CREBNow Sept 2, 2016

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GOING SOLAR

Beltline Feature

Making modern-day case for alternative tech

Walkability, reduced reliance on cars signal signs of the future

DIGITAL DOWNLOW A6

Clair J. Cote Jr.

1974 CREB® President

A5

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FREE sept 2 to sept 8 2016 issue 06-34

real estate news from industry experts

editorial 403-781-1324 advertising 403-263-4940 crebnow@creb.ca

WHEN THE LEVEE BREAKS

PHOTO BY CARL PATZEL/FOR CREB®NOW

Opponents decry Rocky View County as CAVE men: ‘Citizens Against Virtually Everything’ CARL PATZEL for creb®now

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far-reaching increase in off-site transportation levy could be a road to nowhere for business, according to a collection of Rocky View County developers and land owners. Used to fund improvements in the transportation network, generally in subdivisions and new developments, County engineering services have offered a preliminary proposal of a 440 per cent increase in off-site levy over the next four years. Prompted by a Rocky View council’s

request, the proposal put up an immediate road block for members of Rocky View 2020. “When you look at a 500 per cent proposed increase over five years, you may as well put up a sign that says, ‘We have just become a non-businessfriendly environment,’” said 2020 executive director Bruce McAllister. “We have a province that is starving right now for growth, an economy that needs to be spurred along, and we have an administration that is proposing stifling growth and job creation.” The projected figure came about by reducing an assumed development area by approximately 65 per

MLS® NEW LISTINGS* JUL ‘14 – JUL ‘16

1,491

JUL14 AUG14 SEP14 OCT14 NOV14 DEC14 JAN15 FEB15 MAR15 APR15 MAY15 JUN15 JUL15 AUG15 SEP15 OCT15 NOV15 DEC15 JAN16 FEB16 MAR16 APR16 MAY16 JUN16 JUL16

1,381

2,093

2,182

3,219 3,147 3,259 2,919

3,288 2,950 3,136 3,064 3,161 3,122 2,733 3,081 2,678

2,741 2,906 3,227 3,217 3,319 3,078 2,683

3,817

CITY OF CALGARY

cent, or 470,000 acres. Less taxable land drove up the cost per acre of road improvements, pushing the levy from $4,592 per acre to $24,543 per acre by 2019, increasing 25 per cent each year. Those numbers are comparable to the City of Calgary transportation levy, said Rocky View County engineering services manager Rick Wiljamaa. “I would challenge that statement that we would be closed for business,” he said. He added the original bylaw, which has gone through several revisions in the past, has always had a very large number for developable acres in the magnitude of 700,000 acres.

*All statistics based on monthly data compiled by CREB® via MLS® activity. Includes detached, attached and apartment.

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WE HAVE A PROVINCE THAT IS STARVING RIGHT NOW FOR GROWTH, AN ECONOMY THAT NEEDS TO BE SPURRED ALONG, AND WE HAVE AN ADMINISTRATION THAT IS PROPOSING STIFLING GROWTH AND JOB CREATION.” BRUCE MCALLISTER

ROCKY VIEW 2020 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IN CALGARY CONTRASTS WITH NATIONAL PICTURE

Rocky View 2020 executive director Bruce McAllister said a proposed increase to the county’s off-site transportation levy will garner negative attention throughout the province. The County received feedback during an open house in July and are encouraging public opinion through its website until Sept. 1. Another forum is in the works before a revised plan goes to council this fall. “Our council has always been very firm, at least to this point, that development needs to pay for the cost of development,” said Wiljamaa. “If that road network is required because (of ) development, than the development industry is expected to pay for it.”

ROCKY VIEW A3

CONTENTS NEWS BRIEFS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 WEEKLY FEED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A6 EVENT LISTING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A6

CREB® STAFF

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espite signs of a modest recovery in home resale activity, Calgary’s housing market continued to struggle amid plentiful supply of homes available for sale, declining prices and softening demographics fundamentals, according to RBC Economics’ recent Housing Trends and Affordability report.

MARKET A3

MAP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1 OPEN HOUSES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B11 MORTGAGE RATES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B11 @crebnow

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