MULCH TALK
MOVING SKYWARD
Blanketing your plants for winter
Demand driving downtown design
DONNA BALZER A8
GROWING UP A11
Cochrane Feature A9
FREE oct 10 to oct 16 2014 issue 04-40 editorial 403-781-1324 advertising 403-263-4940 crebnow@creb.ca
real estate news from industry experts
AGING DEBATE
Calgary’s secondary suite saga continues, focus turns to aging in place
KELSEY HIPKIN, Reporter/Photographer
ALSO SEE: MUNICIPAL A6
$567,653 $545,238
$553,451
$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
$562,382
MLS® AVERAGE PRICE* SEP ‘12 – SEP ‘14
SEP12 OCT12 NOV12 DEC12 JAN13 FEB13 MAR13 APR13 MAY13 JUN13 JUL13 AUG13 SEP13 OCT13 NOV13 DEC13 JAN14 FEB14 MAR14 APR14 MAY14 JUN14 JUL14 AUG14 SEP14
$468,360
$492,777
ANDRE CHABOT
WARD 10 COUNCILLOR
$550,312
SINGLE FAMILY
‘‘
MY BIGGEST DESIRE IN SECONDARY SUITES APPLICATIONS IS PUBLIC CONSULTATION.”
$554,652
I
t just might be the suite that broke the camel’s back. City council debated rezoning one secondary suite for more than three hours on Oct. 6, leaving many since then to further question the process surrounding the issue. Several residents from the northwest community of North Haven appeared before council to speak against an application to rezone property to include a secondary suite. Included in those speaking against was Sonya Staveley who lives between Nesbitt and Nolan roads, an area zoned RC-1, not allowing secondary suites. She said it’s the process of fil-
ing for secondary suites that needs to change. “[It’s a] total waste of money, time and effort if everybody has to go through this process.” Staveley suggested before filing, potential secondary suites should get the go ahead from fellow neighbours. If the consensus is “no”, filing isn’t necessary but if neighbours are supportive, then the request should go to council. The debate over the New Haven condo comes just weeks after councillors Peter Demong (Ward 14) and Shane Keating (Ward 12) argued suites in areas not zoned for their use be allowed if a majority of neighbours supported them. That idea of public consultation was touched on again Oct. 6, this time
$547,871
reporter/photographer
$556,402
KELSEY HIPKIN
*All statistics based on monthly data compiled by CREB® via MLS® activity.
JOHN MELE & JOHN MALICK
403-284-6369
by Ward 10 Coun. Andre Chabot. “My biggest desire in secondary suites applications is public consultation,” he said. “I keep saying time and again, talk to your neighbours. If you can get them on-side, who am I to oppose it? In this instance, the neighbours did speak up. “Whether it’s a single-family residential or a multi-storey condo, the landowner has as much invested emotionally, if not financially, into their own individual property as someone who owns a skyrise downtown. I think they have as much right as a large application to defend their decision and voice their concerns about how their community develops.” The debate also shed some light on how secondary suites might affect Calgary’s increasingly senior popu-
REDESIGN EYED FOR MACLEOD TRAIL
A large contingent of New Haven residents were on hand to oppose rezoning for a secondary suite at Calgary City Council Oct. 6. lation’s ability to access affordable housing. A report released this year by the City, titled Shifting Horizons: Housing needs changing as Calgary’s population ages, that found, starting in 2011, the first wave of Calgary’s 268,000 baby boomers - born 1945-1965 - will turn 65 adding to the 98,000 seniors who already call the city home.
SECONDARY SUITES A3
CONTENTS NEWS BRIEFS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 MUNICIPAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A6 Chamber supports suites
EVENT LISTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A6 WEEKLY FEED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A6
CREB® STAFF
NOLAN MATTHIAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A10
O
MORTGAGE RATES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A10
ne of Calgary’s least pedestrianfriendly strips could be in for a major makeover. As part of a proposed $100-million redevelopment plan, a lengthy section of MacLeod Trail in south Calgary could see widened sidewalks, a separated cycle track and pedestrianfriendly green boulevards.
MUNICIPAL A3
Down payments
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