Calgary Condo Living August 2013 by Source Media Group

CONTENTS august 2013 | voLume 9 issue 164

10 FOCuS On 10 Treasure box Accessories need a home, too

COVER FEATuRE 12 PIXEL town last chance to grab PIXel’s smart, sexy townhomes COnDO pROFILES 17 Sage Hill sensation Sage.Stone brings the promise of smart, affordable townhomes to north Calgary 22 Going strong in Copperfield Chalet nO 4 enters final phase, as strong sales continue

SHOppInG 52 On top of it Countertops make a fabulous design statement On TREnD 58 A little goes a long way Flex rooms open up world of design possibilities

28 Spanning generations Bridgeland Crossings appeals to the young and the young at heart

FEATuRE 78 Tales from the condo zone 50 shades of condominium

COMMunITY pROFILE 34 Northern exposure SkyView Ranch brings new lifestyle options to new north

COLuMnS 63 Condoscapes by Richard White 65 Ask Maria by Maria Bartolotti 67 Hope at Large by Marty Hope 69 Around Town by Pepper Rodriguez

nEWS 46 The aftermath How inner-city condos held up during the 2013 ﬂood

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ITEMS 8 Editor’s Message 70 Maps 76 Ad Index

iNcLuded iN this issue oF coNdo LiviNg

Special Feature In support of Wellspring Calgary and the Wellspring triWELLathon.

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CONDO LIVING |

EDITOR’S MESSAGE |

PUBLISHER

Source Media Group info@sourcemediagroup.ca

Under the bridge “Resilience,” it’s hard to fathom the true meaning of the word without experiencing difficulty. Going through misery and suffering, and coming out the other side stronger, wiser, better. In the wake of the devastating floods of June, Calgary is showing it knows the full meaning and measure of the word. Coming from the Philippines, I’m no stranger to flooding; I’ve waded through the brackish floodwaters that frequently submerge Manila’s streets during the monsoon. But, unlike Manila, Calgary’s so far above sea level that I never thought that this could happen here. It came as a complete and heartbreaking shock to me to see my adopted hometown in such similar dire straits. Still, it’s the human sense of community that stayed with me in the aftermath — the generous outpouring of wholehearted support, thousands of volunteers eagerly coming together to help those most in need and expecting nothing in return. To all those first-responders, volunteers and anyone who assisted in any way in Calgary’s recovery, thank you. Speaking of resilience, it seems the new condo developments in the most affected parts of the inner-city have withstood the watery onslaught with aplomb. By and large, they are all okay, as you can read in the rundown Aaliya Essa and I have compiled inside. PIXEL by Battistella, our cover feature this issue, is proving resilient, too, and they only have a few townhomes left, as its location in Kensington remains to be a big draw. We also have Bridgeland Crossings, which brings a new hip vibe to this historic inner-city neighbourhood. Chalet No 4 is also down to its final few units in Copperfield, even as Sabal Homes gears up for Chalet No 5. Greenview’s Sage.Stone in Sage Hill is a hit with its single-level and two-level townhomes that has been particularly popular with first-time home buyers, active Next month: seniors and empty-nesters. We also have an update on how Small household SkyView Ranch is changing lifestyle perceptions in the appliances get New North. the spotlight. The floods made us appreciate the true meaning of resilience. I am confident that Calgary will walk away from this test better and stronger, and I, for one, can’t wait to write that next feature about how well the city and its housing market has recovered. You can bet that Condo Living will be there when that happens.

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Jim Zang jim.zang@sourcemediagroup.ca Editor

Pepper Rodriguez pepper.rodriguez@sourcemediagroup.ca ART director

Jean Faye Rodriguez jean.rodriguez@sourcemediagroup.ca graphic designers

Lama Azhari lama.azhari@sourcemediagroup.ca Dave Macaulay dave.macaulay@sourcemediagroup.ca Megan Sereda megan.sereda@sourcemediagroup.ca PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR

Colleen Leier colleen.leier@sourcemediagroup.ca EDITORIAL

Maria Bartolotti, Karen Rudolph Durrie, Aaliya Essa, Marty Hope, Kathy McCormick, Jessica Patterson, Richard White, Portia Yip, Jim Zang Photography

Don Molneaux, Pepper Rodriguez ADVERTISING SALES

Al Donegan al.donegan@sourcemediagroup.ca accounting

Donna Roberts accounting@sourcemediagroup.ca DISTRIBUTED BY

Gallant Distribution Services, Media Classified, Source Media Group Issue 164 • ISSN 1918-4409 Copyright 2013 by Source Media Group Corp. Material cannot be reprinted in whole or in part without the expressed written permission of the publishers. Source Media Group agrees to advertise on behalf of the advertiser without responsibility for claims or misinformation made by the advertiser and acts only as an advertising medium. Source Media Group reserves the right to refuse any advertising at its sole discretion. Condo Living® is published 12 times per annum with copies available for distribution at more than 1,500 locations every month.

Pepper Rodriguez

Editor pepper.rodriguez@sourcemediagroup.ca

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Condo Living® accepts editorial submissions by electronic mail only. Please forward any submissions including all personal information to: cleditor@sourcemediagroup.ca. Unsolicited submissions will not be returned. Advertising information available only by request. Condo Living® is a registered Trademark the property of Source Media Group Corp. Reg. USPTO 3,584,683 & 3,584,583. Contact: Source Media Group Corp., 207, 5809 Macleod Trail S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2H 0J9; Tel 403.532.3101 Toll free 1.888.932.3101; www.sourcemediagroup.ca

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FOCuS On | By Aaliya Essa

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| FOCuS On

TREASuRE BOX Accessories need a home, too

KEEP YoUR KEEPSAKES in a special place, where your favourite rings, necklaces, bangles are organized and easy to find. Jewelry boxes and stands are perfect for adding decor to a room and giving your space your own special touch. Stylish and functional, they come in a variety of shapes and textures, some may as a valuable an heirloom as their contents.â&#x20AC;&#x201A;cL 1] Music box antique rose, $40 at personally Yours. 2] Red peacock jewelry Box, $99.95 at pier1. 3] novelty box, $15 at Bombay Company. 4] peacock jewelry stand, $38 at pier1. 5] Feather embroidered, $25 at Bombay Company. 6] Red box, $29.95 at Haskayne Mercantile Block at Heritage park. 7] Earth bangle box, $21 at Bombay Company. 8] Bronze scroll jewelry stand, $25 at pier1. 9] Filigree crystal heart box, $30 at personally Yours.

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CONDO LIVING |

| ADVERTISInG COVER FEATuRE |

PIXEL TOWN Last chance to grab PIXEL’s smart, sexy townhomes

pportunity comes once in a lifetime, and the opportunity to own one of the last few townhomes in Battistella Development’s extraordinary PIXEL condo is fast running out, as demand for the handful left remains strong. There are only five of the 17 street-level townhome units left in PIXEL, as buyers just fall in love with the convenience, design, finish and — above all — the location of this concrete mid-rise condominium at the heart of Kensington.

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“It has everything one can love in a townhome,” says Battistella’s Alex Klassen. “It’s set in a very trendy part of town with tons of unique stores, restaurants, cafés and amenities, all within two or three square blocks. It has a very accessible street-front access that makes it more convenient when having people over and you don’t have to wait for the elevator to get to your home, it’s a very private space. They’re what I like to call your own ‘private oasis,’ which is pretty rare in a multi-family development.” The remaining townhomes start from 800 square-feet, all are two storeys with two bedrooms. “They offer a greater sense of privacy, it’s almost like living in a single-family home, and the finishing is luxurious yet comfortable and very easy to keep clean and uncluttered.” Best of all is the price. Klassen says there’s nowhere else in the inner-city where you can find a concrete-built townhome for under $500,000. “PIXEL’s large 9A Street townhomes are approximately $475 per square-foot, which you can’t find anywhere else in an inner-city townhome where the average is at least $525 per square-foot.” s o u r c e m e d i a g r o u p : c e L e B r at i N g i t s 10 t h Y e a r

| ADVERTISInG COVER FEATuRE |

All this has attracted a good mix of baby-boomers and young, single professionals. “Empty-nesters love it for the maintenance-free lifestyle and the fact that they still retain the spaciousness and luxury they’re accustomed to, while professional singles or couples are attracted by the trendy space that’s just across the bridge from the downtown. There’s a lot of benefits in utilizing this as an investment property, as well.” Each townhome is designed with incredible flexibility, as the open concept main floor makes for a terrifically uncluttered space great for entertaining, made even more attractive by the elegant hardwood flooring and quartz countertops in the stylishly multi-functional kitchen. The sophistication of the townhomes extends to the finer details you’ll notice in the finishes that include imported high-gloss cabinetry, nine-foot ceilings and three professionally-designed interior themes to choose from by TriForm Design. Each townhome is designed to balance versatility with a sense of comfort and privacy. The luxurious master bedroom fits a king-size bed and has floor-to-ceiling windows with

great views. The master ensuite bathroom with separate soaker tub and glass shower enclosure is accessed through the large walk-through closet. The laundry area is considerately located within this space. Features unique to PIXEL’s townhomes include a moveable dining island in the kitchen, a gas stove and a stainless steel French-door fridge. “It is designed to fit as many different lifestyles as possible,” says Klassen. PIXEL firmly puts Battistella Development’s indelible mark in this popular part of town that has seen a number of condo projects launched in the last few years. It has Battistella’s signature floor-to-ceiling windows and iconic contemporary design, and is inspired by the architecture of the Olympic Village condo development along Vancouver’s waterfront. “It’s a distinctive design that has not been seen in Calgary,” Klassen says.

“Empty-nesters love it for the maintenance-free lifestyle… while professional singles or couples are attracted by the trendy space…”

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| ADVERTISInG COVER FEATuRE |

FA S T FA C T S Community:

Hillhurst/Sunnyside

Project:

PIXEL by Battistella

Developer:

Battistella Developments

Style:

Apartment-style condos and townhomes

Size:

Townhomes range from 800 to 1,050 sq. ft.

Price:

Townhomes start at $425,000 including GST

Sales Centres: 1120 Kensington Road N.W. Phone:

403.290.1664

Hours:

By appointment

Website:

www.PIXELcondos.ca

Located in the heart of Kensington’s vibrant urban village-within-atown vibe, PIXEL is rising at the corner of 9A Street and 2nd Avenue N.W., and is surrounded by quaint shops and restaurants. “Our location is unique in the sense that the townhomes face the residential side of Kensington. A quiet, tree-lined ambience heightens the feeling that residents are in a single-family environment, yet you’re close to where all the action is,” Klassen says. “I, myself, have lived along these streets for so long. It’s a safe and quiet neighbourhood where I can take the dog out for walks even late at night and see my neighbours out and about.” The 100-unit PIXEL is approximately 95 per cent sold, with first possessions still on schedule for fall 2013, as PIXEL has remained largely unaffected by the recent flooding in the area. “We are very fortunate to be located outside the flood plain on 9A Street N.W.,” says Battistella co-owner and construction director, Simon Battistella. “We take additional precautions in our projects by building a tanked foundation or raft slab which means our parkades do not need to pump ground water everyday 24/7 to ensure they stay dry. Constantly pumping a foundation is an industry practice but when the power goes out serious problems can arise.” PIXEL’s townhomes are 800 to 1,050 square-feet in size and are priced from $425,000, including GST. One of the main advantages of the townhomes is that they offer a happy medium. “It provides all the privacy you would want if you were living in a house, with all the conveniences you would crave living in a condo,” says Klassen. “The value you’re getting, for the product you’re getting is incredible.” ■

“The value you’re getting, for the product you’re getting is incredible.”

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By portia Yip | COnDO pROFILE

sAGe HILL seNsAtION Sage.Stone brings the promise of smart, aﬀordable townhomes to north Calgary

‘S

age advice’ means getting good counsel, and Sage.Stone is the best advice anyone can give for townhome buyers in northwest Calgary, as it offers smart, stylish and affordable living with a unique prairie perspective. Located along the gentle slopes of Sage Hill, in the heart of Calgary’s booming northwest, Sage.Stone by Greenview Developments boasts a compelling design to suit a variety of lifestyles. Coupled with an unbeatable price point, it makes it a smart choice for first-time homebuyers, young families, empty nesters as well as active seniors. “We’ve sold 82 of the 88 townhomes we have in the first phase, and sales for Phase 2 are off to a good start,” Greenview President Brian Kernick tells Condo Living. “None of the competition in the area can come close to the prices we offer, as we have townhomes starting at $189,900 while most others in the area start from the $250,000s or $300,000s, or more.” Sage.Stone will be made up of 178 townhomes on over six hectares of land just off 144th Avenue, N.W. on offer are single-level townhomes and a more traditional two-storey model with either a garage or a basement. one-storey townhomes in Phase 2 start from $189,900, while two-storey models are from $226,900.

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CONDO LIVING |

condo profile |

“We’re also very flexible with selections and can accomodate a range of design choices to suit the buyer’s lifestyle.”

One-storey townhomes come as either main-floor-plus-basement units or as upper-floor townhomes. The two-storey townhomes are offered as either home-plus-garage or home-plus-basement. “We’re also very flexible with selections and can accommodate a range of design choices to suit the buyer’s lifestyle,” he says. “Buyers get to sit down with our interior designers to come up with a look that will allow them to have a unit that suits their individual styles and tastes,” Kernick adds. Kernick says Phase 2 will also see deluxe models of their single-level and two-storey townhomes, with bigger square-footages starting at 938 square-feet. All will have two bedrooms and two bathrooms (and some have the potential to develop a third bedroom in the basement), which greatly increases their value. “The one-storey townhomes are unique in that they offer single-level main floor living but with private entrances instead of a shared hallway like in most apartment-style condominiums,” Kernick says. “People really like the private entrances because they don’t have to walk through corridors to get to their home, and it feels more like their own private place.”

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Comfortable living is assured with tankless water heating systems and water-saving low-flush toilets as standards. Some units also come with in-floor heating, freeing up space for additional storage. Kitchens are designed to be the heart of each home, and there are various layouts that give each unit a character of its own incorporating stylish and functional spaces with nook options. European-inspired kitchen cabinetry and contemporary flooring gives homes a gleaming finish. The open concept layouts are aided by the big windows in every unit to fully realize the enormous functionality and style of each floor plan. Some units also additionally offer 9’ ceilings giving that nice added touch. Three show suites are open that give potential buyers a terrific idea of the kind of stylish comfort Sage.Stone has to offer. There’s a one-storey townhome main with basement, a one-storey townhome upper, and a two-storey townhome with basement. The show homes all back onto Sage Hill’s huge central park that adds to the feeling of suburban tranquility. The low condo fees — between $110 and $130 per month — are an added incentive. “Our condo fees cover exterior

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maintenance and landscaping, that’s it. Because we don’t have any of the common areas, like elevators and corridors, we can provide affordable yet maintenance free living.” The slated completion of the Shaganappi Trail and Sarcee Trail extensions will further improve accessibility of the development. “The area will be a centre of growth for years to come, and it will be very advantageous to get in on the ground floor of such growth,” Kernick adds. “There are already tons of shopping amenities in the neighbourhood, and there will be more in the near future.” Although this may be Greenview’s first multi-family development in Calgary, the award-winning company has over 20 years experience building in both Western Canada and Australia. Kernick says Greenview Developments has been involved in the development, construction and management of residential housing, manufactured housing communities, commercial office and hotels. Sage.Stone continues this building excellence and features a very eye-pleasing exterior highlighted by a mix of natural earth tones that attune it to the prairie landscape of Sage Hill. A mix of upgraded vinyl siding, Hardie Board® and cultured stone accents give it a more contemporary look. “There is a central park and lots of green space throughout the development,” Kernick says. “We’re landscaping around s o u r c e m e d i a g r o u p : CE L E B RATI N G i t s 1 0 t h Y EAR

the buildings and patios to provide some privacy for homeowners and break up the look of the parking. We’ll also have benches and pathways around the community and the paths will link up to those in Sage Hill.” CL

Fa s t Fac ts Developer: Sage Hill Project:

Sage.Stone

Developer: Greenview Developments Style:

One-storey and two-storey townhomes

Size:

From 821- 1,260 sq. ft.

Price:

Starts at $189,900 plus GST

Directions: From Stoney Trail, turn north on Symons Valley Road, left on 144th Ave. N.W., then another left on Sage Valley Rd. (3rd left) Hours:

2 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays to Fridays, and noon to 5 p.m. weekends and holidays. Closed Mondays.

Website: www.livesagestone.com

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Going strong in copperfield Chalet No 4 enters final phase, as strong sales continue

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Story and photos by Pepper Rodriguez | condo profile

ulti-family competition in Copperfield has been very tight, but Sabal Homes’ Chalet No 4 townhomes have been performing remarkably well, as they enter the final phase of development just a little over a year since sales started. There are only 15 townhomes left in the final two buildings — including four of the popular end units — in this 65-unit complex located in this thriving southeast community. “We just opened these show homes last January and everything just went by so quickly,” says Brenda Kelly, sales manager for Sabal’s multi-family division. “What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that these Chalet show homes are tucked further away in the community and you have to pass by, at least, three more multi-family developments to get to us,” Chalet No 4 area manager, Sydney Forman, tells Condo Living. “To me, it says a lot, that buyers find a lot of value in what we offer.” Kelley says Sabal’s saved the best for last and the two floorplans available in Chalet No 4 (The ‘M’ and the ‘R’ plans) are the most spacious and displays quite admirably Sabal’s signature “uncommonly stylish” flair. Plan M starts at 1,464 square-feet, and can either have a modern galley-style kitchen in the centre of the main floor with custom-designed European eating bar, or a more traditional L-shaped kitchen at the back with a walk-in pantry and expanded counter space. The M Plan has the added convenience of having parking space for two vehicles in the single-car attached garage and full-length driveway. Plan R has 1,520 square-feet of livable space, including a widened dining area that features a large side window and 24 linear-feet of counter space plus a walk-in pantry. It also has the same parking configuration as the M. “Both are standard two-bedroom plans but the two-bedroom-plus-study models have been a popular option,” Forman says. “And almost all of our buyers choose to go with the two bathroom option, which is a very affordable upgrade as it adds only about $4,000 dollars to the price.” There’s a long list of features that buyers like about Chalet, but one of the main reasons is the efficient use of space, good size of rooms, and great finishes, such as laminate hardwood and tile flooring that are included in the price. With prices starting in the $290,000s, Kelly says visitors to their show suite have been “surprised at the value and style of what they are getting.

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“Laminate hardwood, higher-than-industry-standard tile flooring and backsplashes, are among the standard specifications we offer — there’s no linoleum anywhere in the home,” she adds. “All our townhomes are less than a minute’s walk from a 2.5-acre park featuring a toboggan hill, playground and picnic tables and right across the street from what is Copperfield’s largest pond with paved walking paths around it.” Standard Chalet features and finishes also include brushed chrome lighting package, oversized windows, contemporary plumbing fixtures, full height tile backsplash in the kitchen, and wood cabinetry in four designer palettes. Functionality is at the heart of every Chalet townhome, there’s always more than one way to get around a kitchen so two people can work in it comfortably, the master bedrooms can fit a king-sized bed and still leave plenty of room for dressers and bureaus, and Sabal’s designs provide for lots of storage space because it is the one feature that growing families sometimes find out too late that they really need. Standard kitchen features include four palette choices in either urban or heritage style for that more sophisticated, contemporary feel; two-inch thick upscale laminate countertops with laminate edging to give it more heft; and energy-efficient appliances (in black or in stainless steel). “You also get one set of pot and pan drawers, just another way we try to anticipate buyers’ needs,” she adds. It helps that Copperfield, as a community, has been growing by leaps and bounds, and that all the infrastructure developments — from the expected opening of the Stoney Trail extension by next year to the recently opened eastbound portion of 130th Avenue — have all contributed to the success Show suite of floor plan R

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of Chalet No 4. “Accessibility to the neighbourhood has never been better, and it can only improve,” Kelly says. Sabal’s Chalet series has been so well received that they are already on track to launch Chalet No 5 in Copperfiled in September. “We will be offering some smaller and some larger townhomes along with our current Chalet plans. We’re hoping to be able to offer starting prices in the $260,000s,” Kelly says. “The Chalets are no ordinary townhomes, we’ve infused smart design, timeless style and the most popular features to create something totally new. And soon we will have more.” CL

Fa s t Fac ts Community: Copperfield Project:

Chalet N o 4

Developer: Sabal Homes Style:

Townhome condominiums

Size:

From 1,464 sq. ft.

Price:

Starting in the $290,000s

Address:

514 Copperpond Blvd. S.E.

Directions: South on 52 St. S.E., left on 130th Ave. and left on Copperpond Blvd. and follow the signs. Hours:

Monday to Thursday 2 to 8 p.m., weekends and holidays noon to 5 p.m.

Website: www.sabalchalet.com

“We’ve infused smart design, timeless style and the most popular features to create something totally new.”

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CONDO PROFILE | By Pepper Rodriguez

SPANNING GENERATIONS Bridgeland Crossings appeals to the young and the young at heart

Fa s t Fac ts Community: Bridgeland Project:

Bridgeland Crossings

Developer: Apex Cityhomes Style:

Apartment condos

Size:

Starts at 581 sq. ft.

Price:

Starts at $299,900

Sales Centre: 824 1st Ave. N.E Hours:

From 12 to 6 p.m. daily (except Fridays)

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| CONDO PROFILE

ridgeland has always had the appeal of a historic neighbourhood dotted by tons of unique shops and diners, possessing a bohemian sensibility and incomparable walkability to the downtown core. The new condo development of Bridgeland Crossings brings these traits into sharp focus with its unerring design touch and affordability that has made it the perfect choice for both the baby boomer and new millennial generations. Located near the site of what was once Calgary’s General Hospital, Bridgeland Crossings embraces the community’s heritage past and its rosy future, as it makes the most of its unique location. “You can walk to work in the downtown, bike or jog to the river, and enjoy a bite at the numerous diners and restaurants around the neighbourhood, where you can find everything from Japanese, to West Coast, to Italian dishes in close proximity,” says Linda Chu, Director of Marketing at Rennie Marketing Systems, the project marketers for Bridgeland Crossings. “In fact, two of FFWD magazine’s Top Three Diners in Calgary are

found in the neighbourhood,” she adds. “You’re also just a short walk to the Memorial Drive C-Train Station, and the new urban park development on St. Patrick’s Island is going to be just across the bridge, opening the door to our residents for plenty of outdoor recreational opportunities.” This stimulating ambience provides the appealing backdrop for this latest development from Apex Cityhomes, and in keeping with Bridgeland’s welcoming character, Bridgeland Crossings’ homes remain quite attainable. One-bedroom homes begin at $299,900 and two-bedroom suites are from $385,900. “We have a special relationship with our lenders that allows us to offer buyers the opportunity to own with just a five per cent down payment,” she adds. The first phase of Bridgeland Crossings is a concrete, 11-storey midrise with about 151 homes ranging from 581-square-foot one-bedroom to two-bedroom-plus-flex models starting at 1,044 square-feet. There will be two buildings in total with a central courtyard that will come complete with a manicured garden, outdoor patio lounge/barbecue area, and even a putting green. The exterior look will convey a modern feel that is mirrored in the inspired contemporary living spaces inside. Big windows and open concept interiors add to the feeling of a cosy, fashionable lifestyle.

The exterior look will convey a modern feel that is mirrored in the inspired contemporary living spaces inside.

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Each home comes with streamlined, custom-designed cabinetry; extra USB and power outlets to accommodate each resident’s collection of digital devices; air-conditioning; and stone countertops complemented by linear white tile backsplashes that give each home a stylish elgance. Each one also gets a full stainless steel appliance package (Fisher & Paykel, KitchenAid, and Faber) and streamlined, spa-style baths. Bridgeland Crossings also comes fully loaded with a host of in-house amenities including a fully-equipped fitness centre, sports lounge and movie room, guest suite, and bike storage and hub to encourage residents to use pedal power in getting around. That said, almost all homes have a dedicated parking stall in the heated underground parkade. According to Chu, your energy bills will be lower at Bridgeland Crossings because each suite is equipped with a state-of-the-art NEST Learning Thermostat. “This technology learns your living patterns and will adjust the temperature according to your schedule. If you go on vacation, you can control the heat from your smart phone. So, if you forget to turn it off on your way out or, if you want to come home to a warm and toasty home — it will be as simple as going onto your phone!” Bridgeland Crossings has been a big hit, particularly among buyers in their 20s and 50s. “We seem to hit the sweet spot for buyers who are just starting out in their professional life, or those looking to winding down into an active retirement,” she says. First possessions are expected to begin by early 2015. CL

Bridgeland Crossings has been a big hit, particularly among buyers in their 20s and 50s.

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Community profile | By Pepper Rodriguez

Northern

exposure SkyView Ranch brings new lifestyle options to New North

kyView Ranch is a certified success today, with roughly 1,275 single-family homes already complete, as well as one multi-family complex, with more on the way. But back when Walton Development and Management L.P. (Walton) was first planning for this nearly 400-acre community, success wasn’t an assured thing. In the early 2000s, Country Hills Boulevard east of the Deerfoot Trail was nothing but a lonely stretch of blacktop road surrounded by farmland, Metis Trail didn’t even exist, and the entire area carried the stigma of being a less-than-desirable neighbourhood to live in. But that all changed when SkyView Ranch began development in earnest. Walton went out of its way to work with the City of Calgary to ensure that new residents get all the benefits of living in the New North. A regular bus route was put in place well ahead of time, green space and parks were prioritized, as was the commercial area at the entrance to

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| Community profile

the community. Installing an EMS and fire station right in the community also showed that Walton was serious in its commitment to build the community the right way. Walton’s Laura Mills says the New North has become a growth sector with unlimited opportunities, mainly with the several new commercial developments going on nearby, which can translate to plenty of employment opportunities down the road. SkyView Ranch offers the kind of varied housing selection that fits the energetic vibe of this area, with a tantalizing range of home style available that suit all stages of life. “There is something for everyone here in SkyView Ranch,” Mills says. Phase 8, SkyView Ranch’s current phase, is comprised of homes that have rear lane access. These homes by Innovations by Jayman, and Creations by Shane, will provide incredible value in terms of price point coupled with style and character. Prices start from the low $300,000s. There are also homes with front attached garages available as well. These models offer a “nice variety with respect to floor plans and sizes to comfortably accommodate families at all life stages.” Builders for this product type are Excel Homes, Morrison Homes, Pacesetter Homes, Sterling Homes, and Shane Homes. Front-attached homes have prices starting from the $380,000s.

Photo by Don Molyneaux

“Semi-detached homes have proven to be a popular choice in Skyview Ranch, likely due to the functionality and the pleasing aesthetic appeal of the homes,” Mills points out. However, only a few opportunities remain. Creations by Shane is the current semi-detached builder in Skyview Ranch with prices starting in the high $200,000s. Evolve by Lionsworthe Homes, is a townhouse development in SkyView Ranch, that offers attached with an urban contemporary

“The New North has become a booming area for homebuyers, especially those looking for their first homes, it really has become a growth sector with unlimited opportunities...”

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flare. These three-storey units each conveniently feature double attached garages. Prices start in the$240,000s. Lionsworth Homes’ sister company, Truman Homes, has also completed their three-building multi-family complex — Skywest Condos, some units of which are part of the Attainable Homes program. Attainable Homes Calgary Corporation (AHCC) is a non-profit organization and wholly owned subsidiary

Fa s t Fac ts community: SkyView Ranch developer: Walton Development and Management L.p. Builders and prices: Laned – Creations by Shane Homes, Innovations by Jayman (starting from the low $300,000s) Front-drive – Excel Homes, pacesetter Homes, Morrison Homes, Shane Homes, Sterling Homes (starting from the $380,000s) Semi-detached – Lionsworthe Homes and Creations by Shane Homes (starting from the $270,000s — sold out) Townhomes – Lionsworthe Homes “EVOLVE” and partners Group “ARRIVE” (starting from the mid $200,000s)

of The City of Calgary that works to deliver well-appointed, entry-level homes for Calgarians who have been caught in the city’s growing affordability gap. They still have a few of the 56 units in Skywest available. “These are quality homes and we’re proud to be part of this program,” Truman Homes’ Tony Trutina tells Condo Living. “The beauty of this is our group of builders realizes the unique opportunities that the community presents, and they have come out with some really innovative designs that fit our vision for SkyView Ranch,” Mills says. SkyView Ranch also offers a lot of outdoor recreational opportunities, as there is a significant amount of parks and pathways. The Calgary Greenway (a pathway system that will encircle the city, connecting communities) will be going right through Skyview, which gives residents unlimited pathway access. Additionally, SkyView is close to several family amenities, such as the Genesis Centre of Community Wellness (a 225,000 square foot, $120 million multi-purpose complex built to enrich the health, wellness, and unity of communities in Northeast Calgary); also nearby are CrossIron Mills Mall, LRT access and community bus service. Given SkyView’s proximity to major thoroughfares getting in and out of the city is easy. All of this at very competitive pricing, makes SkyView Ranch a highly desirable community to call home. cL

“These are quality homes and we’re proud to be part of this program.”

Apartment condominiums – Truman Homes’ SkyWest Condos (starting in the $150,000s) Website:

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s o u r c e m e d i a g r o u p : c e L e B r at i N g i t s 10 t h Y e a r

lifestyles | Story by Andrea Cox | Photos by Don Molyneaux

An attainable lifestyle

Affordable housing in SkyView Ranch turns life around for single mom

t has been said that life can change on a dime. Just ask Jessica. Not four months ago, this 29 year-old, Calgary-based transportation specialist and single-mom of an active two-year old was living with her mom, slowly stitching together a down payment for her first home. “I had a ten-year plan in place,” recalls Jessica. “Really for me, home ownership was a distant dream.” But in what seems like the blink of an eye, Jessica’s dreams have come true, thanks to Attainable Homes Calgary, a program created by city council in 2009 to help address the housing affordability gap and contribute to the 10-year-plan to end homelessness. Through developer partnerships, strategic financing and gifted five per cent down payments, Attainable Homes fast tracks middle income Calgarians into home ownership. “I thought that there was some kind of weird catch,” says Jessica. But the Attainable Homes’ information session changed her mind. “If I hadn’t gone to it, I would have just pushed it aside and never thought about it again.” And, not two months after she found out about the program, Mayor Naheed Nenshi handed her the keys to her brand new condo in SkyView Ranch during the project’s grand opening celebration on May 27th. “Now, my mortgage is $200 to $300 even less than what I was previously paying for rent.” Jessica chose a south facing ground level two bedroom unit with a large patio. “We get lots of sun; that was a really big thing for me,” says Jessica. The 56-unit, four storey Valour building is part of the Skywest condo complex by Truman Homes. It has two floor plans: The Grand and The Lamont. Jessica’s open-concept 895-square-foot Lamont floor plan features a master with a walk-in closet that flows through to the spa-like master ensuite. The adjacent large second bedroom is perfect for her active two-year old son. “The space here is great — lots of closet space and storage — there is a great storage room in the unit that I use as my son’s playroom. It’s perfect,” enthuses Jessica, adding that it works well to hide the toys. “I’m not always having to clean up a mess.” For Jessica, who loves to cook, the kitchen makes her heart sing. “There is lots of counter space and the appliances are fantastic.” Granite counter tops, richly-coloured cork flooring, and stainless steel appliances are all standard.

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| lifestyles

“This is just so exciting... Now I don’t ever have to deal with the fear or the worry that the rent is going to be raised at the end of the lease.” And, although Jessica had been used to the convenience of inner-city living, her new home in the northeast neighbourhood of SkyView Ranch couldn’t be better located. “I had come out to look at SkyView Ranch a few months before I had even heard of Attainable Homes,” recalls Jessica, who works in the northeast. “The commute is quite a bit easier now and with Stoney and Metis Trail, I never really hit any traffic. I leave here at eight and drop my son at 16th and Deerfoot and it takes 20 minutes, tops.” Plus, SkyView Ranch features a myriad of walking paths and playgrounds, perfect for young families. “It’s really great and even though there aren’t a ton of amenities out here right now — there is a little plaza with a corner store and a Pizza Hut and stuff. It saves me from having to get in the car to drive for bread and milk.” And for Jessica, the benefits of home ownership are enormous. “This is just so exciting,” says Jessica, adding that it is also a huge relief. “Now I don’t ever have to deal with the fear or the worry that the rent is going to be raised at the end of the lease.” To date Attainable Homes has assisted 200 families s o u r c e m e d i a g r o u p : CE L E B RATI N G i t s 1 0 t h Y EAR

with home ownership throughout the city. “Our goal is to raise 1,000 Attainable Homes in the next five years,” says Marissa Toohey, Communication and Business Development Manager for Attainable Homes Calgary Corporation. The program targets middle income Calgarians by providing a gifted five per cent down payment. “People still have to qualify for a mortgage,” explains Toohey. Other parameters include an income cap at $90,000 (it was recently raised to coincide with the 2010 figures for the median family income in Calgary), total assets must be less than $100,000 and applicants must be willing to invest themselves by putting $2,000 of their own money into the deal. “We recently raised the income cap because we found that we had some people who were just over the $80,000 mark still struggling to come up with a down payment.” To date Attainable Homes has helped move families into home ownership in Beacon Heights, Deer Run, Cranston and SkyView Ranch. Future projects include West Springs, Mount Pleasant and Glenbrook. Application is simple. Just go to the website (attainablehomescalgary. ca). Complete the ownership tool kit. Fill in the survey. Sign up for an education session and get mortgage pre-approval. “Real estate in Calgary is tight,” says Toohey. “This is a great way for Calgarians to get into the market.” CL a u g u s t 2 0 1 3

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News | By Aaliya Essa and Pepper Rodriguez

The aftermath

How inner-city condos held up during the 2013 flood

nless you’ve been overseas for the past month or so, you’re no doubt aware of the flooding, mass evacuations and damage wrought by the historic flooding in June that’s affected huge swaths of southern Alberta. With that in mind, Condo Living made a few phone calls to see just how badly some of the new inner-city multi-family development were affected. By and large, the news is good, it seems like building designs held up, and that it was mostly the power issues that affected all of downtown that were the biggest problem. Here’s a brief rundown of how your favourite inner-city condo developments are doing in the aftermath.

SoBow by M2i Development Corp.

Located at 1640 17A Street S.E. Inglewood was luckier than many other inner-city communities, according to SoBow sales manager, Ted Gaisford. “While other areas were severely impacted, Inglewood faced challenges that were less severe than many, and for that, we feel incredibly fortunate.” While SoBow did experience flood waters that crested about six feet off the lowest elevations, “professional engineers have inspected the site… and we have full confidence that we can stay on schedule for a Fall 2014 delivery,” he adds. The sales centre is open for business at their regular hours.

The Gates and Champagne by Remington Corporation

Located at 350 Quarry Park Blvd. S.E. Despite how dire the situation looked along the Bow River banks near Quarry Park, Glen Deibert of Remington Corporation tells Condo Living, “we’re trying to get the word out that Quarry Park stayed 100 per cent dry and, although we were one of the evacuation zones, we had no issues whatsoever with the flooding.” He adds that Quarry Park’s flood protection and storm 46 |

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water lift station gives this riverside com- noon to 5 p.m. at our Presentation Centre,” munity the ability to deal with urban and says Anthem Properties’ Valentina Trevino. river flooding. “We definitely had the proper preventative measures in place.” TheRiver by Ledcor Properties Sales Centre located at 120–396 11th Avenue S.W. The Park by Lake Placid Developments When we last spoke to Anne Clarke of TheRiver, that ultra high-end condo developLocated at 13th Ave. and 2nd Steet S.W., ment beside the Elbow River in Mission was sales centre at 300A 17th Ave. S.W. “The Park was very fortunate that our con- still being assessed for damage. TheRiver struction site and show suite were unaffected which had set records for highest priced conby the flood waters. This was due in part to dos sold in Calgary was over 80 per cent sold our parkade construction design, which will for the first phase and 50 per cent sold in the always remain unaffected by rising ground- recently launched second phase. “What I can water levels, the elevation above the flood say is that our buyers remain confident about plain and our unique location. Furthermore, the project, the buildings were designed exbecause we are not reliant on Enmax for pow- actly for this eventuality.” Their Discovery er and have our own independent generator, Centre is open by appointment. we were able to continue with construction without sustaining any water damage,” says Einstein by Providence Group Richard Lobsinger, VP Sales & Marketing. Sales centre located 139 – 17th Ave. S.E. Although Einstein’s actual project location in Marda Loop was unaffected by the flood6th and Tenth by Lamb Development ing, its sales centre on the corner of 1st Street Corporation S.E. and 17th Avenue remains closed. Sales Located at 6th St. and 10th Ave. S.W. Ryan Spencer for 6th and Tenth tells a simi- appointments can still be arranged through lar story. “The sales centre at 6th and Tenth is their website www.einsteincalgary.com currently open for viewing as our sales centre was not affected by the floods. As we are Mark on 10th by Qualex–Landmark located on high ground, we didn’t suffer the Located at 8th St. and 10th Ave. S.W. same as other sales centres.” Sales manager Kaleigh Salmon says: “Thankfully, we weren’t affected by the flooding or the power outages and our office is open as Waterfront by Anthem Properties usual.” Located at 216 Riverfront Ave. S.W. The Waterfront condos also were unaffected by the flood and did not suffer any damages PIXEL by Battistella to their property across the entire site. Res- Sales centre located at 1120 Kensington Road N.W. idents in the existing buildings were evacu- Co-owner and construction director, Simon ated as the complex — along with the rest of Battistella issued a statement saying PIXEL downtown — were without power. It did affect was “very fortunate” to be located outside the the launch of its new phase though. flood plain on 9A Street N.W. “We take addi“We were originally scheduled to have our tional precautions in our projects by building public opening for Outlook, the next phase of a tanked foundation or raft slab which means the Waterfront community, on June 22. Due our parkades do not need to pump ground to the flood we had to cancel the event and it water everyday 24/7 to ensure they stay dry.” will now be taking place on July 20th from The sales centre is open by appointment. s o u r c e m e d i a g r o u p : CE L E B RATI N G i t s 1 0 t h Y EAR

Ven by Bucci Developments

Sales Centre located at 306 10th Street N.W. The West Coast rain-screening technology that this Vancouver-based developer used in all their condominium projects in Calgary, helped mitigate the effects of the flooding. As a result all of Bucci’s developments withstood the watery onslaught better than most. “None of our current developments, including NEXT in Bridgeland, Tribeca in Mission or Ven in Kensington, sustained any major damage, and construction is going on as scheduled,” says Bucci sales and marketing manager, Shane Styles. NEXT and Tribeca are all but sold out, but Styles says they are temporarily closing sales at Ven for the summer — more due to the fact that it’s a slower season than anything else. “We’re retaining our sales staff, but we want to give them the opportunity to do volunteer flood clean-up work.”

Steps Bridgeland by Giustini Bridges Inc.

Located at 921 1st Ave. N.E. Sales Manager, Ashlee Samaska is happy to report “no, STEPS was not affected by the flooding, and remains open.”

FIRST by Fram + Slokker and Evolution by Embassy BOSA

Sales centres for both are in the East Village Discovery Centre FIRST, a 191 unit project by FRAM + Slokker has sustained little-to-no impact as a result of flooding. This development is in the early phases of construction and subterranean work had not yet begun. The Embassy BOSA project, EVOLUTION, began construction in September 2012 and the subterranean excavation has been completed along with phase 1 slab-on-grade. As a result of the flooding, the construction site is currently retaining water and will be pumped once the neighbourhood water tables reach manageable levels. CL s o u r c e m e d i a g r o u p : CE L E B RATI N G i t s 1 0 t h Y EAR

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shopping | By Kathy McCormick

On top of

Countertops make a design statement

alcutta white marble has never gone out of style since Michelangelo’s bold statement, “I saw the angel in the marble and I carved until I set him free,” says Sophie Belanger of Icon Stone and Tile. And that’s certainly not about to change anytime soon. On a buying trip in Italy right now, Belanger says, “marble is the rage here,” so much so that some famous people, such as Italian designer Philippe Starck and rock star Lenny Kravitz, are signing the design of their own, very sexy tile collections with Italian manufacturers. And that’s the look we shall soon see in Calgary, she says. “Quartzite is gaining in popularity in Italy, too. It’s just as soft as marble, often with the same sugary texture. Several have inconsistent patterns that make them exotic and very unique, but not everyone offers them because they are harder to work with than commodity granite.” The boring, limited colours of laminate countertops of yesterday have given way to everything from marble, to quartz, granite, to cement, limestone, to Silestone, and Corian, to wood. Laminates, too, are a far cry from those found on your mother’s countertops — and they are still the best ‘bang for the buck,’ says Brad McDonald, Kitchen & Bath Showroom Designer for The Home Depot Canada. “We continue to see top trending materials in countertops, such as granite, Silestone,

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fabulous

Corian, and laminate. These are great alternatives to limestone, marble and cement which are much more porous and require constant maintenance. Laminates have come a long way in recent years and can offer the look of a high-end natural stone countertop for a fraction of the price.” As an example, solid surface tops all start at a similar price point at around $45-60 per square-foot installed at The Home Depot Canada. Some styles can be upgraded with edging details, polished sink cut outs, backsplashes, etc. and this is in addition to the base square foot price. Laminate countertops, on the other hand, start around $19 per square-foot installed and include the front-edge profile and backsplash. For the higher-end products, at Jade Stone Ltd., granite is still the most cost-effective product to put in your home when buying from most companies, says Ryan Costain, sales and marketing manager. “However, quartz is coming down in price due to a recent increase in demand.” And Corian is a good choice, says McDonald. Due to its excellent longevity and reparability, Corian has also proven to be one of the most cost-effective countertop materials on the market. At Jade Stone the three most common material types are granite, quartz and marble, Costain says. “Not many people are still doing limestone and cement due to the high porosity of those materials.” Another trend that’s become popular is installing more than one surface for counters. There are numerous colours and patterns (of laminate) that perfectly replicate the look of natural stone at a fraction of the cost, says The Home Depot. “Sometimes a larger kitchen space can have the focal point of an island with a granite or Silestone top, with the remainder of the background countertops finished in a laminate surface.” s o u r c e m e d i a g r o u p : CE L E B RATI N G i t s 1 0 t h Y EAR

Above: Corian countertops are one of the best sellers at The Home Depot.

Countertops should have similar themes throughout the home, especially in the more public areas. They should reflect the design features of the room they are in and in turn, it definitely adds a wow factor. But don’t be afraid to add some drama in a smaller space, like the half bath or powder room. As for colour, kitchens and bathrooms are trending towards lighter colour schemes, so that has made its way to the solid surfaces of the countertops, says Costain. “Lighter colours are very popular right now — it’s hard to even keep stock. We are seeing a ton of white quartz.” “At The Home Depot Canada, choice for the consumer is top priority,” says McDonald. “While lighter colours such as whites and marble-like finishes create a classic, contemporary look, darker colours and patterns with ‘movement’ are popular in more traditional spaces as well as rustic spaces.” Here are some things to watch for in repairing and upkeep: Chips are filled with resin and coloured accordingly if possible for all materials. Some will be hidden really well and others will be quite noticeable depending on where the fill happens and the colour you are trying to match. Cracks are more difficult and are usually the result of abuse. “More often we see a complete breakage due to how dense these materials are,” says Costain. Again, depending the on the material colour and composition of the stone will determine how well a repair can be done (if possible at all). A common mistake: breakage due to kneeling or sitting on weak locations (i.e. in front of sinks), staining due to lack of education on the product, or abuse (cooking oils and abrasive cleaning solutions are the most common). a u g u s t 2 0 1 3

Opposite page: White quartz countertops are very popular. Photo courtesy Lifeseven Photography.

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shopping |

Here are some things to consider when choosing the type of countertop you want in your home: type

Photo courtesy The Home Depot.

strengths weaknesses

GRANITE

Highly durable material (including high thresholds for scratches and heat). More cosmetically appealing due to the natural vein and colour to certain stones. Higher resale value.

Porous material, so liquids, oils, chemicals, foods, and bacteria can penetrate and stain the stone. As a result, granite requires upkeep and needs to be sealed anywhere from one-to-four times per year; however, some sealers such as DuPont Stone Tech now have products that require a once-only application and will protect against staining (within a reasonable timeframe) and offer a limited 15-year warranty. Granite is a natural product and minor imperfections, such as pits and fissures, are visible and sometimes uneven to the touch.

QUARTZ

Non-porous; zero maintenance; antibacterial; modern/contemporary looks consistent with new home builds and multi-family units.

Seven per cent resin composition makes quartz susceptible to scorching if exposed to direct heat. Lacks interest or cosmetic appeal due to its consistence in colour and pattern; however, more quartz manufacturers are creating more veined product.

MARBLE

Cosmetic appeal; patinas quickly (common in European or rusticdesigned kitchens/bathrooms)

Patinas very quickly. Scratches, changes colour, fissures, and stains very easily.

A lot of homeowners see pits and fissures as defects in their stone, when it is in fact a natural characteristic of the stone. Customers should not use any harsh chemicals on their countertops; most surfaces at The Home Depot Canada, for example, are designed for easy care and simply need soap and water for a great clean. Granite, Silestone and laminate should be cleaned with a mild soap and soft sponge or cloth; Corian with

its matte finish can be cleaned with a green Scotch-Brite pad and an “Ajax or Comet” type cleanser. Corian is fully repairable and repairs are virtually invisible. “Corian is a wonderful non-porous material and will not stain,” says McDonald. Granite chips can be filled and polished out inconspicuously. A sealer is added to The Home Depot granite countertop and comes with a stain-resist warranty. Silestone chips can also be filled and polished out inconspicuously. As well, Silestone is a non-porous material and luckily requires no sealing. Silestone innovates by actively fighting the growth of bacteria, mould, yeast, and fungus. This is done through silver ion technology which embeds silver in the slab, a natural antimicrobial. This is the only countertop in the world to incorporate this technology. Standard laminate is susceptible to damage from heat (hot pots and pans) and is not repairable. Water can affect a seam in a laminate countertop and is not covered by warranty. However, The Home Depot Canada offers postformed laminate countertops, which provide a seamless surface therefore eliminating water infiltration, dirt and grime collection. For more information on stone surfaces, check www.marble-institute.com. CL

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on trend | By Jessica Patterson | Photos courtesy Stephanie Brown

A little goes a D “I did lots of white built-in cabinets on top of a banquet, which allowed for lots of extra storage...” There are colourful textiles like outdoor-rated fabrics that are multi-functional and super elegant.

esigning flex rooms in condos and townhomes can be intimidating, but it can be an exciting process, says interior designer Stephanie Brown, of Stephanie Brown Inc. “It’s always good to have that luxury of extra space,” she says. “Usually in a condo or townhome, you’re a little bit short on something.” She says condo and townhome layouts often neglect a proper dining room. “Condo layouts sort of amalgamate the dining and living areas into a small area, and it’s not efficient at all.” So, for several clients, she’s turned the flex room in a condo into a proper dining room. “I did lots of white built-in cabinets on top of a banquet, which allowed for lots of extra storage, so the room did double duty acting as a cool entertaining and dining space, and also took on a lot of the storage needs the condo was lacking.” Furniture in condos and townhomes should be multi-functional, because space is limited. If you have a room that could do double-duty Stephanie Brown for something, it’s so beneficial, Brown says. “We’re trying to get so much out of the space, it’s worthwhile to invest in items that are multi-functional.” There are colourful textiles like outdoor-rated fabrics that are multi-functional and super elegant, the interior designer says. “Outdoor-rated fabrics are tough, they repel water and are stain resistant so you don’t have to be worried about spills and stains if there are kids around.” Often, condo and townhome owners need a home office area. “If it’s large enough, make the room multi-task,” Brown says. “The home office could feature a day bed, or a Murphy bed, or something that’s sleek and tucked away, but allows you, on those rare occasions to accommodate guests.” In deciding how to use your flex space or room, ask yourself how you’ll use it. A flex room is like a jewel in the rough, says interior designer Aleks Zablotni-Schantz with Sticks and Stones Design Group Inc. “It’s moldable square-footage that is ready and waiting for conversion into exactly what will suit your lifestyle,” she says. “Short on storage? Maybe you need a retreat from ‘open concept’ living? Would you love to have a space dedicated to your favorite activity?”

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long way The possibilities are endless, when it comes to space, she says. “A flex room could easily be converted into a dozen different spaces with a ‘dedicated’ function,” she says. “That said, it will take some careful planning and creativity to create a well-designed, functional space with more than one purpose.” Over Zablotni-Schantz’s time with Sticks and Stones, she has seen rooms turned into offices, guest bedrooms, libraries and reading nooks, kids recreation rooms, artist and yoga studios, walk-in closets, craft rooms, and even the ultimate “man cave” with a foosball room. Condos and townhomes are often limited on space, so flex rooms and flex spaces can seem like godsends for those who want a little more. Designing in smaller spaces, however, can be challenging. Enlisting the help of interior designers is often the best route to take, especially if you’re stuck. If you know what you want, and are going to tackle the design yourself, keep in mind the following: “Maximize any natural light by using fresh, monochromatic color schemes and mirrors to bounce the light,” Zablotni-Schantz says. “Also, use the elements and principles of design to your advantage by playing with proportion and scale (remember just because the

Flex rooms open up world of design possibilities

room is little, not all the furnishings have to be) and line (vertical vs. horizontal vs. curved) to lead the eye around and give the impression of higher ceilings or added depth.” Popular styles now include the timeless beauty of classic design, she says. “We work to combine the client’s personal style with classic long-term trends which they won’t tire of in six months,” she explains. “There is an endless list of classic and derivative styles including modern, rustic, French country, shabby-chic and so on.” While colours and trends change seasonally like haute couture, current trends in interior design were highlighted at the recent Architectural Digest Interior Design Show in New York, that Zablotni-Schantz attended. “We recognized a trend towards organic modern, East coast traditional and one of our current favorites — modern industrial. This is a blend between old and new; a contrast between dark and light — think Restoration Hardware-inspired styling, industrial light fixtures and lots of high-quality natural fibers.” Popular colours this season include antique white, charcoals paired with mid-tone woods, and something called greige, a grey-beige mix, Zablotni-Schantz says. “Wide plank, matte-finish engineered wood flooring, tall flat-profile baseboards and trim, clean lines, unique door profiles, textured (geometric) wallpapers and large-scale patterns, artistic lighting fixtures and sculptural plumbing fixtures, all finished with high-quality hardware selections.” Both interior designers suggest talking to your builder before purchasing your condo, to plan the space. “Perhaps they will be willing to accommodate the future design with some design ‘tweaks’ or upgrades,” Zablotni-Schantz says. “Will you be hanging anything heavy on the walls? It may be worth it to ask for additional in-wall blocking in strategic locations.” Of, if after purchase, speak to an interior designer to see what can be done with the space. If you’re thinking of converting your bonus room into a home theatre or spa, perhaps the room be pre-wired for sound, electricity, and light. Whatever you decide, enjoy the space. It’s not often you get the chance or opportunity to have a little extra in this condo and townhome market. CL

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COnDOSCAPeS By Richard White

tHe LADy Of tHe prAIrIes TELuS Sky adds a feminine touch to cowboy town

“C

reate a lady to stand among the cowboys.” That was the challenge TELUS President and CEo, Darren Entwistle gave Danish “young gun” architect, Bjarke Ingels. This directive was aimed at addressing one of the biggest criticisms of Calgary’s office buildings i.e. they are too boxy with their squat rectangular massing and flat roofs. For the most part Calgary’s office building designs are safe and straight-laced, very corporate and conservative — some would say masculine, maybe even cowboyish. To be fair, recent additions, The Bow and Eight Avenue Place (EAP), have ventured away from the box and in many ways EAP has many of the feminine qualities that Ingels has incorporated into TELUS Sky. While TELUS is a large, established corporation, its logo (green and purple) and branding (those cute animal commercials) reflects a more pretty, playful and cutesy image than your typical large corporation. Some might even say more feminine. It is therefore not surprising Entwistle’s vision was to create a feminine (lady) tower that would stand amongst the masculine cowboy towers, especially the downtown’s two other 50+ floor towers, The Bow and Suncor Energy Centre, which are its immediate neighbours. It will be an interesting threesome! TELUS Sky is also unique in that it will be both an office and residential tower. While it won’t be taller than The Bow, it will be a more slender, elegant shape because the floor plate for a typical residential building is half that of a typical office building. TELUS Sky building will taper after the 26th office floor into a slender residential tower to the 58th floor. The building’s façade will also evolve from the smooth surface of the office portion to an articulated, textured surface for the residential part as a result of its jutting balconies.

The net result is a wine bottle (or elongated grain elevator) shape. To use the lady analogy, the transition area from the wide office to the slender torso would be her hips. TELUS Sky is one robust lady who will certainly hold her own with the surrounding cowboys. At street level, Ingels’ design has a glass canopy, or what he calls a “skirt.” It twists at the separate office and residential entrances to create a “billowing skirt” effect. The analogy with the iconic urban photo of Marilyn Munro is obvious. TELUS Sky will have both a vertical and rooftop garden, and the positioning of the balconies and residential units will maximize the indoor and outdoor spaces for all residents. In many ways the goal is to create a new 21st century design that shatters the idea that urban high-density living is cold, impersonal and ugly. Ingels is all about symbiosis (a biological term that refers to two dissimilar organisms living together often for mutual benefit), which in this case refers to the office workers and the residents. The building will be animated by day with the workers and by night with the residents. It adds a whole new dimension to the “live, work, play” equation as you could live work and play in the same building. The “play” element is further enriched by the public gallery that will be created as part of the enhanced public realm at street and +15 levels. TELUS Sky is scheduled to open in 2017. cL

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Condo name: TELuS Sky Architect: Bjarke Ingels

Editor’s note: There’s more to the story, so check Condoscapes on Condo Living’s website. For more information on “Calgary as North America’s newest design city,” check out Richard White’s blog http://everydaytourist.ca/ blog/2013/4/6/calgary-northamericas-newest-design-city.

richard White is the Urban strategist at Ground3 Landscape Architects. He has written about urban living, urban development and urban design for 25 years. He can be followed @everydaytourist or you can view more of his blogs, rants and essays at www.everydaytourist.ca

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ASK MARIA By Maria Bartolotti

CONDOs IN CrIsIs Historic flooding puts everyone on edge

ear Maria: My condo is flooded, what should I do? on June 21, 2013, Mayor Naheed Nenshi declared a state of emergency in the City of Calgary and in parts of Southern Alberta. Thousands forced to leave their homes due to the worst flooding the city has ever witnessed. As a Property Manager, I witnessed first hand what the devastation did to some of the buildings that we manage in the downtown core and surrounding areas. The lights were out for some of our buildings, but we continued to work with condo owners of a condominium who had their parkade completely flooded. I cannot stress enough the importance of communication in a traumatic situation like this, especially when owners have been misplaced from their homes. But the best advice I can give affected condo owners right now is patience. And it will likely take more of it before things get back to normal. Daily communication, onsite visits, updates and meetings with the owners is very important in a devastating situation as this. our efforts were spent reassuring condo owners that we are working hard to get them back into their homes. The public has to understand that there are a great deal of factors involved in restoring the building before condo owners are

allowed back into their homes. Here are some steps that we are taking to help our homeowners. All the water needs to be pumped out by the restoration company and all affected areas must be properly disinfected, carpet and drywall removed. New fire panels, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and possibly elevator equipment must be installed. The problem that we run into is an acute shortage of trades, including electricians, cleaners, and contractors. Condominium owners need to understand that every contractor hired is absolutely stretched to their capacity trying to complete the work awarded to them. We cannot afford to jeopardize the quality of living for the sake of speed. The property management companies are dealing with hundreds of buildings, dozens of contractors, and ultimately trying to restore each community to its original habitability, while not bankrupting the condominium corporation. This is an incredible balancing act, that we strongly doubt any disaster planning could have made easier. Stay Strong Calgary. Until next time... cL

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Editor’s note: Readers are encouraged to send their most confounding condo questions to our resident condo specialist: Maria Bartolotti.

maria Bartolotti

is the owner-manager of New Concept Management Inc. she has developed a strong reputation for rendering timely and eﬃcient services to the condominium industry. Maria believes that her company’s success hinges on her hands-on approach to condominium management as well as maintaining open lines of communications with her clientele. Maria is actively involved in her industry. for more information, visit www.newconceptmanagement.com

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HOPe AT lARGe By Marty Hope

INGLeWOOD ICON Floods cannot wash away SoBow’s appeal

ow that’s some backyard. SoBow by M2i Development Corporation, which is rising from a tad more than 13 acres of land just down the street from historic Inglewood in the city’s southeast, has all of Pearce Estate Park for its residents to wake up to each morning. Nudging up against the southerly boundary of the calming 50-acre inner-city park-wetland setting named for one of Calgary’s early-day pioneers William Pearce, twin six-storey concrete buildings with exteriors of brick, glass and metal will offer stylish and cool condominium living, says M2i president Iain McCorkindale. Since the recent commitment to construction, which is now underway, sales have been positive on the first building — without benefit of the traditional show suite — so strong that the release of the second building may be considered later this year. “SoBow is a resurrection of sorts,” says McCorkindale in his Glaswegian brogue. “We have restarted a development that first began in 2008 with another developer, but unfortunately timing and other difficulties caused it to stall for the last few years.” Located at 17th Avenue and 17A Street S.E., SoBow is within walking distance of the eclectic Inglewood retail area, a short drive or bus ride from the city core, and a stone’s throw from the Bow River. The upscale development was pretty much spared damage from flooding that occurred in June. There was some water in the parking structure of buildings under construction but that was cleared up in one day and the sales centre was not affected, according to McCorkindale. The company president says construction crews were taken off their regular duties to “lend a helping hand to the community of Inglewood.

other than that, it’s business as usual,” he added. While long-term plans envisage six phases of construction with in excess of 700 condos and as much as 10,000 square feet of retail, the focus now is, naturally, on delivering the first 120 homes by the fall of 2014, says McCorkindale from SoBow’s onsite sales and presentation centre. The residences will offer a diverse blend of options from studios and one-, two-, and three-bedroom suites to two-bedroom townhomes. Sizes will run from 694 to slightly more than 1,600-square-feet with prices starting from the $290,000 range up to approximately $700,000, with the majority of units in the high $300,000s and low $400,000s. “With what we’re presenting in the way of design, location, price, size and specifications, it’s difficult to beat the value we’re offering,” says McCorkindale. “People are looking for value these days, and they can get it at SoBow.” SoBow will be BuiltGreen HD certified because of M2i’s commitment to sustainable building practices, and these energy-efficient aspects carry on into the interiors of the homes that come with an element of recycled finishing materials, energy-efficient lighting, paint with reduced off-gassing, and high-efficiency windows. For more information on the development, visit www.sobowcondos.com or visit the SoBow sales centre at 1640 17A Street S.E from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and noon to 5 p.m. Fridays, weekends, and holidays. cL

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Editor’s note: For more on the story, check out www.condolivingonline.com

marty hope. for more than two decades Marty Hope has been reporting on the housing and development industry in Calgary, throughout Alberta, and across Canada. In March, he was presented with the Maple Leaf Award from the Canadian Home builders’ Association which is given annually to a non-builder member in Canada for contributions to the industry.

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AROUnD TOWn By pepper Rodriguez

AVALOn’S RYAn SCOTT HOnOuRED AT 2012 CALGARY AWARDS

BuCCI HELpS OuT In FLOOD AFTERMATH

yan Scott, President and CEo of Avalon Master Builder, was honoured with an Individual Environmental Achievement Award as part of the 2012 Calgary Awards. During the event, held on Wednesday June 12, Mayor Naheed Nenshi and Members of City Council recognized 16 deserving individuals, corporations, community groups, schools and organizations. The Environmental Achievement Awards recognizes environmental achievements in advanced technology, management, conservation, protection, enhancement, education, stewardship and promotion of the city’s environment. This year’s individual award was presented to Ryan Scott to recognize Avalon’s leadership position in sustainable building through their Net Zero homes. Avalon’s Net Zero homes undergo high-tech inspections and construction is evaluated on advanced building technologies including; site orientation, windows, HVAC, building materials, plumbing and builder practices. As responsible stewards of the environment, Avalon Master Builder focuses on a Mayor nenshi, Ryan Scott and Ward 6 Alderman Richard pootmans. better-built building Courtesy Wes Raymond photography envelope.

ucci Developments’ numerous projects have been spared the brunt of the recent flooding that submerged most of Calgary’s inner-city, where most of their current developments are located. So then, why are they closing sales at their latest development? Bucci sales and marketing manager, Shane Styles, tells Around Town that they are closing the sales centre for Ven in Kensington for the summer. “Ven was largely unaffected by the flood, we’ve designed our buildings just for this kind of scenario and we were prepared for the worst. But sales are typically slow in Calgary during the summer — with the Stampede and everyone going on vacation. So we thought we’d give our sales staff the time off to volunteer in flood relief programs. We will continue to pay their salaries, we just want them to put their time to a better cause.” Bucci will also honour their ad commitments to our magazine, but they are donating their ad space to charitable agencies involved in the flood relief programs in southern Alberta. “We will be reopening sales in early September, and we’re confident we’ll just pick up where we left off.”

CALGARY HOuSInG STARTS STABLE In JunE

ousing starts in the Calgary Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) were trending at 11,279 units in June compared to 11,316 in May, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). The trend is a six month moving average of the monthly seasonally adjusted annual rates (SAAR) of total housing starts. “The trend in total housing starts in the Calgary CMA remained stable during the first half of 2013, supported by strong job growth and net migration,” said Richard Cho, CMHC’s Senior Market Analyst for Calgary. CMHC uses the trend measure as a complement to the monthly SAAR of housing starts to account for considerable swings in monthly estimates and obtain a more complete picture of the state

s o u r c e m e d i a g r o u p : c e L e B r at i N g i t s 10 t h Y e a r

of the housing market. In some situations, analyzing only SAAR data can be misleading in some markets, as they are largely driven by the multiples segment of the markets which can be quite variable from one month to the next. However, the standalone monthly SAAR did reflect a decrease to 10,432 units in June, from 12,227 in May. The agency says the dip was mainly due to the slide in multi-family starts of 45.2 per cent to 358 units. Meanwhile, the single-detached market saw starts increase by 4.3 per cent to 554 units. cL a u g u s t 2 0 1 3

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Calgary Map | North West, North East and Inner City 10 33

24 6

23 36

4 9

26 11 29

14 31

8 17

38 7

70 |

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North West, North East and Inner City | Calgary Map 4

MAP LEGEND High Volume Roads Main Roads

Inner City

Parks

28 27

Bodies of Water

12 See Advertiser Index for Project Page Reference

17 3

11 7

5 6

1 Evanston Square

4 Highland Park 5 Panorama West 6 Kincora Summit 7 TheRiver 8 The Block 9 43 Park

10 The Post 11 Village at West Springs

12 Ovation 13 Estates of Valley Ridge

14 Brownstones 15 SageHill Village

16 Swan Landing 17 UNO Mt. Royal 18 Wildstone

19 Bridgeland Crossings

North West | North East Projects 2 Red Haus 3 SoBow

20 NEXT 21 Groves of Varsity

Inner City Projects 1 2

22 Albert Park Station

23 Emerald Sky

24 Sonoma at Sage Hill

25 Eighty5Nine

26 Landings at Cougar Ridge

27 Arrive @ SkyView Ranch

28 Kintalla at Redstone

29 Ginger Park

30 IndigoSky 31 Mosaic Bridgeland

32 Aspen Highlands

33 Sage.Stone 34 Galleries Renfrew

35 University City 36 Prospect Rise

37 Viridian 38 TEN Mt. Royal

11 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Vogue MARK Avenue West End VEN The Montana Drake The Park First Riverfront Pointe Alura Keynote 3 Eau Claire The Guardian Verve District PIXEL by Battistella Evolution 6th and Tenth Waterfront

34 19

increase your advertising visibility take advantage of premium positions contact:

al donegan 403.542.1347 al.donegan@sourcemediagroup.ca

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CONDO LIVING |

Calgary Map | South West, South East and Calgary Area

52 3

6 30

32 2 42 49 41

AIRDRIE

OKOTOKS 16 12 13

COCHRANE 72 |

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South West, South East and Calgary Area | Calgary Map 1 ZEN Auburn Bay

2 The Galleries

3 Casel 4 Einstein

5 Harvest Mosaic

24 25

8 Nueva 9 Ascent 10 Sonik 11 Sierra Gardens

12 Sanderson Ridge 13 Bridlecrest Pointe

14 Evergreen Grove 15 Silverado

High Volume Roads

16 Highbury 2

Main Roads

17 Canvas at Millrise

Parks

18 Stonewater at

Bodies of Water

Lake Chaparral 19 Silhouette 20 Monarch

See Advertiser Index for Project Page Reference

6 Destiny 7 Stonecroft Auburn Bay

MAP LEGEND

21 22

Airdrie

The Courtyards of Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Heights The Edge

26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37

Sawyer Silverado Mosaic Cranston Side-by-Side McKenzie Towne Prestwick Place Mosaic Mirage in McKenzie Towne Riverside The Chaparral Side by Side Auburn Bay Bellacasa Apex Aurora at Chinook TREO Boulevard Townes of Quarry Park Edison at Walden Chaparral Valley Riverside Townhouse Chesapeake

Ravenswood Townhomes Synergy in Kings Heights Windsong by Mattamy

39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55

Mosaic Lakeside Auburn Bay Copperfield Park I & II Stonecroft at Copperfield Townhomes of Dallaire Ave Victoria Cross ZEN McKenzie Towne York29 Gala, The Champagne Aura in Copperfield Belmont Townhomes Evolution by Greenboro Cranston Place Chalet No 4 TRIBECA Hunter House Mint The Gates

CHESTERMERE

Townhomes of Chestermere Station

cochrane

Alora in Sunset Ridge The Homesteads of Sunset Ridge Laredo Riverstone at Cochrane Sunset Pointe The Village Townhomes at Jumpingpound Ridge RiverReach Villas & Manors

33 46

okotoks Calvanna Village Drakes Cove Mesa Crystal Shores Penncross

24 47

44 54 23

40 39

20 25

37 19

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advertisers index 6th and Tenth Bel Calgary page 15

Chalet Sabal Homes page 25

1912 Cross M2i page 32

Champagne Remington Development Corp. page 62

Arrive at Redstone Partners Development Inc. page 45 Aura Aldebaran Enterprises page 21 Avenue West End Grosvenor/Cressey page 33 Bridgeland Crossings Apex City Homes page 9 Brownstones Genesis Builders Group page 66 Carlisle Group page 4

76 |

Evanston Square Streetside Developments page 79

Hunter House Streetside Developments page 26

PIXEL Battistella Development FC, pages 12 -14

Evolution Embassy/Bosa page 41

Kincora Summit Cove Properties page 2

Riverfront Pointe Carlisle Group page 5

Copperfield Park II Brad Remington Homes pages 73 & 80

Estates of Varsity Ridge Cove Properties page 2

Kintalla Streetside Developments page 51

Sage.Stone Greenview Developments page 16

District Boulevard Investments Corp. page 61

Verve Fram/Slokker Developments page 68

The Landings at Cougar Ridge Statesman page 60

Sawyer Silverado Avi Urban pages 27 & 56

The Edge Streetside Developments page 44

The Gates Remington Development Corp. page 49

The Landings at Rocky Ridge Swan Group page 48

Edison at Walden Avi Urban pages 27 & 56

The Groves of Varsity Statesman page 50

MARK Qualex-Landmark page 64

Eighty5Nine Vertical Properties page 39 Einstein The Providence Group page 40

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The Guardian Hon Towers page 57

Made by Momma page 31 Market Place Events page 38

Sonoma-Sage Hill Vertical Properties page 20 Steps Bridgeland Giustini Bridges Inc. page 37

Stonecroft Highland Park page 75 TEN Maple Developments page 6 The Park Lake Placid Development Corp. page 55 The Post Avi Urban pages 27 & 56 Vantage Calbridge page 47 Victoria Cross Avi Urban pages 27 & 56

Stonecroft Copperfield page 74

Outlook at Waterfront Anthem Properties page 3

Stonecroft Auburn Bay page 74

Zen, Auburn Bay Avalon Master Builder page 77

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feature | By Jim Zang

Tales From The Condo Zone 50 shades of condominium

f you read last month’s column, then you’re familiar with ‘the librarian’ — the octogenarian who treated the condominium library as if it were her own personal book collection. Picture the librarian ghost who turns into the scary monster near the beginning of the classic movie Ghostbusters and you’re getting close. Cruella Deville, only meaner. Anyway, like I was saying, my in-laws lived in an age 45+ condo just a couple of miles from us and we used to visit them all the time. I would borrow books from the library (which I also donated books to, by the way), and on one such occasion had the misfortune to experience a retired librarian’s wrath first hand. I think if she’d had a ruler she would have hit me with it. Unfortunately, that was not my only brush with literary exclusion. Just last year I was denied entry to Oprah’s Book Club for actually liking the Captain Underpants series. Anyway, back to the library, this time with kids in tow. Or, more accurately, dad in tow. The kids and I raced up the stairs, them giggling, me panting, to the library. “Shush!” I heard it before I saw her. “Oh no,” I thought, “not the librarian.”

It was as if she had been waiting for me. As if she’d made it her own personal mission to guard the condo’s book supply. Probably driving a patrol from building to building, library to library. Maybe watching out her condo with binoculars. My first thought was for the safety of the kids. “Dad,” said my son, still young and totally oblivious to the dangers that lurked in condo libraries, “she ‘shushed’ us”. “It’s okay,” I said. “Don’t make eye contact. Just hand me your books and slowly back away. Slowly. And I’ll just put these books back. That’s right, just putting the books back and saying goodbye to the nice lady. Now backing away, slowly, backing away. Okay now RUN!” The kids took off but as I tried to leave the cane again blocked my way and I had to quickly side-step her moving wheelchair. As I did, she passed me a book, her fingers lightly, yet unmistakably purposefully, brushing the back of my hand as she did so. Hmm. I thought to myself, that’s the first time she’s ever been nice to me. And she smelled…good. Then I looked at the book and a cold shiver went down my spine. It was Fifty Shades of Grey. CL

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