 FEB13 2727 MAR13
MLS® MONTH END INVENTORY* MAR ‘11 – MAR ‘13
*All statistics based on monthly data compiled by CREB® via MLS® activity.
Chaparral estates
the hamptons
MLS®C3562665
MLS®C3555358
$700,000
$639,900
Immaculate fully developed luxury home with 9’ ceilings, triple garage and situated on a park like lot with $50,000 in landscaping! A truly fabulous home. 60 Chapala Heath SE
Well maintained walk-out-bungalow, open concept floor plan, excellent location backing onto parks, golf, schools, shopping and all other amenities. 147 Hamptons Heath NW.
2012 SAM Award contents winners news briefs announced INDUSTRY
CREB® STAFF
L
ocal builder Calbridge Homes was awarded the Grand SAM as Builder of the Year at this year’s SAM Awards. Presented at a gala held at the Telus Convention Centre, this year’s awards also honoured Douglas Homes Ltd. as Builder of Merit, Streetside Development Corp. as Multi-Family Builder of the Year; Albi Renova Ltd. as Renovator of the Year and Lux Windows and Glass Ltd. as Partner of the Year.
INDUSTRY A3
A3 A4
A good year to buy or sell?
mortgage rates
A8
POP THE QUESTION
A9
Patricia Cameron
map
B1
open houses
B23
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