Home prices ease A6
SHOVEL SAVVY
SLOW FOOD
How to be winter ready
Bringing light to Terra Madre Day
HOW TO A8
DONNA BALZER A11
FREE dec 5 to dec 11 2014 issue 04-48
real estate news from industry experts
editorial 403-781-1324 advertising 403-263-4940 crebnow@creb.ca
SANDSTONE CITY
A series looking at the people, architecture and culture of Calgary’s sandstone glory days.
ON THE AVENUE Stephen Avenue fire almost 130 years ago sparks Calgary’s sandstone era
including Glenbow Quarry, Elbow River Quarry and Bow Bank Quarry. Combined, they contributed to the construction of now iconic buildings that still dot the local landscape, such as City Hall, Cathedral Church of the Redeemer and the Imperial Bank Building on Stephen Avenue. “As Calgary was rebuilt, locally quarried Paskapoo sandstone figured in most substantial construction over the next quarter century, giving Calgary a distinct appearance from other prairie cities,” said Calgary’s former Historian Laureate Harry Sanders. “Sandstone had the dual advantage of being fire resistant.” Saunders said development has seen the loss of sandstone landmarks such as McDougall Block, demolished to build the Glenbow Museum, and Alexander Corner, now the Hudson’s Bay Company, but the avenue still has the “greatest concentration of remaining sandstone buildings, and they are a city treasure.” Those Stephen Avenue sentiments were echoed by Calgary Downtown Association executive director Maggie Schofield. “It really is the foundation for Calgary, so between here and Fort Calgary is really where everything took off in the heart of the city. It’s really where our roots are,” she said of the area named for George Stephen, first president of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR), and declared a National Historic District in 2002.
KELSEY HIPKIN
reporter/photographer
A
s the Calgary Stampeders celebrated their Grey Cup win Dec. 2, little did they know they were revelling on the site of a once-tragic fire. On Nov. 7, 1886, flames ravaged downtown Calgary, destroying about 18 buildings that ranged from hotels and barns to saloons. While no one was killed, losses added up to more than $100,000 – an astronomical sum for the times. The cause of the blaze was never found, but it’s said at the time of the fire, then mayor George King told the crowd, “If you find anybody setting fire to any building … I hand him over to you and you may deal with him as you like.” That fire, and the need to prevent future occurrences of the same devastation, would spark Calgary’s transformation from a once wooden western town to Sandstone City. In the years following 1886, 15 sandstone quarries would pop up in the Calgary area,
THIS WEEK: STEPHEN AVE. NEXT WEEK: CITY HALL DEC. 19: BOWNESS
SANDSTONE CITY A3
$560,117
$555,251
$567,653 $545,238
$553,451
$562,382
$554,652
$547,871
$520,686
$527,764
$516,447
$516,244
$512,359
$517,234
$524,900
$527,162
$521,887
$510,834
$518,392
$518,452 $496,579
$496,636
$488,311
$556,402
MLS® AVERAGE PRICE* NOV ‘12 – NOV ‘14
$550,312
SINGLE FAMILY
CODY STUART, Managing Editor
FIRST READING PASSES FOR CONDO ACT CREB® STAFF
NOV12 DEC12 JAN13 FEB13 MAR13 APR13 MAY13 JUN13 JUL13 AUG13 SEP13 OCT13 NOV13 DEC13 JAN14 FEB14 MAR14 APR14 MAY14 JUN14 JUL14 AUG14 SEP14 OCT14 NOV14
I
*All statistics based on monthly data compiled by CREB® via MLS® activity.
mproved dispute resolution, financial disclosure and governance are at the heart of proposed changes to the Condominium Property Act, which has passed first reading in the Alberta legislature.
CONDO ACT A3
CONTENTS NEWS BRIEFS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 MLS® STATISTICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A5 November 2014
EVENT LISTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A6 WEEKLY FEED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A6 MARKET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A9 RBC Affordability Report
MORTGAGE RATES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A10 MAP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1 OPEN HOUSES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B15 @crebnow
/crebnow
Named Ware House by the builder, because of the view of John Ware Ridge
crebnow.com
$759,000
This country style home is situated on 5 acres close to Millarville and only 20 min. away from Calgary on paved roads. A hay shelter and shed, round pen, & fenced paddock provide a good horse set-up. The oversize heated garage will fit a truck, & a trailer/ RV pad off the circular drive adds convenient storage with easy access. The home takes full advantage of the view & the light with large windows and 3 covered verandahs. The beautiful kitchen, open to the dining area, features lots of natural light, lots of cupboard and counter space, granite countertops, and a central island with a gas cooktop. A cosy wood stove with a rock surround is the focus of the great room. The mstr bedroom offers a large walk-in closet and 5 pc en suite opening to a private verandah that has been wired for a hot tub. The loft at the top of the stairs offers even more versatility. A terrific house for the executive couple, with or without horses. MLS®C3644997
Lee Edwards 403-540-0540
CANYON CREEK
lee@braggcreekrealestate.com