Condo Living - September 2014 by Source Media Group

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COntents s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 4 | V O L U ME 1 0 I SS U E 1 7 7

14 Focus On 14 | Exotic chic Cookware that adds a little variety to your kitchen’s look Condo Profiles 21 | Setting the trend THE RIVER is the watermark for luxury development in Calgary 27 | The seeds of innovation The Orchard will be unlike anything ever seen in Calgary 34 | Urban heaven The Guardian provides high style haven for urban families 40 | Making a splash Avi Urban’s Canoe is an Auburn Bay blockbuster 46 | Elemental style ARRIVE at Redstone elevates townhome design in New North Community profiles 50 | Open waters Lakeside living has never been better in Mahogany

Cover Feature 16 | Streetside style Streetside’s latest offering in Silverado is multi-family living at its best CO N D O L I V I N G septem b er 2014

COntents

liFestyle 55 | The past is the future Couple finds their roots — and their future — in new Currie Barracks development style 60 | Bonus time Finding a purpose is not only key in life but in designing the bonus room, too shoPPinG 67 | Singular Inglewood Discover the boutique shopping charms of one of Calgary’s earliest neighbourhoods Features 73 | Cross Canada connections East and West inﬂuences shape Calgary’s condo culture

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80 | The return of Colin and Justin Calgary Home + Design Show welcomes back irrepressible Scottish design duo neWs 86 | Alberta Awards of Excellence in Housing 2014 finalists announced

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items 12 | Editor’s Message 100 | Maps 104 | Ad Index

EDITOR’S MESSAGE |

Crazy from the heat

The sizzle you hear may not be just from the pavement baking in the summer heat, but from Calgary’s ultra hot condo market. And by “hot” I don’t mean just the skyrocketing sales, but also the wildly diverse and increasingly urban style that the new high-rises in the downtown have brought to the city. Our architectural guru, Richard White, delves into just exactly who is responsible for turning Cowtown into Wow town as far as condo architecture goes in the inner city. The answers may surprise you. The recently announced list of finalists for the CHBA – Alberta Awards of Excellence also bears out just how hot the Calgary market is right now, as Calgary-based builders and developers dominate the list. Check out who made the cut in the multi-family segment in these pages, too. Now, you may expect that the only hip condos are in the downtown, and I’m here to tell you they can be found anywhere in the city. Our cover feature on Streetside Development’s Hunter House in Silverado shows just how cool suburban condos can be too, as their stacked bungalows and row townhomes are evidence of the inner-city style they bring to the suburbs. Our five other condo profiles reflect the variety of styles and lifestyles that are popular in the market right now. In the inner city, we have: The River, an ultra-upscale development in Mission that’s down to a handful of units; The Orchard on Twelfth is Lamb Development’s second project here and will be a twin tower with a literal apple orchard in the middle; and The Guardian will be the two tallest residential towers in Calgary and they offer two-bedroom condos that work for families looking to live the downtown lifestyle. And in the suburbs, we have: Canoe in Auburn Bay by Avi Urban Next month: whose first phase is nearly sold out a week after it launched; and David Crosson ARRIVE at Redstone, which is doing just as spectacularly, as they epitomize the optimism of the New North. takes on kitchen No matter where you look, there’s a condo that’s right for you, design and there’s no better proof of that than this book, which I might add, is the fourth time that we’ve cracked a hundred pages this year (and all year long we’ve just been in the 96-page range). Quite a feat if you ask me, considering the tight competition in the industry — and that’s all thanks to you, dear readers, and your continued support. This issue is chock-full of other neat articles, like Kathy McCormick’s Shopping story on Inglewood — we tried something different this time, focusing on a particular shopping area than a product. And then there is STYLE sensei David Crosson’s take on bonus room design and how to take that spare room into a play room (or work room, or what-have-you room). There’s even more to talk about than space permits here, so I’ll shut up now and let the magazine speak for itself.

@CondoLivingYYC

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CondoLivingCalgary

Source Media Group info@sourcemediagroup.ca

PUBLISHER |

Jim Zang jim.zang@sourcemediagroup.ca

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER |

Editor | Pepper Rodriguez pepper.rodriguez@sourcemediagroup.ca ART director | Jean Faye Rodriguez jean.rodriguez@sourcemediagroup.ca graphic designers

Dave Macaulay dave.macaulay@sourcemediagroup.ca Megan Sereda megan.sereda@sourcemediagroup.ca Colleen Leier colleen.leier@sourcemediagroup.ca

PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR |

EDITORIAL

Maria Bartolotti, David Crosson, Karen Durrie, Aaliya Essa, Marty Hope, Kathy McCormick, Lorraine Williamson, Richard White, Jim Zang Photography

Pepper Rodriguez ADVERTISING SALES | Heather Dougall heather.dougall@sourcemediagroup.ca accounting | Norma Robertson accounting@sourcemediagroup.ca DISTRIBUTED BY

Gallant Distribution Services, Media Classified, Source Media Group Issue 177 • ISSN 1918-4409 © 2014 Source Media Group Corp. Material cannot be reprinted in whole or in part without the express 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. 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

FOCUS ON |

Exotic chic Cookware that adds a little variety to your kitchen’s look

By Aaliya Essa

Be adventurous in your kitchen — in the dishes you prepare and the cookware you prepare them in. Cooking exotic dishes is a little like visiting faraway places while at home. Wouldn’t you just love trying out a Moroccan tagine — cooked meal or a delicious Asian stir-fry? And now you can attempt to make these dishes in your very own kitchen with this cool cookware. CL

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| FOCUS ON

Tunisian Hand-Painted Fresco Tagine, $80 at Williams-Sonoma.

2 Revolution Tagine, $219.50 at Orange Works. 3 KitchenAid Hard Anodized Wok with Lid, $239.99 at Canadian Tire. 4 STAUB Wok with Glass Lid, $324.99 at Hudson’s Bay Company. 5 All-Clad d5 Stainless-Steel Stir Fry Wok, $310 at Williams-Sonoma. 6 Tunisian Hand-Painted Mosaic Tagine, $80 at Williams-Sonoma. 7

Hammered Flat Bottom Wok, $40 at Williams-Sonoma.

8 Emile Henry flame top tagine, $165 at Orange Works. 9 T-Fal Jumbo Wok with Lid, $84.99 at Canadian Tire.

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| Advertising cover Feature |

Streetside style

Streetside’s latest offering in Silverado is multi-family living at its best

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| Advertising cover Feature |

ownhomes have been all the rage in Calgary these days, and it seems every multi-family developer has stepped into the market with their own version of this popular dwelling. Streetside Developments has been building award-winning townhomes long before this became a fad, and their Hunter House products shows a rare kind of expertise and understanding in creating a complete lifestyle rather than just mere buildings. Like the innovative three-level row townhomes and the single living stacked bungalows Streetside offers at their Hunter House development in the southwest community of Silverado. They are every bit as stylish and functional as a single-family home, but with the added affordability and convenience a multi-family one brings. “Both our townhomes and stacked bungalows at Hunter House have been extremely popular with a variety of target markets. The stacked bungalows appeal to the empty nesters, who do not want to give up luxury for space and the row townhomes appeal to the first time and move up homebuyers who want space and the convenience of multi-family living,” says Streetside senior marketing coordinator Kimberley Orr. “But we’re also seeing a lot of single professionals who like the two master-bedroom option available in the townhomes as this gives them the opportunity to take in a roommate who can help with the mortgage if need be.” Hunter House townhomes combine space and convenience, as each home has a double-car garage, spacious outdoor living terraces and flexible designs with a double master bedroom option and a storage area that can easily be used as an office. “The double, side-by-side garage alone is something not very many other row townhomes offer, and the standard finishes we offer are

already an upgrade in most other developments and includes granite or quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, 12-by-24-inch porcelain tile flooring and luxury laminate flooring” Orr says. Hunter House’s three-level row townhomes are from 1,486 to over 1,500 square-feet, and start from the $380,000s. Some models offer a sunken great room with 12-foot ceilings and large eating bars and separate dining areas. Hunter House also offers, new to the Calgary market, stacked bungalows that feature villa-like single-level living that have been a big hit among downsizers and active seniors. “Downsizers love these stacked bungalows because they offer a stylish transitional home from their acreages or large family homes they are downsizing from. Our stacked bungalows offer the look and feel of a home with all the luxury and comfort, they are used to,” Orr says. Stacked bungalows start from the $490,000s. Hunter House will have a total of 38 stacked bungalows and 54 row townhomes, the development is about 35 per cent sold. Two stacked bungalow show suites opened in March and one showing the most

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“There’s abundant space between buildings, not normally seen in townhome developments, as well as ample trees...” popular row townhome plan will be unveiled in November. But maybe even more important is the total serene lifestyle the Hunter House development offers. For one thing, it’s a low-density multi-family development with less than 100 units, with plenty of space between buildings that gives the whole development room to breathe. “There’s abundant space between buildings, not normally seen in townhome developments, as well as ample trees, greenspace walkways and bridges that create a very idyllic park like setting,” says Orr. “Each building is also constructed to look like a big mansion, one executive house, to make Hunter House blend in with the estate character of the community of Silverado.” Streetside’s innovative thinking doesn’t stop at crafting well-designed townhomes; they also have a strong belief in sustainability. Buyers in Hunter House are given Frogbox™ reusable moving boxes to assist them in an eco-friendly way to take some of the stress out of moving as well as offered a video series on the construction milestones of their new home. “This is just another way that we show our commitment to promoting green building ideas and to keeping our customers updated on the construction stages of their home,” Orr points out. If people want to view these videos they are on Streetside’s You Tube channel. Hunter House, however, is only the tip of the iceberg as far as new developments go at Streetside. The past couple of years saw them go through their townhome developments like a hot knife through butter, as Kintalla at Redstone, Evanston Square and The Edge in Airdrie all outperformed expectations and are virtually sold out. The outstand-

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ing sales performance came even as Streetside won the Multi-Family Builder of the Year at the 2012 Sam Awards. 2015 looks to be another banner year for Streetside with several developments, including the much-anticipated West 85th project and several developments in some of the hottest inner-city locations in Calgary. n

Fast Facts Community: Silverado Project: Hunter House Developer: Streetside Development Corporation Style: Three-storey row townhomes and single-level stacked bungalows Size: Row townhomes range from 1,486 to over 1,500 sq. ft., and stacked bungalows are from 1,400 to 1,670 sq. ft. Price: Row townhomes are from the $390,000s and stacked bungalows are from the $490,000s Address: 1020 194 Avenue S.W. Directions: West on Hwy 22X (Stoney Tr.) and exit on to Sheriff King Rd. and follow the signs Hours: Monday to Thursday – 1 to 7 p.m., weekends and holidays noon to 5 p.m. Website: www.hunterhouseliving.com

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| CONDO PROFILE

Setting

the trend THE RIVER is the watermark for luxury development in Calgary by pepper rodriguez

hen THE RIVER launched about three years ago, Calgary’s condo market was just on its way to full recovery from the recession. But buyers saw something special in this development in the riverside community of Mission, and THE RIVER immediately broke sales records for most expensive condos sold in Calgary. Indeed, it had set off the boom in the city’s luxury multi-family market, and those reverberations are felt to this day. Even the historic floods that hit the city last year could not prevent this one-of-a-kind luxury condo from becoming a dream come true. Now, with construction in full swing, and as the tower begins to rise from the ground, only seven homes of the 38 total units are left. And they are going fast.

“Buyers realize that this kind of development will never happen in Calgary again, it’s a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and they are thrilled to own a piece of this ground-breaking development,” says THE RIVER’s Anne Clarke. Sitting on the banks of the Elbow River in Mission. THE RIVER is a development that undoubtedly offers more than the sum of all its parts. The unsurpassed upscale finish of each home, the unique modern design that maximizes the views of the surrounding river lands and the downtown, and its unique location in the vibrant inner city community of Mission all contributed to THE RIVER’s success. And the community it has created, gathering a group of like-minded executives and their families, has been a big part of the attraction too, she adds. “It was amazing that when the flood hit, the buyers’ immediate reaction was how they can help people in the community rather than how they can protect their investment,” Clarke says. “They are each some of the most philanthropic individuals I’ve come to know and the community they are creating here is just as one-of-a-kind as the development itself.” There are still terrific opportunities left, including a couple of units in the

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“Many Calgarians still want the wonderful experience of waterfront living. OUr design enhancement offers our residents peace of mind and our purchasers are thrilled.” 15-storey tower, and five RiverHomes (four multi-level floor plans and one single-level). All have distinct design elements that make them suitable for a wide variety of lifestyles. Among them is the 5,148-square-foot sub-penthouse suite on the 14th floor. It is a three-bedroom suite with three-and-a-half bathrooms and an additional 597 square-feet of outdoor living space. This is being offered at $7.99 million. There is also Suite 120, one of the multi-level RiverHomes looking out on the Elbow River. It is also a three-bedroom home with 4,048 square-feet of indoor living space and 537 square-feet of private outdoor living area. It’s going for $3.59 million. It’s a terrific value, very much on par with building an infill home, but with the convenience of a total lock-and-leave lifestyle. “You get two side-by-side garage stalls

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and your own private elevator that brings you up from the parkade straight to your kitchen.” Clarke says that although the majority of their buyers remain to be semi-retired, downsizing executives and professionals, they also get families with older children and mature singles. “Our buyer group tends to travel a lot, so they appreciate the concierge service we have. They like the fact that we are still near the downtown core so it’s very convenient when they need to pop in the office, and they are all accustomed to the finer things in life — and they get this not just in the finishings we offer but in the spaciousness our homes provide.” These attributes had been key in THE RIVER’s initial success back in 2012, when they broke real estate records in the city twice for the most expensive condos sold. In fact, more than $30 million in sales were made in those few short months at the launch. The flood did take a bit of wind out of their sails, but the disaster may have even worked out better for THE RIVER in the end. Developed by 26th Avenue River Investments Inc., an affiliate of Ledcor Properties Inc., THE RIVER’s ground floor was raised so that it is now above the highest watermark recorded at the site during the last year’s floods, Clarke says. “Electrical and mechanical systems are also located above grade offering

| CONDO PROFILE

additional protection, so our owners can enjoy riverside living in greater comfort and with more peace of mind,” she adds. Since word came out the kind of preventive work THE RIVER was putting in place, sales have come back stronger than ever. Clarke feels THE RIVER’s success is assured. “Many Calgarians still want the wonderful experience of waterfront living,” Clarke says. “Our design enhancement offers our residents peace of mind and our purchasers are thrilled.” CL

F A ST F A C TS Community: Mission Cliff Bungalow Project: THE RIVER Developer: 26th Avenue River Investments Inc. Style: Luxury estate townhomes and condominiums size: 1,400 – 5,600 sq. ft. price: Starting at $1.89 to $8 million Discovery centre: 120, 396 11 Avenue S.W. Hours: Monday to Friday 11 to 4 p.m., or call for a personal tour Website: www.therivercalgary.com CO N D O L I V I N G septem b er 2014

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the seeds of

innovation the orchard will be unlike anything ever seen in calgary by pepper rOdrIgUez

hinking outside the box has been one of the hallmarks of success at Lamb Development Corp., and the Ontario-based condo developer may just have outdone themselves this time with The Orchard on Twelfth. This will be Lamb Development’s second project in Calgary, following the hit 6th and Tenth (which is almost 80 per cent sold). But The Orchard on Twelfth promises to be unlike any other condo development in the whole of North America by having a literal apple orchard as an anchor of the development. The Orchard uses the same idea for 6th and Tenth’s utilization of public art space to add to the development’s panache and appeal, but brings this to a whole new level of creative sustainability. “Same as in 6th and Tenth, we are creating a public space which everyone has access to, but we have a much bigger piece of land here, almost 1.5 acres,” says Brad J. Lamb, CEO of Lamb Development Corp. “Two incredibly modern towers with an apple orchard between them — this will definitely be a unique meeting place, a destination.” The one-and-a-half acre parcel of land separating the twin 31-storey high rises will be planted with two kinds of apple trees (Parkland and September Ruby, two kinds of apple trees that do well in Calgary’s climate). “They will be naturally-grown, fruit bearing trees that will be available to residents and the public,” says Lamb. “An orchard this size can produce over 50,000 apples a year, just imagine what we can do with that,” he tells Condo Living. “This also gives residents a quiet, park-like environment just outside their front door but still be five minutes away from downtown.”

“two incredibly modern towers with an apple orchard between them — this will definitely be a unique meeting place.” CO N D O L I V I N G septem b er 2014

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F A ST F A C TS Community: Victoria Park Project: The Orchard on Twelfth Developer: Lamb Development Corp. Style: Apartment condos in twin 31-storey towers Size: 521 to 1,987 sq. ft. plus balcony, which vary from 138 to 1,745 sq. ft. Price: Starts from $249,000 to $1 million Address: Southeast corner of 12th Avenue and 5th Street S.E. Website: www.lambdevcorp.com

“Having the dimensions of a small-plate tower allows us to build suites with more and bigger glass walls and have less hallways.” 28 |

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The 61,000-square-foot land parcel where The Orchard will rise is on the southeast corner of 12th Avenue and 5th Street S.E., just north of Stampede Park. This is one of the last pieces of developable land this size near the downtown core, and Lamb says if the 2008 recession hadn’t happened this site would already have been filled by numerous commercial and condo developments by now. “The developments along East Village and the Stampede Park expansion will put us squarely where the action will be in Calgary for decades to come,” Lamb says. “The Orchard will be the catalyst of growth in this part of Calgary where there really isn’t much now.” These small-plate, slender towers will have 215 suites each from one bedroom, one bedroom plus den, two bedroom, two bedroom plus den, three-bedroom suites as well as penthouses, most coming with their own underground parking stall and storage. “They will be incredibly modern structures. Having the dimensions of a small-plate tower allows us to build suites with more glass and have less hallways,” Lamb says. The suites’ balcony railings will also be extended beyond the slab to create a more visually appealing profile for the towers. Lamb says Orchard on Twelfth will appeal to first-time homebuyers — whether they are singles, couples or even young families. “The young professional working in the downtown will enjoy the kind of urban, modern lifestyle we will be offering here.” Prices match the wide range of prospective buyers, starting from as low as $249,000 to $1 million for the sky penthouse. As if that wasn’t enough, the development will also feature The Orchard

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The Orchard on Twelfth has such a unique design that a recent Ipsos Reid survey revealed that not very many of the 2,000 Americans and Canadians that were shown the design thought that this development could be in Calgary.

Lamb says the survey reveals a “hunger for imaginative design that puts urban lifestyle front and centre.” “Condo developers must start thinking more courageously when it comes to designing downtown projects,” Lamb says. “City living has so much to offer. Now is the time to start reinventing the way we envision downtown communities, especially the integration of shared green space.” Sales will start early in the fall, go to www.lambdevcorp.com for the latest updates. CL

Club — a residents-only amenity feature that will have a dining lounge, private outdoor gathering space and an infinity pool. In other words, everything a young, urban dweller can ever need. The Orchard on Twelfth has such a unique design that a recent Ipsos Reid survey revealed that not very many of the 2,000 Americans and Canadians that were shown the design thought that this development could be in Calgary. According to a Lamb press release, when shown an image of the condo design, 16 per cent of Americans guessed the project is in eco-friendly Portland, followed by 11 per cent saying Vancouver and 11 per cent believing this will go up in New York City. Calgary ranked 12th, with four per cent, barely beating out Boston, which ended up last. A third of Canadians guessed Vancouver, followed by 21 per cent saying Toronto and 9 per cent NYC. Calgary was in the middle of the pack with seven per cent. Only 11 per cent of Albertans envisioned the project in Calgary — with their top guesses being Vancouver and Portland. CO N D O L I V I N G septem b er 2014

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condo ProFile |

urBan heaven I by pepper rOdrIgUez

t’s no secret that The Guardian’s pair of 44-storey towers attract Calgary’s hip, young crowd who relish the prospect of living in the tallest residential condo development in the city. But this landmark development in victoria Park is also proving to be a beacon to families looking for a more urban lifestyle. With the numerous two-bedroom, two-bathroom suites, The Guardian’s developer, Hon Developments, is confident they can provide families a much-needed option of living an urban lifestyle close to the downtown core and all its attractions. The two-bedroom units are also perfect for the levelheaded buyer, who now has the option of bringing in a roommate to help pay off the mortgage faster. Demand is definitely picking up for infill housing in Calgary’s inner city communities, but it is an option that is increasingly rising beyond the reach of most buyers. That’s why homes at The Guardian — with one-bedroom suites starting in the mid $200,000s and two-bedroom suites in the mid $400,000s — are a very attractive option. “The two-bedroom units range in size from 809 to 979 square-feet, and have up to 139 square-feet of outdoor balcony space,” says Ernest Hon, Director of Sales and Marketing for Hon Developments. “As they are all corner units, they have wrap-around floor-to-ceiling glass windows in the living room area to bring in plenty of natural light and

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offers sweeping panoramic views of the city skyline, lush Elbow and Bow River valleys, and mountains in the horizon.” The twin 44-storey Guardian towers (North and South) will be the tallest residential high rises in Calgary. It has been a key development that has jumpstarted the revitalization of victoria Park, one of Calgary’s oldest neighbourhoods. Its location in victoria Park is perfect for a couple of reasons. One: The Guardian is surrounded by low-rise heritage buildings so residents on every floor have unobstructed views of the cityscape. “We have a terrific vantage point to catch the Stampede fireworks,” Hon says. Second: the thrill of growth is in the air in victoria Park and residents will be at the epicentre of all this action. “Over the past decade, the historic warehouse district has seen dramatic change

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the Guardian provides high style haven for urban families as the old warehouse buildings have been converted into studios for many of the city’s creative agencies, home to innovative small businesses, hip new restaurants and cafes,” Hon tells Condo Living. Recent hotspots in this up-and-coming neighbourhood include village Ice Cream, Caffe Rosso, and vagabond microbrewery. “Buyers in the Guardian are drawn here by the growing potential of the neighbourhood, as well as its convenient location, just a short walk into the downtown core. We expect that many buyers in The Guardian will walk or bicycle into downtown, making their commute quick and stress-free,” he adds. The Guardian is stylish from inside and out, as considerable attention has been paid in designing the interiors of the suites. The kitchens feature cabinetry by Armony Cucine, which are designed and manufactured in Italy. “These kitchen cabinets speak an

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The Guardian is stylish from inside and out, as considerable attention has been paid in designing the interiors of the suites. elegant language of minimalist lines, modern materials, and clever design features that make our kitchens a beautiful heart of the home,” Hon points out. The German-engineered cooktops by AEG feature cutting-edge induction technology that is the preferred choice in professional kitchens and the envy of epicurean friends. High-end finishes such as the honed quartz countertops and seamless back-painted glass backsplashes are not only elegant but also chosen to be durable and incredibly easy to clean. Each of The Guardian residences has floor plans that are meticulously designed to maximize functional living space and draw in the abundant natural light and panoramic views. Underfoot, wideplank laminate

F A ST F A C TS Community: Victoria Park Project: The Guardian Developer: Hon Developments Style: Twin high-rise condominiums Size: From 441 to 2,600 sq. ft. Price: Starting at $219,000 Presentation Centre: 456 – 12th Ave. S.E. in the historic Victoria Park Bungalow Schoolhouse Hours: Monday to Thursday noon to 6 p.m., weekends and holidays noon to 5 p.m. Website: www.theguardiancalgary.com

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hardwood flooring extends throughout the suite. In the bathrooms, sleek polished chrome fixtures, frameless glass showers, and a unique micro-mosaic tile feature wall make for a discreet, yet opulent setting. Residents at The Guardian will certainly also appreciate the set of amenities that includes a fully equipped fitness center, yoga studio, workshop, resident’s social lounge, and open-air rooftop terrace. The Guardian’s state-of-the-art presentation centre helps give prospective clients a feel for the lifestyle they can expect here, and even see the view available from the specific unit they want. The presentation centre is located in the historic Victoria Park Bungalow Schoolhouse, giving an appropriate nod to the history of this once-again vibrant community. The towers of The Guardian are well under construction and already making a dramatic impact on the city skyline. Seeing that firsthand will give eager residents peace of mind as the Fall 2016 completion date approaches and they begin to get ready to make the transition into their new homes and exciting new lifestyles. CL

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making A a splash Avi Urban’s Canoe is an Auburn Bay blockbuster By pepper rodriguez

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vi Urban just seems to go from strength to strength, and the latest offering from this multi-family division of Homes by Avi may be its biggest one yet, as Canoe at Auburn Bay is off to a rousing start. Canoe is Avi Urban’s first foray into this thriving southeast community and it is creating quite a big splash, and the award-winning builder couldn’t be happier that their vision for multi-family living in Auburn Bay is resonating so well with buyers. “Avi Urban has worked incredibly hard behind the scenes getting ready for Canoe’s sales launch,” says Charron Ungar, president of Avi Urban. “In creating the vision for Canoe we looked to the architectural signature of Brookfield’s Auburn Bay community for our inspiration.

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We wanted to build on that strong foundation while still bringing something new and invigorating design to the suburban multi-family home market. The result is a highly detailed, contemporary interpretation of apartment living in Calgary’s vibrant southeast.” Canoe was a hit from the opening bell. According to sales & marketing manager, Chris Pollen, Canoe has been a resounding success since its public launch on July 26. “We are really pleased with the response that Canoe has received. Avi Urban is dedicated to bringing high quality and unique designs to every development in which we build and Canoe really takes this to the next level. Wraparound balconies and oversized windows

blend with cedar shingles and long lasting Hardie siding to make Canoe at Auburn Bay a real community landmark.” Canoe at Auburn Bay is located at 25 Auburn Meadows Avenue S.E., and this styled collection of 158 apartment condominiums now start from the low $200,000s. But it isn’t just the attractive price point that is reeling buyers in. “I am confident that our innovative floor plans and high value specification will bring a strong opportunity to the table that today’s savvy and sophisticated buyer will appreciate,” Ungar says. “We are, after all, about bringing an urban aesthetic to all Calgarians dreaming about owning a home and I believe that this time around Canoe has managed to knock it out of the park.” Canoe at Auburn Bay features studio, one bedroom, and two bedroom apartment condos ranging from 620-1,300 square-feet. Inside, homes offer

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Homeowners can connect with their neighbours in a lake country-inspired courtyard, complete with a proposed custom fire pit. fresh mix-and-match interior selections like extended height flat panel or shaker cabinetry and full height tile backsplashes gets you one decked out space. Residents can enjoy an extended living space with huge patio spaces. “The average size of our balconies is 145 square-feet, and they all come with gas outlets to let owners enjoy their private outdoor space even more.” Outside Canoe, homeowners can connect with their neighbours in a lake country-inspired courtyard, complete with a proposed custom fire pit. Hundreds of trees will surround connective walkways that take homeowners through the development to the future LRT station and convenient retail plaza next door. The exterior is reflective of Auburn Bay’s resplendent lake cottage lifestyle with durable Hardie plank shakers and siding. The port cochere design of the exterior adds a definite design punch to the whole neighbourhood. The on-site sales centre is open and it does get busy even on weekdays, interested buyers can check out Avi Urban’s show homes in Sawyer Silverado to get a taste of the kinds of designs that will be available in Canoe. CL

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F a s t F ac t s Commmunity: Auburn Bay Project: Canoe at Auburn Bay DEVELOPER: Avi Urban STYLE: Apartment style condos size: From 620 to 1,300 sq. ft. PRICE: Starting from the low $200,000s address: 25 Auburn Meadows Ave. S.E. directions: South on 52 St. S.E. past Stoney Tr. and right on Auburn Meadows Ave. Hours: Monday to Thursday – 1 to 8 p.m., weekends and holidays noon to 5 p.m. Website: www.aviurban.com/canoe

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Elemental style T

he success ARRIVE at Redstone has achieved should not come as a surprise, after all its predecessor — Arrive @ Skyview Ranch — sold out in record time. Still, the latest townhome development from Partners Development Group has astounded everyone with the breathless sales pace it has recorded so far. The past six months has been a whirlwind with over 50 per cent of the development already sold. Possessions have already begun, as well, and people are beginning to enjoy life in this newest multi-family development in the northeast community of Redstone. “Our ARRIVE brand of town homes has really resonated well with the market, the family-friendly features and design that we offer has made it easy for homebuyers to fall in love with our townhomes,” says Partners Development Group’s VP of sales and marketing, Jade Mahon. “But our

The Windstone

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Redstone location in this thriving area of the New North has also been instrumental in our latest success.” Redstone and Skyview Ranch are two of the newest communities in the northeast. They both embody the newfound optimism that permeates the area just east of Deerfoot Trail where a host of exciting commercial, industrial and residential developments are reshaping what was once empty prairie grassland. There are plenty of employment opportunities in the immediate vicinity and Mahon

| CONDO PROFILE

ARRIVE at Redstone elevates townhome design in New North says workers at the Calgary International Airport, nurses from the nearby Peter Lougheed Hospital and seniors’ homes, and employees from the surrounding industrial zones relish the opportunity to own a home at Arrive at Redstone. “The accessibility our location offers just works for a lot of our buyers, and the townhomes we offer answer most, if not all, of their needs,” she tells Condo Living. But besides the accessibility is the stylishly functional townhomes ARRIVE offers. The newly opened Windstone model show homes deftly demonstrate to visitors what kind of lifestyle they can expect here. One displays a standard finish and the other comes with all the bells and whistles that show its true potential. “They both have all the design features that first time homebuyers or empty nesters want — like nine-foot ceilings in main and upper floors and vaulted ceilings in bedrooms, single attached heated garage, e-star stainless steel appliances and washer and dryer,” Mahon says. “But I think it’s a good way of showing our buyers what they can get for the budget they are working within.”

By pepper rodriguez

Arrive at Redstone will consist of 24 buildings within a development totaling 164 homes. There are a variety of units per building — configured with a frontage of either a four-plex or six-plex. “We have three building types, all with two-and-a-half baths and single garage with a full depth driveway for additional parking,” Mahon adds. Available are two-, three- and even four-bedroom models. The Earthstone townhomes are available with two or three bedrooms with den, or as a four-bedroom plan and are 1,342 or 1,590 square-feet, almost as big as some of the single-family homes in the area. “There is a demand for a four-bedroom plan. These are our Earthstone end units (1,590 square-feet),” Mahon says. The Windstone townhomes are similar to their sold-out Arrive @ Skyview Ranch, and the model has been one of their top sellers. The Windstone is available in two bedrooms with den and are offered as 1,210 or 1,348 square-feet. The Waterstone townhomes, meanwhile, is another new design made especially for Redstone. It is a walkout featured townhome with an individually fenced, exclusive-use backyard, with the option to develop the full basement, turning this into a 1,700-square-foot home.

“They both have all the design features that first time homebuyers or downsizers want — like nine-foot ceilings in main floors and vaulted ceilings in bedrooms…”

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F A ST F A C TS Community: Redstone Project: ARRIVE at Redstone Style: Two-, three and four-bedroom townhomes Size: From 1,173 to 1,590 sq. ft. Price: Starts at $319,900s Sales Centre: 104 Redstone View N.E. Directions: From Metis Tr. turn east onto 128 Ave. and left onto Redstone St. and follow the signs Hours: Monday to Thursday 2 to 8 p.m. and Friday to Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Website: www.arrivehome.ca

Photos on this page are of the standard Windstone show suite

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“These are unique west facing walkouts with unobstructed mountain views that back onto the beautiful pond that (community developer) Qualico has built in Redstone’s southwest corner,” Mahon says. The Waterstone are three-bedroom plans with an optional double master and are 1,173 or 1,196 square-feet. Not only do buyers get a more spacious multi-family home, but they also get one of the most sustainably built townhomes around, as Partners delivers BuiltGreen® certified homes with endorsed energy reports and New Home EnerGuide labels. “We want our home owners to arrive home to comfort, lifestyle and energy savings,” says Mahon. “We find our purchasers are mindful of saving money not only in their initial investment in their home, but also for their long term savings and benefits as well.” Currently, homes start at $319,900 in the second phase. The success of Partner’s ARRIVE brand of townhomes continues to spur the16-year-old Alberta-based developer to map out an ambitious growth plan that will see them introducing new developments in Evanston and again in Skyview Ranch (for a third time) over the next couple of years. “We’re launching ARRIVE at Skyview Ranch Arbours this fall, which will have 152 townhomes in 22 buildings and follows the blueprint of what has made ARRIVE a big success,” Mahon says. CL

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Open

Lakeside living has never been better in Mahogany

waters

ahogany as seen today already seems to be the perfect lakeside community — drive by its beachfront any day of the week and you will see families enjoying their suburban stay-cation life. But things are about to get even better. For one thing, more show homes are being launched that expertly display the varied home styles and pricing options available in this multiple award winning community. Renowned Calgary home builder, Homes by Avi, will be making their long-awaited debut as part of its Reserve Collection Lakeside Parade. And,

By Pepper Rodriguez

finally, the much-anticipated sales of lots in Mahogany’s premier Island Collection are beginning later this year. With 56- to 64-foot wide lots each with personal dock and private lake access — those 22 premiere lots promise to be the hottest deals in town. As well, there are plenty of new developments coming this year that will make this two-time Community of the Year SAM Award winner fulfill its potentials to become Calgary’s premier suburban community. It starts with the opening of the 22,000-square-foot Beach Club, which will be the focal point of community life here. Then there’s the opening of the spur, which will connect Mahogany to the massive Greenway pathway system — that one day will link all of Calgary. All these

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| COMMUNITY PROFILE

give residents of this southeast lakeside community that much more opportunities to enjoy an active, healthy outdoor lifestyle. “Our 84-acre lake is the biggest in the city, but there is so much more to living in Mahogany than just that,” says Erin McGregor, marketing manager for development at Hopewell Residential, Mahogany’s developer. “It’s all about giving our residents the best possible ways to enjoy life here, and that includes providing the best home choices in the widest possible range of prices, and having all the family-friendly amenities — like parks, playgrounds and pathways — available for their enjoyment,” she adds. “There are also five school sites ready for development within the community.” The massive undertaking by Hopewell is only about a quarter of the way developed with over a thousand families already calling it home. McGregor says sales are continuing at a healthy pace. “Sales are exceeding all expectations, we’re on par to setting a record year. There’s a good balance of supply and what we can offer.” There’s also plenty of innovation involved. The newest show home parade they will be opening on September 6 is an exclusive to Sabal Homes — Hopewell’s home building arm — and will feature rear-attached garages. “We anticipate they will become a very popular home style, as it offers the convenience of an attached garage while still providing a home with pleasant, unobstructed curb appeal.” A week later, Mahogany’s newest lakeside show home parade will be unveiled featuring models from Calbridge Homes and Morrison Homes (they will be joined later in the year by Homes by Avi, which will be introducing their first single-family homes here).

Mahogany Lake and West Beach

Homes by Avi Street Town

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Ebony by Jayman Modus

Mahogany’s award-winning character is even more amplified by its list of award-winning builders… And that isn’t everything. The west side of Mahogany’s lake is already open; it is ultimately designed to have three distinctive parts and two private beach areas for the residents, and clubhouse will also feature playgrounds, fire pits, boat rentals and more. Mahogany’s Urban Village is expected to become the heart of the community’s social and cultural life, with a selection of commercial and retail destinations. “People will be able to kayak from their backyard to the central park, dock, and walk in to the Urban Village to meet a friend for coffee,” McGregor says. “Mahogany offers an incredible lifestyle, and residents appreciate that active and friendly atmosphere.” Its location by Stoney Trail (22X) and Deerfoot Trail is also key in the community’s overall appeal. When completed, Mahogany will have an extraordinary mix of home collections, unique shops, restaurants, 265 acres of open space and parks, wetlands and beautiful streetscapes. “It’s a big project, and it will be about 15 more years before it’s finished,” McGregor says. Mahogany’s award-winning character is even more amplified by its list of award-winning builders, including Calbridge Homes, Homes by Avi, Jayman MasterBUILT, Morrison Homes, Sabal Homes, Stepper Custom Homes, and Trico Homes. Jayman Modus, Homes by Avi and Truman Homes offer multi-family options. “We have price points from the $180,000s to the million-dollar range, making it one of the most comprehensive communities in Calgary,” McGregor says. “It’s only going to get better from here.” CL

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Ma hogan y’ s coll ec t ion of homes an d thei r builders Boulevard collection: Condos by Jayman Modus and Truman Homes from the $180,000s. Attached Homes by Sabal Homes from the mid $350,000s. Townhomes and Street Towns from Jayman Modus and Homes by Avi from the low $300,000s Lakeland collection: Laned Homes by Sabal Homes and Stepper Custom Homes — priced from the $380,000s. Rear-Attached Homes by Sabal Homes – priced from the $520,000s. Front-Garage Homes by Jayman MasterBUILT, Sabal Homes, Stepper Custom Homes and Trico Homes — priced from the mid $500,000s. Reserve collection: Lakeside Estate Homes by Homes by Avi, Calbridge Homes and Morrison Homes — all with private Mahogany Lake access — priced from the $650,000s. Lakefront Estate Homes by Calbridge Homes and Morrison Homes – with private docks and lakefront lots – from $1.3 million. For more information, visit www.mahoganyliving.com

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| liFestyle

the past is the future Couple finds their roots — and their future — in new Currie Barracks development by kAreN dUrrIe

n the quest for their first home purchase, couple Ali Shaffer and Mark Tisdall knew they wanted a place where they could lay down roots — at least for the next decade. What they didn’t expect is to find that one of them already had roots in the area they chose, going decades back. Ali and Mark are among the first buyers at the new Juno development by Avi Urban in the community of Currie Barracks. The transformation to the former military base began in 2008 to turn the historically significant 200 acres in the southwest into a unique urban village that will eventually be home to more than 6,000 people. It was after signing the offer for the first townhome in the unique Juno, a 20-townhouse development, that Mark discovered his late grandfather, William “Buzz” Tisdall, had lived on base after he returned from WWII with the Calgary Highlanders. Though Mark was born in Calgary, he was raised in New Hampshire, so didn’t have a very close connection to his Calgary origins. But the historic connection was just one of the many features that clicked into place for the pair after they scouted the city for their inaugural home purchase. It is this sense of historic connection that is engendered in the design of Currie Barracks and the valour Park and victoria Cross Park in the neighbourhood offer not only an idyllic spot for residents but a place to reflect on the sacrifices of Canada’s military veterans. Ali and Mark — a lawyer and an engineer, respectively — knew they had found the right place here. “We’ve been looking at townhouses mostly because of the cost, and because we both work such long hours, we didn’t want to deal with any maintenance,” Ali says.

Alli shaﬀer and mark tisdall. photo by karen durrie.

» “We’ve been looking at townhouses mostly because of the cost, and because we both work such long hours, we didn’t want to deal with any maintenance.” CO N D O L I V I N G septem b er 2014

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“But we also wanted something close to the action, too,” Mark says, adding that they once rented in Garrison Woods and loved the proximity to amenities and work. When they found out Juno would be launching in early July, and discovered the detailed plans that developer Canada Lands Company had for Currie Barracks, they were impressed and excited to get in on the development. Cutting their commute was one of the key elements in their search, Ali says. She works downtown, and Mark works in the Foothills Industrial area, so Currie Barracks offers quick and manageable travel for each of them. The pair frequently mentions 10and 20-year plans for their future, and says although they did look in older communities at single-family homes, they weren’t quite ready for that leap yet. “This is the best deal for our 10-year plan before kids. It hits the sweet spot,” Mark says. Juno is unique in that no two floor plans are the same, says Anita Bustos, area sales manager for Avi Urban. When asked what model Mark and Ali had purchased, Bustos laughs and says that each address is its own model, thus the models are named only by address number. “But you could call theirs the ‘Ali and Mark Model,’” she says, indicating a series of different floor plans on the wall in the Juno presentation area at the Currie Barracks sales centre.

In lieu of a third bedroom, the couple opted for a loft, which will become their “Netflix den.”

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“Ours has the green door,” Mark adds. The development mixes traditional and modern elements, with each façade different from the next, featuring pops of colour in doors and custom flower boxes. The couple selected a $650,000, 1,500square-foot, two-storey townhome with a basement they will finish down the road. “We thought about what rooms we use, and we don’t take up much space,” Ali says. “The kitchen, TV and bed are all we need,” she laughs. Well, and room for their Yorkshire terrier and ragdoll cat. Mark more or less acquiesced to Ali on décor selections from the designer colours and finishes Avi Urban offered. The kitchen will have white cabinetry and white quartz countertops, with dark hardwood throughout, grey speckled quartz in bathrooms, and grey low shag carpet. In lieu of a third bedroom, the couple opted for a loft, which will become their “Netflix den.” The townhomes will all have private yards and detached double garages. As we chat, Bustos brings in another young couple to introduce to Mark and Ali, who have now just met their very first Juno neighbours. They are looking forward to getting to know their neighbours and witness the community as it continues to take shape.

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“We’re excited about the opportunity to watch the neighbourhood grow from the grassroots. That’s not something you get in a community that is 50 years old. It’s going to be a big hub in Calgary, and it’s great to be a part of it,” Mark says. Meanwhile, there are so many vibrant communities within walking or quick travel from Currie Barracks, the pair is looking forward to partaking in one of their favourite activities — restaurant hopping — once they settle in, around June of next year. The Currie Barracks high street will include banks, grocery stores, restaurants and shops. Once fully completed in about seven years, Currie Barracks will be a veritable town within a city, and a charming destination for Calgarians to visit for a stroll in one of the many parks, a spot of shopping or a nosh. CL

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Above: Clei’s LGM desk set up for use as an office during the day. Photo courtesy Resource Furniture below: The same LGM unit dropped down for some serious slumber. Photo courtesy Resource Furniture

hether you’re a core-dwelling condo owner or far-flung suburbanite, chances are you count among your square footage something called a bonus room (read also: den, spare room, guest suite, etc.). While the generosity of this space will vary by location, one thing is consistent: very few people know what to do with them. Oftentimes, regardless of what it’s called, people assume they want a space to function in some way other than what they might actually need. For example, if out of 365 days a year you might host overnight guests for a cumulative total of one week, it doesn’t make sense to sink time, money and effort into a full-blown guest room. Likewise, if watching a bit of telly is all you want to do after a long day of corporate slogging, making that space into an office is equally foolish. The truth is most people will have some degree of need for both — as opposed to either — and may also benefit by throwing in a bit of efficient, attractive storage for good measure. The key to a successful bonus room is use — and

Gone are the days of creaky, uncomfortable hide-a-beds with meagre mattresses and hideous fabric options. The new crop is sophisticated, easty to use and, most important, sumber-worthy.

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time

Finding a purpose is not only key in life but in designing the bonus room, too

I mean beyond a quick visit to drop off a wornonce bridesmaid dress or the inflatable boat you occasionally use to float down the Bow. In this instance, variety is both the spice and the solution. You’ll soon learn to talk in slashes (“And here is our office/den/guest room”) when you show visitors around, smug in your knowledge that you actually got yours to ‘work’. Start by adding interest to the space through personality-packed wallpaper (although a neutral grass cloth would be both cozy and stylish) or defining the room through colour. Blue or bluetinged cool tones are a great choice as they are conducive to both productivity and restful slumber and are, in the western world, among our most widely favoured hues. Next, create a bit of structure and storage with pieces that serve a variety of purposes. Crate & Barrel’s Incognito Compact Office is a superb option if you are going to use the room for doing a bit of work. Try putting three in a row along a wall: one in the middle set up as an actual “hidden” office and one on either side to serve as storage for linens and your guests’ foldables. Place a computer on the centre unit and have it set up with both a guest account and a Netflix subscription; that way you don’t have to fuss with a TV or splicing in cable if it’s not already there. Opposite this hub of enterprise (or sloth, depending), place a really great upholstered piece that can easily convert to a bed as needed. Gone are the days of creaky, uncomfortable hide-abeds with meagre mattresses and hideous fabric options. The new crop is sophisticated, easy to use and, most important, slumber-worthy. Crate and Barrel’s Karnes model is an excellent choice for providing some mid-century dash while their Willow series handily delivers a relaxed, beachy vibe. Both are available in either twin or queen

By David Crosson

Above: The Ulisse desk strikes a modern chord in a daytime office/den space. Photo courtesy Resource Furniture. Left: The softer side of Ulisse, ready and waiting after a hard day’s work. Photo courtesy Resource Furniture.

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rIght: the pax wardrobe system can be customized to make the most of limited storage space. photo courtesy IkeA. bOttOm rIght: When closed pax recedes into the background, letting other elements in the room shine. photo courtesy IkeA.

format and the Willow boasts the option of an easyto-inflate air mattress. If you have the room, another way to increase the function of the space is to run a wardrobe system along the full length of one wall. Here you can opt for a fully concealed system that essentially just becomes part of the room or select one that offers a mix of open and closed storage that you can accessorize to impart a more welcoming, personalized feel. IKEA offers some very cost-effective solutions in their Pax range but don’t just limit yourself to that. Their Bestä collection of entertainment units is equally customizable and offers some seriously slick looks to make a modern room sing. Even a series of kitchen cabinets (shallow or deep) in a suitable door profile would provide an enormous amount of discreet yet attractive storage capacity to the space. If a less portable solution is what you have in mind — and budget — kitting out the room with bespoke built-ins is an excellent way to go. Great strides have been made in modernizing the murphy (bed, that is) and nowhere is this more evident than in the Clei line at Resource Furniture. Their discreet, clever wares lend smashing style to any room. If you go this route, consider adding integrated lighting for heightened function and drama or even splashing out on some ultra-chic lamps to make the room feel truly special. The possibilities, while not endless, are at least within reasonable grasp if you use your resources wisely and employ a bit of judicious forethought. And isn’t that better than constantly tossing your ‘stuff ’ into an afterthought? Just imagine how thrilled you’ll be when you show it to guests and their universal response is “Congratulations on your bonus”. Happy decorating! CL

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If you have the room, another way to increase space is to run a wardrobe system along the full length of one wall. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: David Crosson is the owner of Barbarian Interior Decoration Ltd., which woks with both residential and commercial clients in Calgary and beyond. He is also the author of the blog Hausfrau: Better Living Through Better Living and is frequently called upon to provide commentary in matters of life and style in the local media. For more information visit www.barbariandesign.ca

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Singular Inglewood Discover the boutique shopping charms of one of Calgary’s earliest neighbourhoods

algary’s first neighbourhood still attracts shoppers. Inglewood, now in the centre of town, was first formed in 1875 around Fort Calgary. Located at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers, it was a natural site for settlement — and of course, where people gather, shops and services follow. With a population today of 3,647, the interesting and diverse community continues to grow, but it’s as much the wonderful location as it is the retail and culture it has attracted that bring people from all over the city and beyond. And it just keeps getting better, says Cindy Shockey, owner of Modern Country Interiors. “It’s a real eclectic balance now. It’s not just furniture or just galleries. There are those, but now also clothing and a lot of new restaurants. “It’s

By kathy mccormick

still primarily owner operators and boutique style.” That adds up to fun and unique opportunities for today’s shopper to discover, no matter what they are looking to buy. Some of the old favourites remain — think antique shops and consignment stores, music venues and art galleries, motorcycles and homemade, awesome sausages, compliments of Spolumbo’s. And don’t forget Record land, which has become a shrine for audiophiles. It is also a haven for house decorators, as there is a variety of shops and services to take care of their every need. Here is a sampling of some of the shops to help give your new home the personality to make it your own.

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Eyres Chaise Lounge from Limitless at $3,895.

Lightform

Limitless

As the name implies, nothing is beyond your imagination — and the store specializes in making furniture that is adaptable to your needs. “Limitless business is all about choice,” says Bruce MacMillan, who has owned the Inglewood Limitless store for two and a half years. The Dutch design firm is now global, with a modern, clean mix of quality furniture for all rooms in your home. Says MacMillan: “Today’s style choice is more modern or contemporary. I think Calgarians travel a lot all over the world and bring those design preferences home — and a lot of builders are now building more modern homes and condos. The inner -city developers have done a great job with modern designs — and condos, too. People see these online and traditional just doesn’t work. “Modern is optimistic, so even the downsizers today are looking for it. It’s clean, focused and minimal.” Look for a few really versatile and sleek pieces that are signature to Limitless. The G Sofa, for example, is made up of modules that can be made to fit any space as separate units or as a sectional. The backs of the pieces adjust for height and can be used to sit on as well in an informal space. “G is a symbol of return. The backs bridge as benches for drinks around the kitchen island.” Another popular item is the Eyres Chaise Lounge that’s so sleek and sophisticated, it just is meant to be lounged in — and the soft, micro-super leather material is so practical even a challenge from Spolumbo’s didn’t stain — cannelloni and red wine spills. The Dylan is another signature of Limitless. The simple bar stool won an international award for its simple design — no screws or fasteners and designed to last forever.

Lightform

What better way to show off that contemporary furniture and modern design than with lighting that makes a statement all on its own? Look no further, says Donna Rasmussen, account executive with the shop that just reopened its showroom late last year and has a large display of dramatic and different lights that are sure to be focal points of any home. “The majority of our manufacturers are European firms. We are Canada’s largest distributor of European lighting,” says Emily Jepson, inside sales and project co-ordinator. “There’s been quite a bit of interest in contemporary. People today are going away from traditional — but we do offer some transitional as well.” Perhaps one of the most unusual and dramatic light décor is the indirect lighting that’s built right into the wall and finished with drywall so it actually looks like a fissure right in the wall that has lights behind it. Dramatic, to say the least. “Flos, an Italian manufacturer, has this soft architectural line that looks like it’s integrated to the wall,” says Jepson, noting that they are exclusive to Lightform. FLOS products usually range from $2,000 - $8,000, but some are even more expensive, Jepson says.

This G Sofa model from Limitless is at $15,924.

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Modern Country Interiors

In Inglewood for 12 years, the shop continues to make custom wood furniture from its manufacturing plant in B.C. for the more traditional and transitional styles that have an enduring ‘today’ twist. “We stay in front of the trends,” says Shockey. “And we design custom furniture exclusively for our clients.” Some of the new furniture now in their showroom includes the Live Edge reclaimed big leaf maple tables. “They are like artwork,” she says. “You pick your own slabs and they’re unique to you.” The Thetis Dining Table is one example at $8,150. The Cole collection is the latest bedroom furniture — smooth and simple, yet elegant and beautiful. “It appeals to men and women. It’s timeless but very current in its look.” Cog Mirrors are another popular choice — in all sizes and set so they can be interlocked for design customization.

Trail Appliances

This chain has several locations in Calgary and Edmonton, but has a decidedly different look in Inglewood, says Kim Peterson, senior account representative. “It’s very high-end with some real luxury items. For example, we carry Wolf and Sub Zero. “And we are excited about the Dacor line that’s exclusive to our company. A lot of our builders put this into their luxury homes. They are California-made so they come with a North American price point.” So what are people asking for these days? Gas or induction ovens, says Peterson. “Electric is gone by the wayside. It’s hard to handle, hard to control and hard to clean.” And stainless steel is still king, she says, although Dacor is now bring- Dacor’s IQ wall oven is at $5,349. ing in some white models.

Some new items you will want to check out: Dacor’s new IQ Wall Oven that has a tablet in the control panel, allowing people to access the internet to research recipes, streamline cooking videos or plan menus. It recently won the best new product at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show. You’ll want to ask about the Discovery WineStation that is the first automated, temperature-controlled, four-bottle wine dispensing and preservation system for your home. Many other stores await your discovery. Inglewood is located along 9th Avenue S.E. just east of the Elbow River and Fort Calgary close to downtown. CL

Lightform

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East and West influences shape Calgary’s condo culture

Toronto

Cross Canada connections

f a time traveler from 1980s Calgary arrived in the downtown core today, he will find a very different place where glass and steel condos now rule the skyline. The question is: will he like this change? Condo developers from Canada’s coastal urban centres, Vancouver and Toronto, have been attracted to Calgary’s robust economy, and they have brought their modern, stylish glamour to transform Cowtown into a gleaming metropolis befitting its stature as the region’s economic powerhouse. Vancouver developers have been particularly active. Since Calgary’s urban living renaissance began in the early ‘90s, Vancouver developers have been instrumental in transitioning our city’s condo culture into the 21st Century. Vancouver’s Nat Bosa was one of the first developers to realize that Calgary’s downtown could be more than just a place to work before heading back to the ‘burbs to live. Today, his children — Ryan and Natalie Bosa — are championing the revitalization of East Village, helping turn land that

Vancouver

By Richard White

had once been a prime example of urban blight into a hip, modern riverside community. Calgary’s largest single condo development project to date — Waterfront (eight buildings, 1,000+ condos and 1,200 parking stalls) on the old Greyhound bus barn site east of Eau Claire Market was the brainchild of Vancouver’s Anthem Properties. This developer also has a 5.4-acre site across from Erlton Station that could accommodate a similar scale project. Vancouver’s Qualex-Landmark, has almost single-handedly reshaped the Beltline with five condo projects including sold-out Mark on 10th which is currently under construction. It just recently announced Park Point, a two-tower (500+ condos) in the heart of the Beltline north of Memorial Park; this means Qualex-Landmark will have built 1,500 new condos in Calgary in just over the past 10 years. The list of Vancouver developers shaping Calgary’s urban condo culture doesn’t end there. Bucci Development Ltd.

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is very active north of the Bow with mid-rise projects in Bridgeland and Kensington. And, Maple Project is responsible for Ten and UNO, both in lower Mount Royal, with plans for a high-rise apartment in the Beltline, as well as the redevelopment of the Highland Golf course. And yet, there’s even more.

International Influence

Calgary’s new urban living renaissance has captured the interest of the global investment community. Grosvenor, an urban development company based in London, England that dates back to 1677, identified Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto as the best three cities in the world for investment potential. Currently, Grosvenor Americas, based in Vancouver, has three Calgary condo projects — Drake, Smith (Beltline) and Avenue (West End). Vancouver’s Concord Pacific (developers of the Vancouver Expo ’86 site), with ties to Hong Kong, recently announced they will be proceeding with their uber-chic Eau Claire condo project west of the Princeton, simply named Concord. Concord Pacific is associated with luxury condo communities with a reputation of choosing only the “best of the best” sites. Eau Claire and Mission are competing to see who will become the “Mount Royal of condo living.”

Toronto developers get some skin in the game

Toronto condo developers, though late in the Cowtown condo game, have hit the ground running. Both FRAM+Slokker Real Estate Group and Lamb Development Corp. have entered

Photo courtesy Qualex-Landmark

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the Calgary market in the past few years. FRAM+Slokker is focused on East Village with three projects — First will be completed in 2015, Verve in 2016 and a site for an unnamed major retail, office and residential development has also been acquired. Lamb has acquired two properties for development — one on 10th Avenue S.W. named 6th and Tenth and another on 12th Avenue S.E. next to Stampede Park. The latter named The Orchard will be comprised of two 31-storey towers with a one-acre apple orchard in the middle. (See its Condo Feature in this issue for more details.)

Rafiiville or Little Vancouver

Not only are these developers shaping Calgary’s condo culture, but so are their design and marketing teams. Vancouver architect Road Rafii has had more influence on Calgary’s architectural look than any other architect over the past ten years. In 2001, the Vancouver Sun identified Rafii as one of the 10 architects who shaped Vancouver’s urban sense of place. In 2014, you could say he has also shaped Calgary’s sense of place as he was the design architect for Calla, Luna, Mark on 10th, Nova, Stella (all for Qualex Landmark), Drake (for Grosvenor) and Waterfront (for Anthem). Perhaps we should rename the Beltline “Rafiiville.” Grosvenor is also using a Vancouver architectural firm — James KM Cheng Architects — for its Avenue condo project in our downtown’s West End while Concord Pacific is using Vancouver “starchitects” Arthur Erickson and Peter Busby for their upscale Eau Claire condo project. In addition, Busby + Will Architects are designing a complete

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“The fact Calgary is attracting major experienced national and international urban condo developers, means more condos will be completed on time with quality design and construction, which in turn will make condo living more attractive to more Calgarians.” redo of the Eau Claire Market site for Regina’s Harvard Properties. Could our downtown Bow River condo district become “Little Vancouver.” Obviously, it is not a coincidence that Calgary’s downtown skyline is perhaps looking a bit like Vancouver’s given the number of high-rise Vancouver condo developers who are capitalizing on the residential rejuvenation of Calgary’s urban core.

Fostering a sense of place

I am anxiously awaiting the completion of Qualex-Landmark’s Mark on 10th as it has potential to be a signature architectural statement for Calgary. But if I had to choose my favourite uniquely contemporary condo designs, I would pick ones designed by Calgary architectural firms. Arriva Calgary

is probably my favourite — designed by BKDI. (Ed. Note: The Arriva site across Olympic Way S.E. was bought from receivership by Hon Developments who are now building The Guardian twin towers – the tallest residential condos in Calgary at 44 storeys. It is designed by IBI Group.) I have also come to admire what I like to call “The Chessmen” on Macleod Trail — SASSO and NUERA, designed by Calgary’s Abugov Kaspar Architects and Alura and Nuera, designed by Calgary’s S2 Architecture. These condo towers make a modern, robust and masculine statement with their massing and mechanical design elements. To me they have an engineering look that reflects Calgary’s huge engineering community. Good architecture doesn’t have to shout out “Look at me! Look at me!” Rather, it just stands out over time as something interesting to look at.

Condo living is in its infancy in YYC

“Condo living will soon be the norm in Calgary,” says Michael Ward, Senior VP & General Manager of Grosvenor Americas. His rationale is that Calgary will have a very robust economy for the foreseeable future (although there will be periodic downturns) given its political stability and the large fixed costs and long-term commitments to the oil sands by both domestic and international firms. This in turn will attract young professionals, not only from Canada but internationally to work in Calgary’s downtown office towers. He believes “living in condominiums is a preferred choice for an increasing number of young people, looking for affordable housing and centrally located.” He even postulates that “as seen in Vancouver, large parts of Europe and Asia, people are choosing to stay in condominiums after they form relationships and have families as they enjoy the convenience of living close to amenities, work and friends.” Ward notes, “condominium development has in the past garnered some bad publicity in Calgary, as smaller, opportunistic developers have walked away from half-finished projects through tough times and held on to purchasers’ deposits for years before commencing construction.” He notes, “the fact Calgary is attracting major experienced national and international urban condo developers, means more condos will be completed on time with quality design and construction, which in turn will make condo living more attractive to more Calgarians.” For decades, Calgary has been predominantly a single-family home city, but over the past decade this has changed not only in the inner-city, but in the ‘burbs also. For many the condo is the new ‘starter home.’ There are currently over 7,000 condos under construction across the city. As Bob Dylan sang, “the times they are a-changin.” CL CO N D O L I V I N G septem b er 2014

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The return of

Colin and Jus Calgary Home + Design Show welcomes back irrepressible Scottish design duo by Karen durrie

Joining the list of headliners at the Home + Design Show is ever-popular contracting king Bryan Baeumler, star of HGTV’s Leave It To Bryan.

t’s been five years and they’ve been missed, but Scotland’s own dynamic duo of home design are back to give Calgary another dose of their uproarious brand of home improvement tips at the Calgary Home + Design Show. Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan will be among the headliners at the Trail Appliances Main Stage of the Calgary Home + Design Show that takes place at the BMO Centre from September 18 to 21. According to Teri Salazar, show manager for the Calgary Home + Design Show, the return was long overdue. “We are thrilled to have our favourite designing duo back at the Calgary Home + Design Show!” says Salazar. “Colin and Justin made their Calgary debut at our show in 2007, and we can’t wait to host them again. From their signature humour to their savvy design insights, this popular pair is not to be missed!” The duo has been especially busy since they last made their appearance in town back in 2009, soaring to ever-greater heights as “interior designers, style commentators, Hollywood celebrity interviewers and all round lifestyle gurus” their website proclaims. But their brand of “cheeky” humour — not to mention their love for the Canadian audience — remains the same. “There’s a wonderful affinity between Canada and Scotland and we’re absolutely certain that being from Scotland helped endear us to warm, Canadian audiences. Sure, we’re cheeky — but Canadians seem to resonate with this. You’re a naughty lot too!” Justin says.

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colin mcallister and Justin ryan

tin They are proud Scots who don’t shy to wearing kilts on their shows, but that’s not all they are all about. “We’re not ‘rock and shortbread’ or ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’ in our ‘thang’ — we’re much more about being European in our designer outlook. As such, we’re very tailored and streamlined and this aesthetic seems to appeal to the ‘organised’ Canadian market. But yes — we often wear kilts. And what’s ‘worn’ under our kilts? NOTHING — it’s all in perfect working order. Sorry — couldn’t resist that old Billy Connelly joke!” Colin remarks. Their latest show “Cabin Pressure” on Cottage Life Network brings the boys on a hunt for their perfect cottage, but what they will bring to the Home + Design Show encompasses more than this. “We’ll be looking at ways in which to create the look of serious budgetary outlay but on a wildly limited spend. That’s always been our shtick — maximum visual return for minimal financial spend.,” Justin says. “During our sessions we’ll be offering lots of tips and tricks and shopping suggestions, put together around a wonderful before-and-after presentation. We’ll showcase our own cottage plus various associated urban projects that have a country edge,” adds Colin.

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The nice thing about their show is that you don’t have to own a cottage to appreciate the design tips they dispense. “Although (Cabin Pressure) was set in the country, many of our design principals can be played out on an urban canvas. We don’t want to exclude anyone, so there’ll be advice for everyone, no matter where they live — in the urban or suburban setting, or indeed at the lake. Or deep in the woods!” Justin says. “And ‘UPCYCLING’ will be a big part of the presentation — we’ll show some wonderful visuals of junky furniture transformed into useable home items. Abra — blinkin’ — cadabra!” Colin promises. Joining the kilted couple on the list of headliners at the Home + Design Show is ever-popular contracting king Bryan Baeumler, star of HGTV’s Leave It To Bryan, and Canada’s Handyman Challenge. Baeumler has become a fixture at Marketplace Events’ shows in Calgary, having appeared at the Calgary Home + Garden Show this past February.

We don’t want to exclude anyone, so there’ll be advice for everyone, no matter where they live — in the urban or suburban setting, or indeed at the lake.  Also appearing on the Trail Appliances Main Stage is a slew of top-notch local experts, each primed to share their expert know-how on everything from home improvement to haute interior design. The line-up includes: • Leigh-Ann Perrault Regular guest expert on Cityline • Heather Draper Interior designer at The Heather Company • Marie-Claire Williams and Clare Gardner Interior designers at Cardel Designs • Wanda Weston Interior designer at WW Designs “The key to design is finding what you like and molding it to fit effectively and affordably into your everyday life,” says Salazar. “We want every guest at our show to leave with at least one tip to use in their home, whether it’s big or small, owned or rented.” For tickets and more information on the Calgary Home + Design Show, visit their website at www.calgaryhds.com. CL

Top Left: (Clockwise) Leigh-Ann Perrault, Wendy Weston, Marie-Claire Williams and Clare Gardner, Wanda Weston

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Alberta Awards of Ex

2014 finalists announced

t’s a crowded field in the 2014 edition of the Alberta Awards of Excellence in Housing, and builders from Calgary Region lead the way with 32 finalist entries, including dominating the Community Development category with all three finalists. Brookfield Residential’s Auburn Bay, Heritage Pointe Properties’ Artesia, and Hopewell Residential’s Mahogany are the three finalists for the Community Development award — and you guessed it, they’re all located in the Calgary region. Edmonton Region came in second with 29 entries, and four for both Central Alberta and Lethbridge. A record 417 entries were submitted for judging by 156 industry members. Winners in the 23 individual categories plus three prestigious Builder of the Year Awards will be announced September 19 at BUILD 2014 in Jasper. “Many things have changed since the first province-wide housing awards competition was held 30 years ago,” says Stephen Amonson, President, CHBA – Alberta. “Back in 1984 the awards focused on affordable housing with a $39,000 cap on construction costs for single family homes. Today’s awards celebrate the full range of housing options — start-

Edgewater Villa by Jayman

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ing with homes under $245,000 without lot or GST, right up to estate homes that top $1,750,000. The best multi-family, green homes, community developments and renovations will also be honoured.” There are a total of 45 companies are in the running for an award. Two companies have a combined total of six homes among the finalists: Albi Homes/Albi Renova and Homes by Avi/Avi Urban. Two builders have three finalists and another 14 companies have double finalists. The highlight of the event is the announcement of the Builder of the Year Awards for the best overall scores in the competition. CHBA – Alberta will present awards to the top multi-family and small-volume builders and the Ralph Scurfield Award to the top large-volume builder. The finalists will be revealed at the awards ceremony. “We are delighted to see record participation in the awards and the broad range of companies chosen as finalists. Our industry has come a long way since 1984 when we built about 7,300 new homes — almost all for single families. Over the years consumer demand has shifted. Now we’re building more than 36,000 homes a year but almost half are duplexes, townhomes and apartments. Whatever their needs, buyers

Opus by ReidBuilt Homes

Edison-Scarlet by Avi Urban

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cellence in Housing will find outstanding choices by visiting the show homes in their community,” said Jim Rivait, CEO, CHBA – Alberta. CHBA – Alberta is also thrilled to announce the finalists for the Safety Leadership Awards. Eight companies are finalists for the awards sponsored by ATCO Gas. The awards will also be presented at BUILD 2014, CHBA – Alberta’s annual conference. CL

The following are the finalists in the Multi-Family and Community Development categories. For the complete list go to chbaalberta.ca Company

City

Model

Multi-family Townhome or Duplex Under $300,000 sponsored by Grant Thornton

Avi Urban Edison - Scarlet Calgary Homes by Avi Tristan Edmonton Sterling Homes Sensation Edmonton Multi-family Townhome or Duplex $300,000 - $400,000 sponsored by Lennox

Avonlea Master Builder Genesis Lethbridge ReidBuilt Homes Opus Calgary White Eagle Homes Emerald Edmonton Calla by Qualex-Landmark

Multi-family Townhome or Duplex Over $400,000 sponsored by Bridgewater Bank

Blok Home Development & Design Kensington Trio Calgary Homes by Avi JV3 Calgary Jayman Edgewater Villa Calgary Multi-family Apartment Under $325,000 sponsored by FirstService Residential

St. John’s Tenth St. by Streetside

Avi Urban Sawyer Silverado Calgary Qualex-Landmark Calla Calgary Rohit Group of Companies Vantage Edmonton Multi-family Apartment Over $325,000 sponsored by Mattamy Homes

Abbey Master Builder Modern Oasis Red Deer Qualex-Landmark Calla Calgary Streetside Developments St. John’s Tenth St. - Unit 412 Calgary Community Development sponsored by Christenson Communities proud member of Alberta Community Builders

Tristan by Homes by Avi

Brookfield Residential Auburn Bay Calgary Heritage Pointe Properties Artesia Calgary Hopewell Residential Management Mahogany Calgary CO N D O L I V I N G septem b er 2014

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ACOA OWNERS’ CORNER ALBERTA CONDOMINIUM OWNERS ASSOCIATION (ACOA)

Board Members: To Be or Not To Be Choosing to be a member of the condo board is the first of many decisions

ery early in my time as a Condo Home Owner, a good friend of mine told me to get on the Board of my Corporation. I really did think she was crazy. I had no experience and certainly no idea of how to be elected. She chuckled and said make sure you go to the AGM (Annual General Meeting) and when they ask for nominations, put your hand up. It really was that simple. Condos people are often afraid to step up however, it’s usually pretty easy to get on the Board. So the next question is why should you get involved? As Board of the Condo Corporation, their number one job is to maintain and preferably increase the value of your property. They achieve this by repairing and maintaining the property, investing the reserve funds, follow the bylaws, staying in compliance with the legislation and governing the property in a fair and reasonable manner. It is a balancing act trying to keep the fees reasonable and maintaining the property. While on the Board you to have a say in how the corporation is being run. You are one of the overseers of the corporation. You can ensure that corporation money is being spent in a fiscally responsible manner and that everyone’s investment is being looked after properly. The number one reason I hear as I talk to customers, when I advise them to be on their Board is that they don’t have time. The reality is that most Boards meet between six to 10 times per year for about two hours. Considering your money is at stake, it is worth reviewing your schedule. The second reason people don’t want to

be on their Board is fear. They fear that they don’t have the needed qualifications or experience to run a corporation. If you have a good property manager, or a competent condo consultant, they will guide you and help you learn what you need to know. There are a number of external resources for training Boards and individuals if that is needed. A good Board knows that it is ok to not know everything and to hire professionals when needed. The last reason people are concerned is liability. Your Board should carry “D&O”, that is Directors and Officers liability Insurance. You should find that on the Corporation Insurance Certificate. If it is not there, the corporation needs to confer with your insurance provider. As long as you are acting in a fair and reasonable manner and in the best interests of the condominium, the insurance will cover you. Being on the Board is a great way to meet your neighbours, learn some new skills and contribute to your community all while protecting your investment. If you have good common sense and understand that you need to make decisions for the greater good of the condominium and all of its owners, you will be a great Board member. CL

This month’s article by Lorraine Williamson, Board of Directors, ACOA

The Alberta Condominium Owners Association (ACOA) is a non-profit

association intended to represent ALL Alberta condominium owners and give them a concerted voice in issues that affect living in a multi-family environment. Co-Founders are Bernice M. Winter and Dr. June A. Donaldson, Calgary based business women who have diverse and extensive condo, business, entrepreneurial and academic experience to bring to this most necessary initiative. Visit www.Albertacoa.com for more information and how to become a member. CO N D O L I V I N G septem b er 2014

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CONDOSCAPES By richard White

a CHINatOwN stOrY

Great architecture works for — and with — the community

ood architects doing infill projects don’t impose their designs on a community. Rather they look around at what designs and materials already exist and then build on those. This is how to create a sense of place. And this is exactly what Calgary architect Ben Barrington did when he was engaged to design the 205 Riverfront condo next to the Chinese Cultural Centre back in 2000. The project, originally conceived by Bill Lister, Yakov Behar and Eli Ghanime, three local developers, saw an opportunity for a new apartment building in Chinatown. This project would be the first concrete residential building constructed in Chinatown since about 1980. The goal was to create a loft-style building based on the success of the Beltline’s Lewis Lofts and The Manhattan condo conversions. Given the site was in Chinatown and just north of the Chinese Cultural Centre, Barrington knew the design needed to respect the Cultural Centre both culturally and architecturally. He quickly engaged the Chinese Community and its community leader and head of the Cultural Centre, victor Mah. The design took some cues from the Cultural Centre without necessarily copying the details (e.g. use of red and blue). In addition, Barrington called upon Philip Leung, an Asian Feng Shui & Astrology master, to review the building and unit plans. This resulted in changing the orientation of the main entrance to be on the corner so the spirits in the building would not escape. He also suggested not having doorways directly opposite to each other so they were staggered. There was also a recommendation to integrate the koi motif as a symbol of good

luck and prosperity as well as a powerful and energetic life force. Barrington’s design team also included blue, Chinese-style patterned gates to decorate the loading area. In chatting with Barrington, I found two of his stories very amusing. The first took place after months of community consultation before submitting the design to the City for Planning Commission review. He got a call from victor Mah saying the community was supportive except for one thing — the building was too close to the Cultural Centre and if they wanted the community’s support, they would have to move the building to the north. It was decided to remove the units immediately next to the Cultural Centre and add two more floors to compensate, making the building 11 storeys, rather than 9. After some panicky phone calls to the City’s file manager, Barrington got agreement to make the change and so, over the weekend, his team redesigned the building, revised the drawings and re-submitted on Monday. The project was approved as revised the following Thursday. The second story was about the controversial decision to design all the units with only bathroom doors (no bedroom doors) to reduce costs and create real, loft-like units. There was however, the option to add a door as an extra if buyers wanted. To everyone’s surprise few chose this option. By pure chance, while writing this column I met with an individual who actually lives at

205 Riverfront. She loves the fact that her studio apartment is designed so the sleeping area is around a corner making it invisible to visitors. Her bathroom has sliding doors that give access from the sleeping area or the living room. She is very impressed by the efficient design of her small space including her small blue balcony with the million dollar views of downtown, mountains and river valley. Many of her visitors have commented on experiencing a calming effect upon entering the building. She also likes the fact fresh air is pumped into the hallways, which she finds very refreshing. It would seem Barrington and Leung created something special at 205 Riverfront. CL

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 CO N D O L I V I N G septem b er 2014

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

ASK MARIA By maria Bartolotti

tHe aC CONUNDrUm the best ways to beat the summer heat in a condo

We live in a condo apartment – can we install an air conditioner in our window? If not what are our options?

It is my experience that most Condominium Boards do not allow for the window-mounted air conditioning units. Having an AC unit protruding out your window can ruin the aesthetic of the building’s exterior, and most condo bylaws have provisions against this kind of thing saying residents cannot alter the exterior of the common property. So, by and large, having a permanent air conditioner unit outside your window is not an option for most condo owners — especially in apartment buildings. My recommendation would be to read through the “use and occupancy restrictions” of your corporation bylaws. This will give you a good indication of what is or is not covered inside your unit. It’s also a good idea to check with the Management Company or your condo board to see if they have a policy in place that governs the use of certain types of air conditioning units. Many of the new condos in Calgary today do come with air conditioning for the whole building as a standard. But older developments may not be so lucky. So when the temperatures in the city hit the 30 degrees Celsius mark (like it has this summer) things can get a bit sticky. But condo owners do have options available to them. If the heat does become unbearable, you can still have air conditioning — pro-

vided it’s the portable kind. You may want to consider a Danby portable AC, it has a 8,500 BTU capacity with a coverage area of up to 350 squarefeet. I’m told, this air conditioner is perfect for condos. There are different types of portable AC units and it’s always a good idea to investigate the best options for your condo. Most of these units work with a single exhaust hose that routs air from inside the room to the air conditioner’s condenser coils and then back out into the room. I would also suggest looking for a unit that is energy efficient. One of the drawbacks of the portable AC unit though is that it can be noisy. Check the bylaws, speak to the Board or management company before purchasing a unit to ensure it meets the requirements. CL

maria bartolotti

a.C.C.I, is the ownermanager 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 CO N D O L I V I N G septem b er 2014

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HOPE AT LARGE By marty hope

a CUt abOVe tHe rest

a community as special as riverstone deserves townhomes just as special

n carpenter’s jargon, the rule is to measure twice and cut once. In land development, opportunities to be able to work with really special pieces of land don’t come around all that often. So when they do, remember the carpenter. Brookfield Residential knew they had a chance to further enhance their riverside community called Riverstone of Cranston when the decision was made to introduce an estate-style townhouse element to the mix. “We knew we had a unique piece of property to work with,” says Doug Owens, general manager of Brookfield’s multi-family division. “So we took our time and thoughtfully planned out how to best use this opportunity to build near one of the largest urban parks in North America — Fish Creek Park.” Neighbouring some very elegant single-detached estate homes, the latest in the ever-lengthening line of Mosaic creations by Brookfield — this one called Mosaic Riverstone — is offering 64 upscale lofted townhouses suited in both size and finishings to appeal to a discerning consumer. Those consumers are made up mostly of semi-retired folks making lifestyle adjustments — rightsizing is the term often used — and young professionals looking for an elegant address near their career destination. And they know what they want. For those rightsizing, they might be looking for a lock-and-leave lifestyle. For others, this might be their last home. For the young professionals, Mosaic Riverstone will offer a comfortable haven to escape to after a busy day. “But one aspect they all have in common is that they know the market, some of them

have taken 12 to 18 months doing their homework before making that buying decision,” says Owens. Mosaic Riverstone is made up of three open-concept models — Slate, Olive, and Hunter — measuring between about 1,400 and more than 1,600 square feet and are priced from the mid-$450,000 mark with either two or three bedrooms, two full baths, stylish but workable kitchens, large balconies or patios, and spacious living areas. Finishings include exteriors of stucco with copper detailing. The interior has full-height kitchen cabinetry, hardwood floors, granite or quartz countertops, tiled showers, and oversized master bedrooms that will accommodate that king-sized bed. Blend all of this with location — lots with Bow River views, others overlooking parkland to the river, mountain views, and more private settings in one of the largest urban parks in North America, and you have a recipe for success. Construction and sales launched early in 2013 and Brookfield has already sold more than one-third of the townhouses with possessions already under way. And, he adds, because this is an estate development the townhouses have been made larger so they are considered a “solid alternative” to a $700,000-square-foot detached bungalow. “We’re pretty happy with the pace of sales,” says Owens. “For some of our buyers, it’s a big decision to move from a single-detached home into a condo.” Mosaic Riverstone is the 15th Mosaic

mosaic riverstone

project for Brookfield, but is by far the most unique. “With doug owens Mosaic Riverstone, we really broke the mould and expanded our style in homes. It’s something new for us, and the marketplace in general there is nothing like it because of its proximity to Fish Creek Park, green spaces, the Bow River and the new Seton urban district,” adds Owens. “It’s something new for us, and in the marketplace in general there is nothing else like it because of its location on the river,” adds Owens. For more information on Mosaic Riverstone, visit www.livebrookfield.com or visit the presentation centre at 98 Cranbrook Drive SE between 2 and 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, or from noon to 5 p.m. Fridays, weekends, and holidays. CL

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. CO N D O L I V I N G septem b er 2014

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AROUND TOWN By Pepper rodriguez

verve adds 100 suites

he best-kept secret of the summer is about to be let out of the bag! FRAM + Slokker announces the release of 100 new suites for their verve condo development in East village. “We’ve got a new release of podium suites tailored for affordable luxury in downtown Calgary,” FRAM + Slokker’s Fred Serrafero tells Around Town. “We were very successful in the first phase of release for verve with more than 100 units already sold from the 7th floor up. We tweaked plans a bit to bring in 100 more units along the four-storey podium.” The builders behind First and verve, FRAM + Slokker, recognized that there are current affordability concerns when it comes to finding a first home close to downtown. This new release, called The Riff Suites, will provide both one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites at prices that are within reach for most Calgarians. “Calgary condo’s buyers are looking for quality design and finishes in a great location at an affordable price. The new Riff Suites release meets all these requirements,” Serrafero says. The two new design plans being launched feature a 620-square-foot one-bedroom plus den and a 730 square-foot two-bedroom with two-bathrooms plan. One-bedroom design suites pricing start at $ 251,900 (without parking) and two-bedroom design suites pricing start at $ 384,900, including parking. With our current summer special launch pricing, over 80 per cent of the Riff Suites are priced less than $400,000. For more information, visit The verve sales centre at the East village Experience Centre.

orrison Homes wants you to be on the look out for their newest development: Sonoma at Nolan Hill. Their follow up to the hit Sonoma at Sage Hill is set to launch soon, and like its predecessor, Sonoma Nolan Hill will have some of the finest standard specs and nature-connected location that condo buyers have come to expect.

neW aFFordaBle housinG For seniors oPens in calGary

eniors in Calgary now have more affordable housing options thanks to an investment by the Governments of Canada and Alberta. Inglewood House is a new three-story, 43-unit complex built for seniors. The building consists of 10 studio and 33 one-bedroom apartments. Guests at the opening included the Honourable Deepak Obhrai, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and for International Human Rights and Member of Parliament for Calgary East; along with Wayne Cao, MLA for Calgary-Fort; and Mayor Naheed Nenshi. “It hardly seems possible that almost two years have passed since the groundbreaking ceremony,” said Parliamentary Secretary Obhrai. “Yet here we are today, celebrating the official opening of Inglewood House. Our Government is proud to have invested in affordable housing in Calgary to help provide a stable and affordable place for seniors to call home.” The Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta jointly contributed $4.7 million through Canada’s Economic Action Plan — Housing for Low-Income Seniors, an additional $10,000 was provided to the group in Seed funding through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

city and federal government officials at the opening of inglewood house.

neW in nolan hill Sonoma Nolan Hill will have 106 units of two- and three-bedroom three-storey townhomes and will be located at 460 Nolan Hill Drive N.W. “Over 90 per cent of units feature both natural greenspace walkouts and sunshine basements that back onto courtyard views,” says marketing specialist, Carrie Smith. “There’s easy access to a multitude of

amenities from Sonoma. We’re only 10 minutes to the airport and there are a ton of new commercial sites being built in the community, not to mention the ones already found nearby, like Creekside, Beacon Hill and the new Symons valley Farmers Market,” she adds. For more information, visit www. sonomanolanhill.com

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sentinels to KeeP Watch over east villaGe

currie BarracKs renovates sales centre

peaking of the East village, Calgary’s most ambitious land redevelopment project in years is fast gaining a name as one of the best spots for public art in the inner-city, and they welcome their latest addition to the scene: The Sentinels. Even before Calgary became an official dot on the Canadian map, East village was a notable destination and important gathering place on the southern Alberta landscape. With the establishment of Fort Calgary in 1875 and construction of a CPR station eight years later, the city’s original neighbourhood welcomed visitors from all across the prairies with a grand and unmistakable sense of arrival. In keeping with its commitment to transform Calgary’s East village for the future while celebrating its important past, the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) — the organization leading East village’s rebirth — has been reviving the neighbourhood’s impressive sense of arrival with a heavy emphasis on heritage. And in East village’s new gateway feature at Fort Calgary, you’ll see a particularly heavy emphasis on “heavy.” “Our new landscape feature — The Sentinels — includes five extremely heavy glass and concrete pillars depicting historical city figures, all suspended from a steel framework at the corner of 6 Street and 9 Avenue S.E. The installation is part of the extensive landscaping program CMLC has been advancing around the circumference of Fort Calgary since 2007,” says Susan veres, CMLC’s vP Marketing and Communications. Aptly called ‘The Edges’, the landscaping program has created a respectful delineation between the urban energy of East village and the natural character of Fort Calgary, a 40-acre open space and designated historical site.” “The Sentinels were created to complement ‘The Edges’ park space, which we completed last year,” adds Michael Brown, CMLC’s CEO. “As a gateway to East village, they’ll extend a welcoming invitation to the area as they stand guard over Fort Calgary and East village. “Fort Calgary is the birthplace of our city. It is the city’s most important cultural landscape — a landscape that expresses the long and intimate relationship between people and their natural environment. ‘The Edges’ define this very special place in our history and the Sentinels, in particular, represent four significant historical people and their contribution to our shared history, said Sara-Jane Gruetzner, President & CEO, Fort Calgary.

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n tune with the exciting new developments happening in the inner city enclave of Currie Barracks, its developer — Canada Lands Company (CLC) — has undertaken a major restructuring of its sales centre, which was introduced to residents recently. The sales centre was refurbished to bring the customer experience up to date and represent the refreshed philosophy and intention of the new master plan. The design concept was developed around a customer path that would help tell the story of Currie Barracks. Fundamentally the customer path takes visitors on a journey, telling a story and creating a frame of reference for the master plan from macro to micro. In the main area of the sales centre, the master plan is discussed in further detail — the kind of a community will be established, the kind of lifestyle people can expect, and all of the amenities that are available within the community and the immediate surrounding areas. This story is enhanced touch screens that shows a high level map of the master plan and shows seven places within the plan, and highlights the fun events and community engagements taking place at Currie Barracks. The new sales centre also collects four of Currie Barracks multi-family developer partners. Included are The Armory from Cove Properties; Axess from Slokker West; Juno by Avi Urban and Overture by Jayman Modus. Empire Custom Homes has their own show home in Currie Barracks for their luxury townhouses at valour Park, as do single-family builder partners Crystal Creek Homes and Calbridge Homes. It is worth mentioning that creating this space did not come without challenges, says Stephanie Gough who handles marketing for Currie Barracks. “The mess hall was designed for a different purpose, the shape is atypical and all fittings, floorings, walls, and windows were protected due to the building’s heritage designation. This impacted how we were able to approach the existing space and evolve it into an environment that would create a customer journey that could be intuitive, rational and practical.” CL

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calgary map | North West, North East and Inner City MAP LEGEND

High Volume Roads Main Roads

15 4

Parks

Bodies of Water

5 18

See Advertiser Index for Project Page Reference

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North West, North East and Inner Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x201A;|â&#x20AC;&#x201A;calgary 17

map

Inner City

9 16

11 13 18 7

12 15

North West | North East Projects 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Viridian Arrive @ SkyView Ranch Landings at Cougar Ridge

Sonoma at Sage Hill Panorama West Kincora Summit Emerald Sky Albert Park Station 43 Park The Post

Inner City Projects 1

11 LiFTT

12 Groves of Varsity 13 Villas at Watermark

14 STEPS Bridgeland 15 Sage Place

16 Bridgeland Crossings 17 University City

18 Willow at Sherwood 19 einstein2

20 Arrive @ Redstone

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Vogue The Concord Avenue West End VEN Smith Drake The Park LIDO Riverfront Pointe Waterfront 6th and Tenth Mission 34 The Guardian South Verve District Evolution Kensington The Orchard on Twelfth

19 16

increase your advertising visibility take advantage of premium positions contact:

Heather Dougall 403.532.3101 heather.dougall@sourcemediagroup.ca

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calgary map | South West, South East and Calgary Area

24 10 12

29 4

31 25

AIRDRIE

MAP LEGEND High Volume Roads Main Roads

5 7 9

Parks Bodies of Water

6 4

See Advertiser Index for Project Page Reference

3 2

COCHRANE

1 1

CHESTERMERE

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OKOTOKS

South West, South East and Calgary Area | calgary 1 ZEN Auburn Bay 2 Ebony 3 The Gates 4 Einstein @ Marda Loop 5 Harvest Mosaic 6 Legacy Gate 7 Stonecroft Auburn Bay 8 Juno 9 Canoe

10 The District 11 Champagne

12 tela 13 Aura in Copperfield

Airdrie

11 3

16 Sobow 17 Chalet No 4 & No 5 18 Stonecroft at

Copperfield

19 Cranston Place 20 Bristol Townhomes 21 Sawyer Silverado

27 Copperfield Park II & III

28 Cranston Ridge 29 The Alexander

30 Valmont at Aspen Stone 31 THERIVER

of Quarry Park

23 Side by Side

Auburn Bay

Cochrane 1 Riviera Riversong

2 Windsong 3 Creekside Village 4 Waterscape at

2 Jumping Pound 3 4 5 6 7 9

25 Mission34 26 Mosaic Riverstone

22 Boulevard Townes

24 The Block

14 Mint 15 Hunter House

1 The Edge

Cooper’s Crossing 5 Stone Keep at King’s Heights 6 Ravenswood Townhomes

map

Townhomes Stonecreek Landing Trading Post The Village Townhomes in Sunset Ridge Heartland RiverReach The Range

CHESTERMERE 1 The Courtyards in

Chestermere

2 Townhomes of

Chestermere Station

Okotoks 1 ZEN Okotoks

13 14

18 27

9 19

28 26

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ADVERTISERS INDEX | Alex Assured Communities page 44

Chalet No 5 Sabal page 39

Kensington Bucci page 72

Altadore Brookfield Residential page 5

Champagne Remington Development Corp., page 20

Kincora Summit Cove Properties page 8

ARRIVE Partners Development page 83

CHBA – Calgary Region page 104

Auburn Bay Brookfield Residential page 63 Aura Aldebaran Enterprises page 65 Avid Ratings page 38 Birchwood page 79 Brownstones, Sage Meadows Genesis page 13 Cardel Lifestyles page 11 Carlisle Group pages 58-59

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Stonecroft pages 84-85

The River page 107

Tela Cdh developments page 94

Valmont Riverbend Developments page 26

Kore Real Estate page 78

The Armory Cove Properties page 8

VEN Kensington Bucci page 64

Copperfield Park II Brad Remington Homes pages 103 & 108

Lido Battistella centre insert

The Concord Concord Pacific pages 6-7

Einstein 2 Providence page 96

Market Place Events page 19

The Edge Streetside Developments page 105

Verve Fram/Slokker Developments pages 24-25

Evolution Embassy/Bosa page 4 Juno Avi Urban page 53 Glas Avalon Master Builder pages 30 & 77 Guardian Hon Developments pages 2 & 37 Hunter House Streetside Developments FC, pages 16-18 & 32

Mission 34 Assured Communities page 45 Morena West Rockford page 99 Park Point Qualex-Landmark page 33 Parkside Anthem Properties page 45 SoBow M2i page 66

The Gates Remington Development Corp., page 71 The Groves of Varsity Statesman page 92 The Landing at Rocky Ridge Swan Group page 70

Villas at Watermark Macdonald Developments page 76 Viridian Trico page 70 Vogue La Caille page 88 Waterfront Anthem Properties page 3

The Orchard Lamb Development Corp., page 31

Willow Avi Urban page 43

The Park Lake Placid Group page 83

Zen, Okotoks Avalon Master Builder page 90

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Feature | tales from the condo zone Got an interesting Condo Tale to tell? Email us at jim.zang@sourcemediagroup.ca

it’s a beautiful day stOry by jIm zANg ILLUstrAtION by LAmA AzhArI

nce upon a time, on a beautiful hot summer day many years ago, I sat in my condo and didn’t know what to do. So I said to myself, “Self,” I said, “I feel like I should be doing SOMETHING”. It’s a great day to go golfing; I could call a buddy or try to get on as a single. Or maybe even just go to the range and hit some balls. I could go rollerblading in Fish Creek Park. Cruising along the paved pathways, beneath the towering cottonwoods, escaping the city, exercising my heart and getting a tan at the same time. I guess I could go down to the club and get in a workout, or a game of raquetball or tennis. Hmm. On second thought, I feel energetic, but not THAT energetic. I could go get groceries, but I’m pretty sure there’s still at least one pack of Kraft Dinner in the cupboard and beer in the fridge, so why bother?

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I haven’t been fishing in a while, and haven’t actually caught anything the last half dozen times I’ve tried. So, maybe not. But I do have all the gear, and I could go, if I wanted to. I’ve got a dinghy, too, and I could go rafting. Although, admittedly, my idea of white water rafting is riding Splash Mountain at Disneyland. I could just hop in my car, a 1977 Firebird, and drive. Maybe west, toward the mountains. Maybe just downtown. Windows open, stereo cranked, eight track blasting out Supertramp’s Crime of the Century. It’s just too nice a day to sit around doing nothing. I could finally sit down and write that freelance story that’s due but, um, uh, no, I don’t really feel like working. Pick something else. I could go to the library, or the museum, or something cultured like that, I thought. Ya, right! Okay, but I could get out and watch some soccer or baseball or something, even if it’s just kids at a local field. I know I’m a little older, but once they saw me play I’m sure they’d let me join. I still couldn’t decide. And then it hit me. I didn’t have to do anything if I didn’t want to. By doing nothing, I was doing something: I was condo-ing. I had, in fact, invented, or at least labeled, a new verb. It means “to live the carefree do what you want when you want lifestyle”. So, on that beautiful day, I didn’t mow the lawn. I didn’t prune trees or wash windows either. I didn’t have to build a deck, paint a fence or clean out the eavestroughs. Nope, not me, I just sat there all day. Because I lived in a condo and, after all, I did invent a new verb. CL

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