Condo Living - September 2018

CONTENTS

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SEPTEMBER 2018 | VOLUME 14 ISSUE 225

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COVER FEATURE 12 | StreetSide Style

From chic inner-city towns to stylish condos and villas, StreetSide has it covered FOCUS ON 8 | Professional retreat Make your home office a comfortable, efficient and stylish spot CONDO PROFILES 18 | Live well, live now in Canals Landing Genesis’ Newport townhomes caps Canals Landing in Airdrie 22 | On the launch pad A new age for 17th Avenue S.W. is about to begin, as The Fifth launches 28 | Essential living Nude by Battistella strips off all but the essentials to urban life 33 | Welcome to the family Partners Development Group arrives in Sage Meadows 38 | Find your fit Annex gives you the best of inner city living in Kensington 42 | Measured worth Wentworth Pointe brings single-family features to multi-family living in southwest C A LG A R Y H O M E L I V I N G . C O M

57 COMMUNITY PROFILE 48 | The future is now in Belmont Anthem United’s ambitious plans for Belmont take hold

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DESIGNER SERIES 57 | One vision Teaming up to create “wow” in Scarboro 17

COLUMNS 69 | Ask Maria

by Maria Bartolotti 71 | Hope at Large

by Marty Hope 73 | Condoscapes

by Richard White 75 | Real Estate Insider

by Mario Toneguzzi 77 | Condo Tales

by Jim Zang

NEWS 62 | Style rules Serial Stylist, Tommy Smythe, lets style talk in 2018 Calgary Fall Home Show appearance

ITEMS 6 | Editor’s Message 65 | Around Town 78 | Ad Index

LIFESTYLE 52 | Linked in to sophistication Teacher finds fulfilling bachelorette life in The Link at Symons Gate

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EDITOR’S MESSAGE |

GROWING COMMUNITIES

When I started in this job some 10 years ago now (I know, I’m a lifer) Auburn Bay and Mahogany Lake were a little more than deep holes in the ground in the city’s south.

But now these spectacular and avidly popular new lake communities have become complete neighbourhoods living up to their vision, and more. Back in 2008, the city’s southern border ended in Silverado, and to the north, today’s new communities of Livingston and Carrington were nothing more than prairie grasslands. Now, we have Yorkville and Belmont bringing us further south and new communities of East Stoney, Glacier Ridge and more now approved for further development in the north.

My friends and family will sometimes look at me perplexed and ask where new communities are. (“Carrington, where’s that?” one of my recent conversations with a buddy went.) They’re about to get more perplexed after City Council voted to allow 14 new suburban communities to be built in the coming years. Those include the massive developments of Glacier Ridge in the north, Providence, Rangeview and South Shepard in the south. According to news reports, these new communities could add more than 18,000 single-family homes and as much as 9,000 multi-family homes.

With so much going on, Source Media Group is launching New Community Guide in the coming months to inform readers of these new places to live, whether they’re established, on their way to being established or are just coming down the pipeline.

I’ve always seen Condo Living and New Home Living as chronicles of Calgary’s growth, this new magazine will make it doubly so.

But that’s for the future. Right now, we still have plenty of growth happening, more so with our cover feature StreetSide Developments and we talk about all the townhomes, condos and no-condo-fee street towns they offer inside. All of our condo profiles this moth are for new developments that were only released less than a year ago – most within the last few month, like Nude by Battistella, and The Fifth by TAK Developments, and Annex by Minto. Find out more inside. Wentworth Pointe takes advantage of their location in 85th. Newport by Genesis is the last chance the established Canals NEXT MONTH: community in Airdrie, while Partners new Arrive Designing the bonus room at Sage Meadows can be seen as pioneers in a newer neighbourhood.

But through these changes, Condo Living and New Home Living remain your best resources in finding out the best new opportunities to live in your new home.

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 DESIGNER

Chloe Purcell chloe.purcell@sourcemediagroup.ca Vivian Zhang vivian.zhang@sourcemediagroup.ca Colleen Leier colleen.leier@sourcemediagroup.ca

PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR |

EDITORIAL

Maria Bartolotti, Darlene Casten Brandi Holmes, Marty Hope, Mel Ladner Mario Toneguzzi, Richard White PHOTOGRAPHY | ILLUSTRATION

Lama Azhari, Amadeo Giron, Don Molyneaux ADVERTISING SALES

Andrew Best andrew.best@sourcemediagroup.ca Brandi Holmes brandi.holmes@sourcemediagroup.ca Jennifer Mills jennifer.mills@sourcemediagroup.ca ACCOUNTING | Norma Robertson accounting@sourcemediagroup.ca DISTRIBUTED BY

Gallant Distribution Services, Media Classified, Source Media Group ISSUE 225 • ISSN 1918-4409 ©2018 Source Media Group Corp. Material cannot be reprinted in whole or in part without the written permission from 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., 6109 — 6th Street S.E. Calgary, Alberta T2H 1L9; Tel 403.532.3101 Toll free 1.888.932.3101; www.sourcemediagroup.ca

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PROFESSIONAL RETREAT 10 Make your home office a comfortable, efficient and stylish spot

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BY MEL LADNER

THE HOME OFFICE seems to be a contradiction in terms; who wants to bring work home anyway? But setting up a dedicated locale in your home for office work can be a challenge — you want it to be professional, efficient and tidy yet still be part of the home.

Finding the right chair, or desk, or bookcase is essential, but so are the peripheral accessories like a laptop or PC, and maybe remote speakers to set a musical tone to the proceedings.

Or set-up your home office as your own private Netflix watching location and tell the little ones that no one can bug you while you’re ‘working’. CL

[ 1 ] Exian Bluetooth Headset with SD Card Slot, Black, $50.99, at Staples. [ 2 ] Apple TV 6GB (4th Generation), $249, at WestWorld Computers. [ 3 ] SONOS ONE, $249, at WestWorld Computers. [ 4 ] TERTIAL Work lamp, green, $14.00, at IKEA. [ 5 ] LÅNGFJÄLL Swivel chair, Gunnared light brown-pink, white, $159, at IKEA. [ 6 ] Adesso® 122-Key Large Print Keyboard with High Contrasting Yellow Keycaps, $35.66, at Staples. [ 7 ] Floortex (FCA22032BK) Standing Workstation Anti-Fatigue Mat 20x32, $65.03, at Staples. [ 8 ] Safco® Scoot Under-Desk Printer Stand, $94.94, at Staples. [ 9 ] EKET Wall-mounted cabinet combination, white/ dark gray, light gray, $205, at IKEA. [ 10 ] SONOS Beam, $499, at WestWorld Computers. [ 11 ] Seagate® Backup Plus Slim STDR2000103 2TB Portable Drive, Red, $112.12, at Staples. [ 12 ] SONOS Play:5, $649, at WestWorld Computers.

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STREETSIDE STYLE

From chic inner-city towns to stylish condos and villas, StreetSide has it covered

Vivace at West 85th

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n it’s nearly three decades of building multi-family homes in Calgary, StreetSide Developments certainly has developed a feel for the needs and wants of the Calgary market. Whether it’s sleek apartment-style condos, multifunctional townhomes and villas, or even the popular nocondo-fee street towns, StreetSide has something for everyone in any part of the city.

And wait ‘til you hear what more they have in store.

The multi-family home building division of Qualico has nine on-going and soon-to-launch developments in all four sectors of Calgary. Each reflect the style and sensibilities of the particular demographic they cater to, but all come with the same assurance of quality that is the hallmark of any StreetSide build.

“Among the many wonderful qualities of StreetSide is the fact that we offer a wide variety of home-styles in all quadrants of Calgary and cater to each of the main segments of the market exceptionally well,” says Ian Macdonald, Director of Marketing and Sales at StreetSide.

Catering to as wide a set of clientele as StreetSide does, they are still able to design multi-family homes that fit their wants and needs.

“Whether it’s Logan, a young mechanic, purchasing his first townhome in The Loop in Evanston; or Amy and Benny, and their dog Wei Wei,

The Loop in Evanston

who purchased their first no-condo fee townhome in the Townes of Redstone; or Brian and Diana, an active couple, who just bought their new Villa in Silverado and are excited to ‘right-size’ their home, we are proud to deliver a quality home to each category of purchaser in Calgary.”

The Loop in Evanston (traditional townhomes), and the Townes of Redstone

Vivace at West 85th

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The Loop in Evanston

“Among the many wonderful qualities of StreetSide is the fact that we offer a wide variety of home-styles in all quadrants of Calgary and cater to each of the main segments of the market exceptionally well.”

(no-condo-fee street towns) offer first-time homebuyers and downsizers and even young families a terrific option in the north.

Killarney Townes shows off fantastic inner-city townhome living; Vivace at West 85th features trendy apartment-style condos in the heart of an amenity-rich commercial development in the southwest; Origins at Cranston has affordable move-in ready condos in the southeast; the timeless, luxurious Hunter House is down to its final townhomes and the much anticipated,

maintenance-free Villas of Silverado, also in the southwest.

Coming this fall are the Villas of Silverado, which will have a grand opening of their bungalow villa show homes, and the launch of Emberpark townhomes in one of the most anticipated locations in the northeast community of Redstone. And in 2019, StreetSide will also have a presence in the emerging south community of Belmont with their new townhomes.

“We are very pleased with the pick-up in the market mid-way through 2018 as our StreetSide purchasers are able to secure financing and navigate through the new mortgage rules with the help from our team of mortgage experts,” Macdonald says. “We have also introduced new ontrend and move-in ready condos, townhomes and villas which our new StreetSide purchasers are thrilled about.”

With more townhome choices down the line — and starting prices holding in the $200,000s, Macdonald has a case for continued optimism.

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STREETSIDE DEVELOPMENT’S CURRENT CONDOS AND TOWNHOMES: THE LOOP IN EVANSTON — Move-in ready townhomes and Phase Two is now released, starting in the $290,000s (+ GST) www.liveintheloop.ca TOWNES OF REDSTONE — Move-in ready townhomes and Phase Two is now released, starting in the $300,000s with NO CONDO FEES. www.liveinredstone.ca KILLARNEY TOWNES — Four inner-city moveTownes of Redstone

in ready townhomes available in the mid$500,000s (+ GST). www.killarneytownes.ca

VIVACE AT WEST 85TH — Condos, townhomes “We are very excited for our upcoming townhome community in Redstone called Emberpark, starting in the $200,000s and Penthouses starting in the $250,000s, plus GST; and our townhomes in Belmont, starting in the move-in ready and Spring 2019 occupancy now $290,000s coming in 2019.” available. www.livevivace.ca Meanwhile, the Loop in Evanston continues to win hearts ORIGINS AT CRANSTON — Final move in ready and minds with its unique Salt Box design and its themed condos available, starting in the $220,000s central parks. including GST. www.originscondos.ca The Loop in Evanston has just launched the second phase of this popular development with row townhomes that start HUNTER HOUSE — Final townhomes in the from the $290,000s. mid-$400,000s and attached bungalows in the The Loop certainly has affordability, functionality and style, mid-$300,000s now available. says Area Manager Jared Kulawik. But there’s a lot more to it. www.hunterhouseliving.com The Loop is being built all the way around a park in this VILLAS OF SILVERADO — Bungalow Villa show established northwest community of Evanston (a Qualico homes grand opening this fall, now selling from community). Each of its four phases will be facing a portion of the park that is uniquely designed with specific Alberta nature the $500,000s (+ GST). themes: Rocky Mountain, Foothills, Parkland, and Grassland. www.liveinsilverado.com “What we want to emphasize with The Loop is that the EMBERPARK — Townhomes in Redstone outside areas are just as important as the inside of the homes, launching Fall of 2018, starting in the it’s a total package,” Macdonald says. “We designed The Loop $200,000s. www.emberparktownhomes.com so that if you are sitting out on your patio, you’re looking out TOWNHOMES IN BELMONT — Starting in the into nice lush landscaping with big hills, and not into your neighbours’ house,” he adds. $290,000s, coming 2019.

Phase 2 will have 62 homes. They include the Amaranth, the www.townehomesofbelmont.com Carmine and the Rosewood floor plans. “Based on purchasers’ feedback we made great design improvements to give them a fresh look, but they are largely the same from what was offered in phase one,” says area manager Jared Kulawik. that work. The open plan concept living The Carmine layout is offered from 1,267 to 1,333 square-feet in size, with either is a real winner. Not to mention the two or three-bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms. Slightly larger than the convenience of a spacious garage,” Amaranth, there are some key differences that set the Carmine layout apart, such Kulawik adds. as two car parking and models including a flex space between the two bedrooms, That just goes to show the care that such as shown in one of the new show homes.

StreetSide brings to every development.

The Loop’s largest floor plan, the Rosewood which was just nominated for best “We care about quality, lasting value and townhome between $350k and $500k for the 2018 BILD Alberta Awards, comes always doing the right thing. Backed by in sizes ranging from 1,485 to 1,511 square-feet, with three-bedrooms and twoQualico with over 65 years in the home and-a-half bathrooms. Spacious is the key word to describe these two options, with building industry, we have the experience, large bedrooms, as well as generous kitchens with the choice of either an island in dedication and passion to deliver an the centre or perhaps an open kitchen with tons of counter space. exceptional home and community to you “Clients are purchasing here at the Loop because we have on-trend floor plans and your family,” Macdonald says. ■

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Live well, live now in Canals Landing Genesis’ Newport townhomes caps Canals Landing in Airdrie

BY PEPPER RODRIGUEZ PHOTOS BY AMADEO GIRON

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hat is likely the last opportunity to own a new townhome in Airdrie’s hit community of Canals Landing just opened their new sales centre and people are excited with what they see.

Genesis Builders Group opened their sales centre for their Newport townhomes, as the vision for this community is realized.

“We’re enjoying strong demand right now,” says PS Sidhu,President, Genesis Builders Group Inc. and Vice-President, Home Building of Genesis Land Development Corp. “Newport is in the heart of a well established community that’s all but built out with all of the supporting amenities already available. It’s the last development in the community.”

With only 85 units, Newport promises to bring a new level of style and C A LG A R Y H O M E L I V I N G . C O M

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Peyton Peyton

Peyton

Peyton

“THERE’S BEEN A GREAT RESPONSE TO OUR LAUNCH, PEOPLE LOVE THE AFFORDABILITY, STYLE AND VALUE NEWPORT OFFERS.”

sophistication to Airdrie’s hot townhome market. And with prices from the $190,000s it seems unlikely that they will last for long.

Newport’s affordability is beyond question, but with its wide range of townhome styles ranging from one-, two-, and three-storey sponse to our launch, people love the affordability, models, it is also easily the one with the widest options.

“We have a home model that can fit a buyer’s lifestyle and budget,” style and value Newport offers,” Orvis adds. “Also, says Genesis Builder Group marketing coordinator, It’s the last phase of the Canals, Airdrie’s premiere Kelsey Orvis. water based community. The development also fea“Newport’s lifestyle choices can tures a central park where neighbors and friends be seen in the many different can gather.” floorplans we offer - from Newport includes a one-bedroom 819-square-foot a one-bedroom apartment model; two-bedroom units from 992 to 1,315 squarestyle home with no stairs feet; and three-bedroom townhomes from 1,362 to and a bedroom big enough 1,373 square-feet. “We have townhomes that can fit for a king sized bed; and any lifestyle and any budget,” Orvis adds.

McKinnon adds that Newport townhomes have several two-bedroom homes the largest tandem garages in Airdrie at 40 feet. and three-bedroom corner homes that boasts one of “There’s a very broad choice of floorplans, a large the largest kitchens you’ll central park and Newport is situated within walking ever see in a townhome,” distance to three schools, soccer parks, shopping. says Area Manger Barb We also have the ability to mix and match within McKinnon. our color palettes to really create a home that is Marley “There’s been a great re- truly your own.

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FA S T FAC TS

Newport townhomes include the 819 square-foot Caden TownBUILDER: Genesis Builders Group home with one bedroom and one bathroom. They start from 819 AREA: Canals Landing, Airdrie square-feet, with nine-foot tall DEVELOPER: Genesis Land Development Corp. ceilings, a five-piece stainless STYLE: One-, two-, and three-storey townhomes steel package (including hood SIZE: From 819 sq. ft. fan) and a parking pad. “It’s a comprehensive package that PRICE: Starts from the $190,000s first-time homebuyers will find ADDRESS: 115 Sagewood Drive SW, Airdrie incredible value in,” Orvis says.

DIRECTIONS: North on QEII and take Veterans In addition to this stacked lowBlvd exit west, left on 8th St. and right on 1st Ave. er level model, Genesis Builders Group is offering the two-storey and follow the signs. stacked Peyton Townhome, a 992 HOURS: Monday to Thursday from 2 to 8 p.m., square-foot model with two bedweekends and holidays from 12 to 5 p.m. rooms, attached garage and one WEBSITE: www.genesisbuilds.com bathroom. Three-storey units include the two-bedroom/twoand-a-half bathrooms, double attached tandem garage Marley and Arron Townhomes. While the three-bedroom options include the Finley, Carson, Parker, and Addison, which is the largest at 1,373 square-feet.

Sustainability is also something Genesis focuses on, and every Newport townhome includes programmable thermostats, double glazed low E windows, a high efficiency furnace and natural gas hot water tank that work together to reduce the operating cost of your home — lowering your monthly utility bills.

But besides the obvious stylish practicality and affordability of Newport, its biggest appeal is its location in Canals Landing. Call it a home court advantage, as this southwest Airdrie neighbourhood is also developed

by Genesis’ development arm, Genesis Land Development Corp.

Canals Landing will be the final phase of Genesis’ hugely successful Canals community in Airdrie. Homes here have access to an impressive six-kilometre stretch of waterways, and Canals Landing residents can

make the most of this family-friendly neighbourhood and the wide range of recreational opportunities it offers.

“The community is all built out with all the waterway amenities, schools, parks and pathways already there for new residents to enjoy,” Sidhu says. “Buyers don’t have to put up with years of construction activity in their neighbourhood because everything here is already ready for them.”

Newport fits perfectly in this setting with its maritime-inspired architecture that features warm cedar detail, premium siding and colourful front doors come together to give these coastal inspired townhomes a timeless appeal not soon forgotten.

Canals Landing is a master-planned community by Genesis accessed off 1 Avenue N.W., Airdrie. “Because this is the last site that’s being developed, you’re not living in a construction zone,” says Sidhu. “It’s an established community. There are two amazing schools right there, both within walking distance. The canals are all constructed, the playground is already there. It’s exceptional.” CL

Marley

Marley

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ON THE LAUNCH PAD A new age for 17th Avenue S.W. is about to begin, as The Fifth becomes a reality.

BY PEPPER RODRIGUEZ

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ne small step for TAK Developments, one giant leap for the revitalization of Calgary’s historic 17th Avenue S.W. The Fifth condos — one of the very few residential buildings to go up right on Calgary’s storied Red Mile — is about to launch and anticipation for this transformative development is at an alltime high. TAK Developments — along with its parent company Arlington Street Investments (ASI) — has set the stage for what could be a phenomenal opening weekend when The Fifth’s on-site presentation centre is unveiled to the public planned for September 15.

“The Fifth will be one of Calgary’s most enticing boutique retail and residential condominium developments,” says Frank Lonardelli, the founder and CEO of ASI. “It is located at the heart of Calgary’s Number One rated Community and on one of the most vibrant corners of the 17th Avenue corridor.

Residents will also enjoy spectacular views of the streetscape below and the downtown skyline.”

Lonardelli promises The Fifth will be one of Calgary’s premiere urban live-work-play destinations.

Retailers and residents alike will benefit from the area’s many significant attributes including an amenity rich walkable community, a young affluent demographic and an enhanced streetscape, as the City continues with the multi-million dollar investment into the infrastructure and beautification of 17th Avenue.

“The timing of construction will work perfectly for residents of The Fifth, in fact, they will be moving in for 2019 when the City is expected to conclude its beautification project on 17th Ave-

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nue,” states Lonardelli.

The 48-suite, five-storey mixed-use condo with retail base seems to have caught the imagination of the city eager for a residential building that captures the youthful energy and urban sophistication of historic 17th Avenue S.W. “We think of it as an exploration of space in all its meaning, and the limitless boundaries of urban living.”

Since almost the city began, 17th Avenue S.W. has been the nexus of shopping, entertainment and dining experience in Calgary. Today, the plethora of restaurants, diners, coffee shops, and pizza places and pubs — not to mention the boutique clothiers and assorted specialty shops – have all turned this lively avenue into the city’s most exciting commercial spot.

It’s one of Calgary’s best people-watching locales, in the warm days of summer, or even in the winter — especially during home games of the beloved Calgary Flames. 17th Avenue was the epicentre of celebrations during their unforgettable playoff run in 2004.

The Fifth makes its home in the beating heart within the exciting confluence of already-existing lifestyle amenities. “Lifestyle is key for new condos, and The Fifth brings a never-before-available, unparalleled urban lifestyle to Calgary,” Lonardelli tells Condo Living.

In fact, it is only the first of a massive revitalization effort of 17th Avenue that is being brought about

by ASI and TAK Developments along with several other large national development companies.

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converting into eight separate development sites that will ultimately bring the experience of 17th Avenue into the new millennium. TAK is taking the lead in the development of The Fifth and the National Block, both on the corner of 17th Avenue and 5th Street. These two projects are among the first to go up in ASI’s significant, multi-year, multi-million dollar undertaking.

Drawing inspiration from major centres such as Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Chicago, and New York, ASI strives to enhance established neighbourhoods, while setting a new standard for architecture in Canada.

Calgary-based ASI has partnered with Canada’s leading design and development specialists, including TAK. Together, they’re committed to creating a thriving, world-class residential and retail destination, with plans

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to complement the existing community FA S T FAC TS fabric and enhance the tapestry of the PROJECT: The Fifth whole district.

What has many condo aficionados COMMUNITY: The Beltline abuzz is The Fifth will be adding to 17th DEVELOPERS: Arlington Street Investments; Avenue’s already vibrant scene with TAK Developments its 13,500 square-feet of retail space STYLE: Mixed-use five storey building with retail on the main floor. It will have 48 very unique, stylish and well-appointed base and 48 apartment-style condos one - and two - bedroom apartment SIZE: 536 to over 1,043 sq. ft. condos above it.

PRICE: starting in the mid $200,000 According to Lonardelli, residents ADDRESS: corner of 5th St. and 17th Ave. S.W. of The Fifth will be pioneers of sorts -TAKstronauts, if you will. He says they HOURS: TBD will be among the first to experience WEBSITE: www.takdev.ca this new lifestyle, as The Fifth promises not only a new way for them to live life in an urban setting, but live in suites that are as modern and forward-thinking as they are.

Suites range from 500 to over 1,040 square-feet, and floor plans are named after celestial bodies like Ariel, Oberon and Titan. Prices though aren’t as astronomical as one may think, and start from the mid $200,000s.

Though the surrounding community is its top amenity, The Fifth will also have its own set of in-house facilities that furthers its characterization as a self-sustaining spaceship.

It will have a rooftop garden terrace, a pet wash station, bike storage and tune-up station and BuiltGreen certification that assures its residents that they are living in a building that’s leaving the smallest environmental footprint it can.

“It will also have the biggest outdoor patio on the street-level and an L-shaped rooftop patio for its residents that gives spectacular cityscape and street views,” Lonardelli says.

With only 48 residential opportunities, it is a very exclusive offering and interested parties are encouraged to register online at www.takdev.ca or visit the sales centre when it opens in September. CL C A LG A R Y H O M E L I V I N G . C O M

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ESSENTIAL LIVING Nude by Battistella strips off all but the essentials to urban life

BY PEPPER RODRIGUEZ

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he difference between a minimalist style and a minimalist lifestyle is that the former speaks of an austere space, while the other is about living life to the fullest. The distinction in both those terms is what defines Nude By Battistella, the latest condo development from Battistella Developments.

Nude is a 177-suite, 18-storey tower in the West Beltline that will begin selling this fall, and an on-site presentation centre is currently under construction and is slated to open this September.

But rather than just a new high-rise tower in an up-and-coming part of the Beltline, what Nude ultimately presents is a new way of looking at urban living. A life that pares down to the essentials that enables residents to live to the fullest.

“Nude is about a home that you own and not a home that owns you, a smaller space for a bigger life,” says Chris Pollen, of Battistella Developments.

“When designing Nude, we thought a lot about the true meaning of minimalism and realized it’s not about living with less. It’s about focusing on what matters,” says Pollen. “We’re building 177 smaller, more efficient homes that cost you less money. Homes that are free of excess and enable you to live your biggest life possible, both inside and outside their four walls.”

Nude is the latest condo development from Calgary-based Battistella Developments, the only locally-owned high-rise residential developer. “Nude will be Calgary’s first high-rise condo launch in the

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Several of the city’s best dining options are within steps of Nude, including the classic Myhre’s Deli.

“NUDE IS ABOUT A HOME THAT YOU OWN AND NOT A HOME THAT OWNS YOU, A SMALLER SPACE FOR A BIGGER LIFE.” downtown core since 2015, and this building reflects a growing trend of prospective home-buyers who are looking for smaller spaces with smarter design in prime locations. Being the first on the block in the West Beltline is just a bonus to buying now,” Pollen says.

The response to their pre-registration campaign at www.battistella. ca/nude/ has been nothing short of phenomenal; quite an encouraging sign, according to Pollen, at a time when the condo market is still recovering from a long slump.

With a name like Nude, they have certainly captured the public’s attention, and the kind of lifestyle they offer is the perfect match for the urban crowd that Pollen feels will make a considerable impact in the coming market.

Suite sizes range from 400 to 800 square feet and have room for all the things that bring value to your life — and nothing that doesn’t.

Nude’s studio, one-bed, one-bed-plus-den, and two-bedroom plans are a minimalist’s haven. But don’t mistake them for cold, industrial-style apartments.

“Minimalist isn’t being cold or austere or not keeping any material things, it’s about keeping only what is essential in our life,” Pollen says. “This is what we want to accomplish with Nude: Freedom to live your life the way you want. It is about editing and curating your own life.Imagine how liberating life can be if you didn’t have to spend all your money paying for your home, or in owning a car. It is about editing and curating your own life.”

This isn’t the first time Battistella is offering micro-suites, as their hit INK development in the East Village proved that there is a demand for smaller condos.

“In a way, Nude is the evolution of what we learned with INK. With Nude we

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Neighbourhood gems don’t get better than the businesses housed in the Brigden Block — one of the trendy destinations that are sure to appeal to Nude owners.

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FA S T FAC TS COMMUNITY: West Beltline PROJECT: Nude by Battistella DEVELOPER: Battistella Developments STYLE: 177 apartment style condos SIZE: 400-800 sq. ft.

PRICE: From the $190,000s ADDRESS: 1315 14th Ave. S.W. (on-site presentation centre opening soon) WEBSITE: www.battistella.ca/Nude

Chinook Arch is the glowing centrepiece of Barb Scott Park, one of many public art pieces dotting the Beltline.

order. These are the themes that define the architecture of Nude.” he says.

Standard features will also mirror previous Battistella condos, including their signature concrete floors. “Like INK, we will also have exposed ducting that lends to a more modern look and also serves to heighten the ceilings making each suite taller, more spacious,” Pollen says.

“Nude by Battistella is laying its foundation purposefully in West Beltline to help buyers create a life free from excess so they can focus on what really matters,” he adds. “With all your essentials close to home, you’ll want to be the first to know all you can about this new condo development.” CL

have refined the floorplans based on the feedback we received from our buyers and prospects. Titled underground parking will be offered and customers will have the option to choose whether they would like a stall or not. We are very confident that making parking optional aligns with the growing trend we have seen in Calgary’s inner-city, where many buyers may wish to not own a car.”

The community of West Beltline certainly allows for this kind of life. “It’s urban life at your doorstep. We are near public transport and bike lanes, Co-op grocery is just down the road where you can get fresh produce daily, you can walk or bike to and from work downtown, and we are only three blocks away from 17th Avenue and all its trendy pubs, diners, and restaurants. There’s no shortage of shops, restaurants and parks to experience — all moments away,” Pollen says.

Nude suites are anticipated to start from the $190,000s and half of the development is priced under $300,000. It is the most affordable new downtown condo in Calgary. “The savings you can make in your mortgage payments allows you to live a bigger life. It is about making intentional choices and living a life of urban mobility.”

Nude also calls attention to itself with the timeless architecture that will make it stand out in the neighbourhood.

It will feature a corrugated metal cladding material along with glass and steel and a distinctive coloured light band at the top. “For Nude our architectural inspiration came from buildings that have stood the test of time. Buildings that were built 20 or 30 years ago but look like they could have been completed yesterday. The common theme we found was simplicity — basic geometric forms, Battistella Developments recently sponsored a Beltline Urban Murals Project installation by Edmonton-based artist Jill Stanton, simple materials and repetition that create a sense of entitled “Pardners.” The mural can be viewed at gravitypope.

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TO THE FAMILY Partners Development Group arrives in Sage Meadows

BY BRANDI HOLMES

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he newest member of the Arrive family built by Partners Development Group is Arrive at Sage Meadows. Partners is very proud to be located in the booming community of Sage Meadows in Calgary’s Northwest quadrant — they pride themselves on selecting locations with accessibility, diversity and amenities, both current and future; areas where their homeowners would be happy to live for years to come.

Nestled into the rolling hills of West Nose Creek and sitting along a nature reserve, Sage Meadows offers quick access to all major shopping, the airport and the popular Market at Symons Valley Ranch, while still allowing homeowners to experience life in a peaceful, modern townhome community.

Arrive at Sage Meadows had its grand opening on June 24, 2018 and has had a very successful beginning.

Ismahan Omer, the sales manager for Arrive townhomes says, “we’ve had plenty of lot holds and firm purchases, however, at this early stage, we’ve noticed a large demand for our double car garage models — it’s been very exciting!”

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“All Arrive communities are Certified BuiltGreen which means dollars saved by our homeowners, monthly as well as long term.”

FA S T FAC TS COMMUNITY: Sage Meadows PROJECT: Arrive at Sage Meadows DEVELOPERS: Partners Development Group STYLE: Townhomes SIZE: 1,080 to 1,798 square feet PRICE: $279,900 to $389, 900, including net GST DISCOVERY CENTRE: 59 Sage Meadows Circle NW HOURS: Monday to Thursday 2 – 8 p.m., weekends & holidays 12 – 5 p.m.

WEBSITE: www.arrivehome.ca At build out, this Arrive community will consist of 31 buildings with 164 premium townhomes, two playgrounds, and private homeowner gardens. There are eight floor plans to choose from ranging in square footage from 1,080 to 1,798 and price starts from $279,900 and includes net GST. “Our purchasers have shown that they love our floor plan designs,” says Omer. “Blossom and Orchid floorplans have been very popular for those who

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prefer a double attached garage, whereas the Jasmine and Lotus plans are for those looking for additional living space with the optional basement development.”

The Discovery Centre located directly off Symons Valley Road on Sage Meadows Circle is a great destination for buyers to really see what building with Partners Development Group is like. The first show home will open in spring 2019 and will be of the Blossom floor plan, with Jasmine and Lotus show homes to follow in summer 2019. She points out that there are deals to be had with their pre-construction incentive program.

So far, Arrive at Sage Meadows has seen every type of buyer possible, “those looking to right-size for their lifestyle” – whether it’s a first-time home buyer, empty nesters looking to purge a lifetime of stuff, or snow-birds looking for a maintenance free lifestyle, Omer is “happy

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to say we’ve captured all of the above, as well as those in between.” Which is a sign of a great start for a diverse community.

Partners Development Group is known for building exceptional quality of homes at great value, and Arrive at Sage Meadows is no different.

“All Arrive communities are Certified BuiltGreen which means dollars saved by our homeowners, monthly as well as long term,” says Omer, “and that is very important to us.”

Even their standard specifications are

exceptional. With quartz countertops throughout, six major appliances, nine-foot ceilings — vaults in most master suites, wide plank laminate hardwood flooring, two-inch faux wood blind package, triple paned, black metal clad windows, James Hardie cement board exteriors, concrete landings and massive amounts of full sized brick on each building, this Arrive community will have a striking streetscape.

Partners strives to make the home buying experience easy and enjoyable. “Our vision has always been about handing over keys to happy homeowners and welcoming them into our family as they ‘arrive’ home,” says Omer. When purchasers chose Partners as their homebuilder they are guaranteed to have quality construction for great value in a well-equipped home and a stellar community.

Construction of the first buildings will be starting in the coming weeks and Partners is excited to showcase their spectacular streetscape they have planned for Arrive at Sage Meadows. CL

Jackson

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FIND YOUR FIT Annex gives you the best of inner city living in Kensington

BY BRANDI HOLMES

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ocated right in the heart of Kensington, Minto Communities newest and first non-rental multi-family development — Annex — has its finger on the pulse of the city. Teaming up with awardwinning Nyhoff Architecture, the exterior of Annex will truly stand out in the stylish neighbourhood of Kenisgnton.

The neighbourhood has it all from local cafes, amazing restaurants and boutique shops; with close proximity to absolutely anything you would ever need, Annex sure is unrivalled in location.

Kensington is such an unbelievable and sought after neighbourhood that Minto Communities is not surprised about the amazing feedback so far.

“It has been incredibly exciting”, says Donna McQueen, the sales representative for Annex. “Our homeowners can see the vision of this amazing project and can not wait to see it coming to fruition.”

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Since the grand opening on June 16, 2018, Minto is proud to confirm that they are already over 20 percent sold. With such a brilliant turn out, homeowners are excited about all aspects that Annex has to offer.

This nine storey residential building offers 12 outstanding floor plans ranging from one bedroom to two bedroom + den options and McQueen says “it’s wonderful to have a little bit of something for everyone.” There will be 108 residential units in total so the buyer is sure to find their perfect fit.

There is a variety of square footages to choose from as well; starting at just under 500 and going up to 1,100 there is a size to fit any sort of lifestyle.

The value of these homes is also unbeatable with one bedrooms starting at $249,990 and two bedrooms at $399,990 — so any budget can be met.

Homebuyers at Annex so far have been looking for a modern flair with a timeless appeal and that is exactly what Minto is offering — even down to the presentation centre and show suite. Condo Living had the opportunity to visit the presentation centre and was wowed right off the bat.

With the “I want it all” neon sign lighting the way up the stairs, we knew we were in for a good ride. The remainder of the centre is immaculately decorated and really gives the prospective buyer a taste of exactly what they will get living in Annex.

Buyers are especially excited about the amazing roof top patio that offers an incredible view of the skyline. The patio will include a dog run for your furry friends, a fireplace, communal barbeques,

“OUR CHIC DESIGNS ALONG WITH THE EXCEPTIONAL FUNCTIONALITY OF THE FLOOR PLANS AND THE BUILDING’S SUSTAINABLE QUALITIES IS WHAT SETS US APART FROM OTHER DEVELOPMENTS.”

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FA S T FAC TS

community garden, group game set-up conditioning in every home — and if there is space and ample seating for residents anything else you would need, it can certainly COMMUNITY: Kensington to socialize — Minto really thought of be found mere steps away from the building. everything.

It isn’t just the second floor presentation PROJECT: Annex There are three gorgeous mood centre that sits atop the iconic Midtown KitchDEVELOPER: Minto Communities boards to choose from that “exude a en & Bar at the corner of 2nd Ave and 10th STYLE: Apartment style condos perfect blend of current and trend- Street that stands out to buyers, McQueen SIZE: Under 500 to 1,100 sq. ft. ing colour combinations along with a says “our chic designs along with the exceptimeless element as to never become tional functionality of the floor plans and the PRICE: Ranging from $249,990 to $399,990 outdated,” McQueen describes. In- building’s sustainable qualities is what sets PRESENTATION CENTRE: 306 10th street N.W. dustrial, mid-mod and urban fit into us apart from other developments.”

HOURS: Monday to Thursday 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. Friday every type of style that homeowners Minto Communities vision for Annex is to to Sunday 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. are looking for. From sophisticated yet “create a home you are proud to come home modern, to vintage and welcoming to to” explains McQueen, “Minto is known for WEBSITE: www.minto.com/calgary/new-condo/annex bold and contemporary, Minto Com- its pristine quality of craftsmanship, superior munities is reaching every aspect of level of finishing’s and outstanding customer the design market and blending all aspects seamlessly into experience — our homeowners truly become one stunning development. part of our family.”

Annex offers such a high level of standard finishes that You can’t go wrong when purchasing a home there is no need for upgrades. With quartz countertop’s and in Kensington, and a home in Annex is sure waterfall islands in the kitchens, tile flooring in the bath- to fit your style, or maybe you will find a new rooms, luxury vinyl plank flooring throughout, stainless steel ‘you’ in the inner city — you’ll have to go see appliances, in-suite laundry, and all season heating and air for yourself. CL

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MEASURED

home with the affordability of a multi-family development.

“We’re the only condo development in this part of the 85th Street S.W. that offers three- and four-bedroom options, with double-attached garages,” says area manager Henry Luong.

“We’re also the only one that offers a home office on the main floor. We’re the closest to single-family home living in Wentworth without having to break the bank.”

Wentworth Pointe is a new and luxury townhome offering by Trico Homes. This 83-unit project is located on 85th Street S.W., between the main thoroughfares of Old Banff Coach Road and Bow Trail. It is one of Calgary’s fastest growing corridors with a cornucopia of commercial, recreational and retail estabalgary’s southwest corner by Bow Trail and 85th Street has been one of the hottest real lishments stretching all the way down to 17th estate properties in the city these days. Several Avenue S.W. multi-family developments have sprung up in “Wentworth is a desirable and amenity-rich this colourful and vibrant area over the last few months, as community in Calgary’s prestigious upper west buyers continue to be attracted to its amenity-rich character. side, where residents have easy access to the Wentworth Pointe by Trico Homes is the only town- heart of the city by car or public transit. Not to home in the area that offers the comfort of a single-family mention the wide range of groceries, diners,

WORTH

Wentworth Pointe brings single-family features to multi-family living in southwest

BY PEPPER RODRIGUEZ

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restaurants, yoga studios, fitness facilities and many other services they can choose from, many of which are walking distance from Wentworth Pointe,” Luong says.

The development itself is a hallmark of Trico Homes’ design prowess that has already established a striking curb-side presence along 85th Street with its sturdy and beautiful Hardie plank siding and cultured stone detail.

Wentworth Pointe also has a dedicated park, green spaces and pedestrian walkways. “Our upscale townhomes are one-of-a-kind, with up to 1,745 square-feet of living space, gorgeous floor plans with lots of windows at the front and the back giving the home the feel of a single-family home,” he adds.

Wentworth Pointe offers an exclusive array of musthave finishings and upgrade options for those wanting to personalize their dream home. Interested buyers can see an example of the stylish, intuitively designed and spacious townhomes in Wentworth Pointe’s two on-site show suites.

The Ashbury is one of their most popular models.

The 1,732-square-foot townhome provides a true sense of sophistication and elegance.

The big windows of this corner unit bring a lot of natural light to the open concept interior and the nine-foot ceilings accentuate this further, says Trico’s Design Studio Consultant, Alexandra Scott.

Pet-friendly and ultra-stylish luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring graces the main floor with nine-foot ceilings, stainless steel appliances and quartz countertops that immediately signal an advanced sophistication.

“The on-trend interiors will appeal to the younger, style-conscious buyer; while the neutral, calming tones are appealing to the downsizers,” Scott says. She adds that they are seeing a lot of young families attracted

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to Wentworth Pointe as well.

Luong agrees. “We get a lot of singles and couples and downsizers, but we also attract lots of young families. The style and floorplans we have fit a wide range of lifestyles, including those who normally don’t look to a multi-family home,” he adds.

“We’ve had four live-work townhomes but we’re down to our last one, it’s a fully-upgraded model that available at $480,000 plus GST.” Prices are also quite friendly to those looking to start home-ownership, or move-up from their apartment-style condo. “Single-garage models start from $397,000 plus GST, while double garage ones are from $461,000 plus GST.” Wentworth Pointe has been so popular that more than half of their Phase One release has already sold. “It’s quite expensive to get into the Wentworth neighbourhood, and what Wentworth Pointe offers is enormous savings in a stylish home in a community that fits their lifestyle,” Luong says.

Wentworth Pointe is only one of the new generation of townhomes

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that Trico has opened recently. Also available are Unity Townhomes in Seton and Legacy Commons, both are in the southeast, and Verona townhomes in the northwest.

What is common among all besides the trusted Trico quality and design is that they are all supremely located in some of the most popular and accessible neighbourhoods in the city.

“Trico has been building award winning multi-family homes for over 25 years,” says Wanda Palmer, vice-president of marketing at Trico. “Our homes designs are second to none offering the perfect combination of design features, functionality, location and value, based on the unique needs and wants of today’s homebuyers,” Palmer says. CL

FA S T FAC TS COMMUNITY: Wentworth PROJECT: Wentworth Pointe BUILDER: Trico Homes STYLE: Three-storey townhomes SIZE: From 1,468 to 1,732 sq. ft.

PRICE: Starting from $397,000s plus GST ADDRESS: 805 85th St. S.W. HOURS: Monday to Thursday 2 to 8 p.m., weekends and holidays noon to 5 p.m., closed Fridays WEBSITE: www.tricohomes.com

“IT’S QUITE EXPENSIVE TO GET INTO THE WENTWORTH NEIGHBOURHOOD, AND WHAT WENTWORTH POINTE OFFERS IS AN ENORMOUS DEAL — STYLE-WISE, PRICE-WISE.” 44 |

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THE FUTURE IS NOW IN BELMONT Anthem United’s ambitious plans for Belmont take hold

BY PEPPER RODRIGUEZ

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he gravel road leading up to Belmont in the southeast is a busy one right now; construction is at a fever pitch to finish paving 194th Avenue from Sheriff King Street to Belmont by the fall. All the dust kicked up, however, is a temporary inconvenience with all the plans the developer has in place to turn this nature-connected piece of land into a community of the future.

Show homes are open already and visitors have been eager to check out what will eventually be a 2,000-home community that will have some 6,500 residents on build-out.

It’s still early in the seven- to 10-year building period for Belmont, after all show homes only opened in the spring, but what can be found there is already piquing a lot of interest from the homebuyer crowd.

Belmont is where your story will unfold, says Anthem United development manager Steve LePan. “First home? Growing family? New to Calgary? Great

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communities provide choice — not only in home sizes and styles, but in amenities and recreation.”

He points out that Belmont aims to provide the dream home for each buyer with three product types from six of their prestigious building partners.

Street towns by Homes by Avi offers stylish, no-condo fee townhomes; functionality and affordability at its best is seen in laned homes by Jayman BUILT and Morrison Homes; and the spaciousness and comfort of a family home can be found in the Front Drive Garage Homes

by Cedarglen Homes, Homes by Avi, Shane Homes, and Trico Homes.

Within a few years, Belmont will be one of the most accessible communities in the southeast with access from Sheriff King Street, 194th and 210th Avenue.

“We want to ensure our residents have options to get to and from their homes,” LePan says. “194th Avenue, with access to our current show homes, will be complete in late 2018.

210th Avenue will be completed in multiple stages stretching into 2019.”

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FA S T FAC TS COMMUNITY: Belmont DEVELOPER: Anthem United BUILDERS: Single-family homes on a lane with optional rear detached garage • Jayman BUILT • and Morrison Homes Single-family homes with single and double front A lot more is coming into the attached garage community. “Belmont will have an • Homes by Avi, elementary school, a City of Calgary • Cedarglen Homes, recreational centre, storm pond and • Shane Homes two playgrounds. There is also a mixed used site and a fire station • and Trico Homes coming to the community. Nearby Multi-family homes there will be a high school that will • Townhomes by Anthem Properties share a field space with the City of • Townhomes by StreetSide Developments Calgary recreational centre.”

Residents will not have to venture • Street Towns from Homes by Avi far from the community to access PRICES: From the $350,000s shopping, entertainment and other DIRECTIONS: South on Macleod Tr. and west vital everyday amenities. Sobey’s, on 210th Ave. S.E. or west on Hwy 22X and left Co-op and Superstore groceries are just two- to eight-minutes on Sheriff King Rd. away, Landmark Cinemas are an SHOWHOMES NOW OPEN eight-minute drive, the popular WEBSITE: www.belmontcalgary.com Granary Road farmers’ market and amusement area is 10 minutes away, and Spruce Meadows is literally just next door.

There will be commercial areas for in the community itself in the future. “There is a future mixed-use space planned on the south side of the community along 210th Avenue. The stores are still being determined.”

The nature-endowed beauty of the community is enhanced with playgrounds and green space. “The phase 1 playground will be completed for Spring 2019,” according to LePan. “Additional community green spaces, pathways, and a second park will be done as the phases are planned.”

He points out that there will be a City of Calgary LRT station location approximately 600 metres east of Belmont Street, a seven- to 20-minute walk depending on where you are in the community. “The exact timing of the construction of the LRT station is still to be determined and will be set by the City of Calgary.”

Anthem United is particularly excited by the prospect of having a recreation centre right in the community.

“While we still don’t know the exact facilities and timing, we are very excited that the City of Calgary has committed to a recreational centre in Belmont.”

All these just go to show that Belmont will be a complete family-oriented community that respects nature and encourages a healthy, active lifestyle.

“It’s a place where proximity to the amenities of south Calgary go hand-in-hand with the abundance of park and recreation areas. This mean your new home extends well beyond your front door,” he adds. CL CO N D O L I V I N G SEPTEM B ER 2018

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LINKED IN TO SOPHISTICATION

Teacher finds fulfilling bachelorette life in The Link at Symons Gate

BY DARLENE CASSTEN PHOTOS BY AMADEO GIRON

Jill and Hudson

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hat does a modern bachelorette pad look like?

How about a clean and linear marble tile staircase as soon as you walk in? The perfect combination of clean and warm finishes; a fur baby at your feet and a fridge full of Hello Fresh ready-to-cook meals. The coffee nook is stocked with a soda stream and a few bottles of wine waiting to be shared with friends.

It’s sophisticated and friendly. High-end and accessible.

Jill, a 27-year-old teacher, has created her version of the perfect bachelorette pad at The Link at Symons Gate, a 165 townhome, 24-building development by Brookfield Residential.

She landed a job and started saving. A year She shares her two-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath townhome with her golden later she began her home search. retriever puppy, Hudson, and friend Breanne, a nursing school student.

“I looked at all new townhouses,” Jill says.

Her journey to The Link started when Jill graduated from the University of Le- “I wanted a double car garage and three thbridge in 2015 and moved back to her parents Arbour Lake home with the goal bedrooms and I wanted an open plan, not a of finding a job and buying her first home. hallway plan, where its kitchen, dining room

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“THEY DIDN’T EVEN HAVE A SHOW HOME (AT THE TIME) — I BOUGHT THIS OFF OF PICTURES AND BLUEPRINTS.” and living room in one hallway and I wanted a laundry room.”

It was also important for her to stay in the northwest, close to family and friends and the school where she teaches.

When Jill saw the plans for The Link, she realized her must-have list needed to change a little. Many of the three bedroom condos she’d been looking at had small bedrooms so the two master bedroom plan at the Link made more sense, she says.

Especially when Breanne agreed to move out of her parent’s home and into Jill’s new place.

“I said do you want out, and she said yup,” Jill laughs. “She’s been awesome, she really helps with (Hudson).

I didn’t plan to have a roommate, but having her here, helps with the mortgage.”

Giving up the laundry room for a closeted

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stacker washer and dryer on the upper floor was another compromise she was willing to make.

“I can’t complain because I just walk out of my room and throw my laundry in,” she laughs.

In the end, it was the price and the floor plan that sold Jill on buying at The Link.

However, she had to go from imagination, drawings and the help of others to get an idea of what it would look like.

“They didn’t even have a show home (at the time) — I bought this off of pictures and blueprints,” Jill says. “It was really easy. Brookfield was easy to work with.

They were very accommodating. They answered all my emails and questions. I also relied on my dad a lot, he’s been there, done that. He was my right hand man.”

Split up over four floors, Jill’s townhome has a level for storage and a few steps up is the two-car attached garage, which is not an easy find for townhomes in the northwest.

The entrance has a living space with 20-foot ceilings and a marble tile staircase takes you up to the kitchen and powder room. However the two spaces are only divided by a half-wall and railing, making it feel spacious and airy.

The upper floor has the two master bedrooms, each with a walk-in closet and en-suite.

She was able to buy an end unit and add significant upgrades, including quartz countertops, marble tile and laminate flooring and higher-end appliances for $333,000.

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Having clean lines, white walls and flat surfaces was also important to allow her to incorporate her style into the space.

“It was a blank enough slate to put whatever style I wanted on it,” Jill says of her home.

She says her uprades, like the rustic laminate and sophisticated marble and the flat-front stainless steel KitchenAid and Whirlpool appliances are the touches that made it exactly what she was looking for.

“It’s a good mix of contemporary and modern,” says Jill. “I didn’t want anything super modern. I’m really into the farmhouse look.”

Besides her bedroom furniture, a wrought iron bed from Ikea and an antique dresser Online shopping at sites like Wayfair.ca is where she found staple furnishings like her rustic wooden dining table and chairs and her retro-modern purple metal stools.

The kitchen is a favourite room, says Jill, who loves the extra space the peninsula gives her for making her specialty — cupcakes.

A true northwest girl, Jill says she loves having her independence, but still being

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a quick drive from her parents and job in Arbour Lake. Cross Iron Mills, Costco, WalMart, pubs and eateries are within a few minutes as well, she says.

“I have a shopping problem,” she admits, smiling. CL

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ONE VISION Teaming up to create “wow” in Scarboro 17 WRITTEN BY PEPPER RODRIGUEZ PHOTOS BY DON MOLYNEAUX

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From left: Danielle Paul, Jason Smith and Amber Desilets.

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t just seemed that Jason Smith was born for this moment. As far as he can remember, the owner of Bow Developments says he was always sketching buildings and floor plans since he was nine years old.

Bow Development’s first multi-family project, Scarboro 17, is a product of this passion for architecture and design. And when it came to designing the show suite for his passion project, Jason knew he had to have people who shared his vision.

Fortunately, Jason has been long-time friends with Danielle Paul, owner of Designers Edge, a local design company that has been doing interior design, home renovation and window covering work for the past 30 years.

Jason, Danielle and Amber Desilets — Designers Edge’s lead designer for this project — brainstormed the entire concept for Scarboro 17, from the look of the show suite, the presentation centre, up to the three designer palettes that buyers can choose from for their suites.

The result is a fascinating mix of modern and contemporary concepts that cannot help but appeal to the suave, stylish, worldly wise buyers that Scarboro 17 is aiming for.

“We went for a mix of Old World charm and an edgy contemporary style,” Amber says.

The one-bedroom show suite was meant to wow, and it certainly has. Prospective buyers responded quite positively and sales have climbed. And Jason, who is sometimes his own worst critic, was also quite happy with the result. “I had a vision to design a building and an interior experience that consciously reflected the centennial environment in which it resides, as well as introduce a warm yet contemporary feel for any homeowner to enjoy for years to come. With the expert design experience and product knowledge of Designers Edge, I think we’ve achieved that,” he says.

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Danielle says they used the extended island option in the show suite to illustrate the entertainment aspect of the A1. “This eliminates the need for a dining table, and the quartz countertops provide an elegant finish.” The galley kitchen with the glass tile backslash and full-height cabinetry is one of the most popular features of Scarboro 17.

Jason’s background in custom home building gives him a deep perspective on personalizing space, and Scarboro 17’s show suite certainly reflects this insight. Amber chose a navy blue sectional sofa and geometric pattern area rug to tie the open concept design together. “We want to get people to see themselves living in this space,” Amber says.

A ‘50s Mad Men glam is captured by the eyecatching feature wall in the master bedroom, the bold wall paper print comes from Designers Edge’s own line of wall paper products.

This show suite features a queen sized bed but the actual 579-square-foot one-bedroom A1 model can easily fit a king-size bed. There’s a spacious walk-through closet to the three-piece bathroom.

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| DESIGNER SERIES The two-tone cabinetry in the show suite is a striking juxtaposition of the Old World and contemporary style that Scarboro 17 is all about. The matching chrome and matte black pulls shows the lengths the developer go to in their attention to detail.

The functionality of the one-bedroom suite is embodied in the spacious walk-through closet. There’s lots of room for storage on either side, and buyers also get additional storage space in the underground, secured parkade.

The luxury vinyl plank flooring is a standard in main living areas. “This is a highly-durable and stylish product that is virtually maintenance free and is quite pet-friendly, which speaks to the lock-and-leave lifestyle of Scarboro 17,” Jason says.

Amber designed this bold wall feature for the nook to display the versatility of Scarboro 17’s layouts. The space is utilized as a mini-bar, but can easily be transformed into a tech space or for any other occasional need of the resident.

Scarboro 17 suites start from $290,000, visit the show suite at 1702 17th Avenue S.W. or go to www.scarboro17.com for more information. CL

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FEATURE |

STYLE RULES S

tyle is cool, style is distinctive, style is character, and for the most part, style is personal. But no matter how one defines style, it is ultimately the expression of who you are. At least, that’s how designer and TV host, Tommy Smythe, defines this ephemeral, you-have-it-or-you-don’t term.

Smythe is one of the most well-known “stylists” around and he will elaborate on exactly why he calls himself a “Serial Stylist” when he appears at the 2018 Calgary Fall Home Show on September 20 to 23.

“Stylist was my first title in the design and décor industry, and though I now preside over massive multi-year projects and resolve complex design challenges, I still am in most respects a stylist,” he tells Condo Living.

“My presentation is about getting back to basics in design and understanding where each of our own distinct point of view comes from. Styling is a great way to experiment with what you already have and to introduce a new item or new idea to your existing home.

It’s about arrangements, displays, vignettes and placement. Styling is repetition, colour through-lines and scale. It’s all about story telling.”

Smythe has been a staple in several hit TV design shows, where he has established himself for his contagious enthusiasm and fun loving approach to decor and renovating.

The Toronto-based Smythe has been working in the design industry for some two decades now, and has starred or appeared in shows like Design Inc., The Marilyn Denis Show (CTV), and CityLine (CityTV). But it was in Sarah Richardson’s shows — Sarah 101, Sarah’s House, and Sarah’s Cottage — where he became a bonafide star.

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Serial Stylist, Tommy Smythe, lets style talk in 2018 Calgary Fall Home Show appearance

BY PEPPER RODRIGUEZ

“I’ve been doing this for nearly 20 years now (I’m older than I seem!) – that old expression, ‘find something you love to do and you’ll never work a day in your life’ certainly applies to me. Longevity is about love and passion. I love people, I celebrate creativity in all its forms, I’m addicted to mentoring, and I could never tire of my chosen field because you can never know everything there is to know within it. Learning every day is what puts the fuel in my tank.”

According to Tommy, there is considerable value in a well-styled home. “It’s important because it’s an expression of who you are.

The act of making one’s own home, however grand or humble, is an act of self-love. The arrangement and display of the art and objects that tell your story is as revealing as it is fulfilling,” he says.

Style could be as simple as sharing the things you love in your home for guests to see. “Everywhere your eye lands inside your home it should land on things of value. Now, that doesn’t have mean ‘expensive’ — value is a construct. It consists of what we ascribe to it. I have a rock collection (gathered on my travels) that is of more value to me than many of the things in my home that were purchased with large sums of money,” Tommy shares.

While on the subject of style, Condo Living pressed Tommy for design tips specifically for our readers living in micro-suites and those looking to downsize. Here’s what he says.

FOR MICRO-SUITE OWNERS: “Micro-suites are the most personal of environments, and they deserve as much care and thought as a large space. Because there isn’t room for entertaining at home in a tiny space, the assignment here is ‘make it all about you’. I loved (several years back) living in my 180-square-foot apartment. The small footprint challenged me to edit ruthlessly and ask myself what was really important.”

FOR THOSE LOOKING TO DOWNSIZE: “Do it! Embrace it! Living small and with fewer (but finer) things is unbelievably liberating. I’m always surprised by the funereal expression on the faces of clients I talk to about downsizing. I think it’s all about attitude and opportunity. I guess that’s just how I see the world…and speaking of the world, I hope to see YOU at the show. Let’s talk about how make your domestic world a lovelier, more livable place to be.”

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| FEATURE

Those looking to revamp the look of their home and stay on budget: “Patience, patience, patience… There is no short cut to authentic and beautiful interiors comprised of objects that have value. The look for less is by definition, ‘less’. Saving and waiting for the thing that is of value is never a waste of time or effort, Never.”

Tommy will be at the main stage on Friday, September 21 at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, September 22 at 12 p.m. But he won’t be the only one presenting new ideas at the Calgary Fall Home Show. Other headliners include Amanda Hamilton, Leigh-Anne Allaire Perrault and Tiffany Pratt.

The Calgary Fall Home Show has been a staple in consumers’ calendars since 1983, attracting more than 27,000 qualified visitors every fall.

The Calgary Fall Home Show runs from Thursday, September 20 at 4 p.m. to Sunday, September 23 at 6 p.m. at the BMO Centre at Stampede Park. Stay tuned for the final Main Stage schedule, slated for release in August. For more information, or to buy tickets online and save $3, visit calgaryfallhomeshow.com. CL For the full complete interview with Tommy Smythe, visit www.calgaryhomeliving.com

STARS OF THE 2018 CALGARY FALL HOME SHOW Tommy Smythe’s contagious enthusiasm and funloving approach to decor and renovation have made him a favourite in the world of international design.

With a career spanning more than 18 years, Smythe has left no stone unturned as he has worked to spread his message of practical and beautiful design across Canada and USA. His work, alongside Sarah Richardson on HGTV Canada and US in several series including Sarah off the Grid, Sarah’s House, design inc, and Sarah 101 as well as his frequent guest spots as design expert on The Marilyn Denis Show have brought his singular style and wit to an ever-expanding audience across North America. Known for his love of mixing fine art, vintage, antique and modern furnishings, Smythe always pulls together his concepts with a cutting-edge colour sense and never lets design feel too serious. “If it’s not fun, it’s not worth doing!”

His own show, Canada’s Next Designer premiered in October 2016 on Bell Media’s new lifestyle network GUSTO to rave reviews. He also hosted Great Canadian Homes, a one-hour documentary on HGTV Canada in June 2017.

Tommy is currently filming Where To I Do? For Bell Media when he is helping couples create their dream wedding by hunting down and dressing up their perfect wedding venue.

In addition to his numerous television appearances, off-camera, Smythe maintains an international portfolio of private residential design projects, is a regular presenter at design shows across North America and is a regular contributor to Canadian House and Home Magazine.

Authenticity, integrity, quality and craft are the focus of his work for private clients as well as the content he delivers through his speaking engagements in Canada and the US. CL

Amanda Hamilton

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Tiffany Pratt

Leigh-Anne Perrault

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P H OTOS BY RO B M O ROTO

t’d be difficult to find anyone happier in Calgary right now than buyers at Park Point who can now start moving in to this iconic high-rise in the Beltline.

Park Point, the highly anticipated luxurious high-rise residential community by Qualex-Landmark officially opens its doors and welcomes up to 289 new residents. Homeowners will begin the tiered move-in process with the first keys being handed over on the morning of Thursday, August 9th.

The official opening was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour of the building with Deputy Mayor Evan Woolley, Councilor for Ward 8, Qualex-Landmark, P resident Mohammed Esfahani, Qualex-Landmark Managing Director Cyrus Navabi, IBI Group Director Martin Bruckner and Axiom Builders Senior Vice President Mike McDonough.

“With over a quarter of a century of experience in B.C. and Alberta, I can confidently say that Park Point represents Qualex-Landmark’s finest work, inside and out,” says, Qualex-Landmark President Mohammed Esfahani. “We owe a tremendous gratitude to Axiom Builders, IBI Group, Trepp Design, and Durante Kreuk for their dedication and patience over the last three years.”

The iconic Park Point residential tower marks a new architectural masterpiece in Calgary at its prominent location on the corner of 2nd Street and 12 Avenue S.W. which is a hotspot for exciting urban living right on the historic Central Memorial Park and overlooking Memorial Park Library.

CARDEL LIFESTYLES BEGINS BUILDING THREE AT WALDEN PLACE

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mid booming sales, Cardel Lifestyles is starting construction for their hugely successful Walden Place condos.

“Sales have been very strong this year, despite the slow market,” says Tim Logel,

President and Co-Founder at Cardel Lifestyles. “We’re approaching 200 sales for the year.”

When all is said and done, Walden Place will be home to six separate condo buildings and 40 three-storey, double-garage townhomes.

The third building will have of one-, two- and three-bedroom suites from 544 to 1,021 square-feet. With prices starting from the mid $100,000 (plus GST), they are sure to continue the growing popularity of Walden Place.

AROUND TOWN

By Pepper Rodriguez

HOMES BY AVI OPENS HOME STORE IN CF CHINOOK CENTRE

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hopping for homes has never been easier, as Homes by Avi introduces a whole new may to raise brand awareness by opening a storefront in Cadillac Fairview Chinook Centre — one of the country’s biggest and busiest shopping malls.

With 40 years of innovation at its core, Homes by Avi Group of Companies, has taken on this new challenge that can fundamentally innovate the home buying process. Opening on August 2, the Home Store will be a place to learn about, research, look at, or even buy, a home — right in the heart of one of North America’s most sought after shopping destinations. With a central location, a complimentary merchandise mix and 17 million visitors a year, CF Chinook Centre will be a rewarding setting.

“Homes by Avi is excited to join Calgary’s most unique retail environment in Cadillac Fairview’s Chinook Centre,” says Charron Ungar, Homes by Avi CEO. “Our unique brand of housing products will be showcased in a boutique location specifically designed to provide an extraordinary overview of the communities Homes by Avi builds in and our homes designed specifically for today’s most discerning homebuyer.”

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P H OTO BY RO B M O ROTO

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PARK POINT BRINGS IN FIRST RESIDENTS

Visit the showhomes at 10 Walgrove Walk S.E.

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BROOKFIELD INTRODUCES CAPELLA IN UNIVERSITY DISTRICT

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niversity District certainly is busy these days. Not a month since they launched their new dog park and pond, West Campus Trust — the entity responsible for the development of this community — has announced the launch of the newest multi-family project here: Capella.

Capella is being built by Calgary-based developer and homebuilder, Brookfield Residential, and it introduces a introduces the new concept of single-level residences to University District.

Drawing from Brookfield Residential’s successful North American real estate expertise and its southern California portfolio in particular, these single level residences combine the spacious layout and flow of a single-level home with the appeal of condo life in semi-private, intimate manner.

Capella is comprised of eight buildings in total, a single condo building offering 1- and 2- bedroom homes and seven, smaller buildings of single level residences offering two and three-bedroom options.

The single level residences will only have two to three homes per floor with a

maximum of eight residences in each building all with access to a semi private elevator. In addition to private, attached garages, the single level residences will offer more generous square footage and open layouts while the apartment condos will be urban by design and mindful of efficiently using living space.

The apartment condominiums will feature 1- or 2-bedroom plans at 550 to 1000 square feet, while the expansive single level residence plans include 2- and

For more information on Capella please visit CapellaLiving.com

SAGE HILL PARK TO LAUNCH SECOND PHASE

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rad Remington Homes’ hit Sage Hill Park is now over 80 per cent sold in its first building, prompting the developer to launch its second building in September.

Brad Remington’s Leanne Wilke says they are quite overwhelmed by the response to their first condo development in the northwest, and they have been enjoying sales of almost one a day since they launched in April.

Sage Hill Park will have approximately 600 condo-style apartments over two phases (eight buildings) with prices starting from $149,900 to the mid $200,000s.

Visit their sales centre at the corner of Symons Valley Road and 136th Street N.W. Visit www.sagehillpark.com for more information

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3-bedroom layouts from 1300 to 2000 square feet, including penthouse homes.

The design includes a landscaped courtyard cabana, a breezeway, enhanced outdoor features, and fitness studio, all with lock-and-leave convenience. Prices will start in the high $200,000s for the modern condos and the high $600,000s for the single level residences.

The Capella show suite at U/D’s Discovery Centre opens to the public this fall in October of 2018.

CHALET NO. 6 ADDS VIBRANCY TO COPPERFIELD

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opperfield Chalet No. 6’s recently opened two new show homes has been a big boon for Hopewell and there are fewer than 30 homes remaining to purchase.

This is the last, best opportunity to find a new townhome of your own in Copperfield — with both quick-possession and build-from-scratch models available now.

“Hopewell’s offering the best build quality coupled with really competitive prices — that's hard to beat,” says Nicole McLaws, Marketing Manager at Hopewell, the community dveloper of Copperfield and Chalet No. 6’s builder.

“Factor in the location and the community, as well as how helpful the sales staff were... it’s basically a no brainer.”

Chalet townhomes start in the $290,000s+GST. CL For more information www.hopewllchalet.com and www.hopewellsandgate.com or show home at 38 Copperstone Villas S.E.

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CONDOMINIUM PROPERTY AMENDMENT ACT (TAKE 2)

ASK MARIA

By Maria Bartolotti

Here’s how parts of the CPAA can affect you

Q:

Dear Maria: I’ve heard of the new Condominium Property Act. What does it mean for condo boards and owners?

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: Between July 2017 and February 2018, Service Alberta conducted consultations with condo owners, managers, legal and real estate professionals, and stakeholders from business and industry. Based on input received, they developed draft regulations that address how condominium boards govern themselves. Here are some of the areas that were addressed: • Voting procedures and general meeting notices • Rental deposits • Access to condominium documents • Insurance requirements • Financial considerations • Reserve Funds As you may or may not be aware the first-stage regulations took effect on January 1, 2018 and April 1, 2018. To read more visit servicealberta.ca/consumer-condominiums.

In June 2018, Service Alberta announced that they would be working on the next stage of regulations — governance and dispute resolution.

I’m in favour of the next set of changes and agree that condo

owners and management companies must structure themselves differently in order to meet the future demands of condo owners and the condominium corporations.

However, I, like many in my industry, have a number of concerns with the draft regulations that I believe will hinder progress, and will ultimately cost the condominium corporations more money to enlist the services of reputable management companies like, New Concept Management Inc., if the changes are adopted.

As an example and my personal opinionthe draft regulations require the corporation to send a preliminary save-the-date notice at least 60 days before the AGM, not a problem in my mind, but it also allows owners to propose agenda items for the AGM after receiving the notice, followed by a 30-day final AGM notice, which must include a summary of ALL agenda items proposed by owners.

I would look at the impact this could have on a condominium corporation. Its hard enough trying to get owners to attend an AGM let alone having a list of additional agenda items that now will need to be included on the agenda and brought forward at the meeting. Can you image a 3-4 hour meeting instead of the regular 1-2 hour meeting …I cringe at the thought!

I’m not saying that

Editor’s note: Maria Bartolotti is a board member of the Canadian Condominium Institute – Southern Alberta chapter (CCI-SA). CCI represents all participants in the condominium community.

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individual unit owners do not have a voice at the AGM they certainly do. But the agenda needs to be realistic.

Lets talk about fee based document management. Every condominium owner, potential buyer or mortgagee of a unit can make a request for certain documents to be provided within 10 days of receiving a written request. These documents are essential and give information on the financial stability of the condo, if there is any upcoming capital expenditures, Board decisions and so on.

The fee charged for a document can differ depending on the type of document and how much work is needed to make a copy.

For example, estoppel certificates, letter of disclosure need to be created each time someone asks for one. It is also important to take into consideration photocopying, postage, envelopes, website fees-depending on how the copies are made, retention of the documents (condo corporations get a lot of documents) and essentially overhead fees to manage the documents. I do not believe that a management company should release these documents for free. CL This article was shortened for space considerations. For the full text, visit www.calgaryhomeliving.com

Maria Bartolotti

ACCI, FCCI 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 2018

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AGING IN STYLE

The Edward in Marda Loop offers stylish new option for active seniors

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oneliness isn’t good for anyone. And as one gets older, being able to hang out with others of your age becomes more important for one’s health.

To that end, Section23 Developments has taken it upon itself to design and build rental housing for the 70-plus crowd of retirees in close proximity to one of the city’s more people-friendly inner-city neighbourhoods.

The Edward, which will hold 95 rental residences at completion, is being redeveloped from the historic King Edward School, a landmark from the city’s sandstone era. It is near the Marda Loop district and adjacent to the cSPACE King Edward arts hub.

“The Edward will bring a whole new calibre of independent seniors’ living to Calgary,” says Marion Murray, senior vice-president for Section23 Developments.

The vision for The Edward, she adds, is to create a community for independent seniors, bringing together residents who share a healthy, active and engaging lifestyle while offering personal value-add-

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ed services. There is no structured assisted living element, but there will be a “wellness navigator” and health and wellness programs available.

Suites at The Edward will be leased with pricing available at the pre-leasing launch and presentation centre opening scheduled for mid-2019.

The concrete building located at 3023 16 Street S.W. will be stepped from four storeys at the south end to five storeys at the north end. Units within the building measure from 390 to 940 square feet.

And because active lifestyles are a key to the creation of The Edward, it will offer an upscale restaurant, private dining room, and casual bistro, along with a lobby lounge, piano bar, creative arts centre, fitness and wellness space, a theatre, spa, and personal luxury car service.

As well as underground parking, the building will also connect to outdoor areas and the cSPACE via patios, landscaped courtyards, rooftop gardens, and conversation areas.

To bring the McKinley Burkart design for The Edward to fruition, Section23 has partnered with Centron Construction with completion and occupancies beginning in 2020 with pre-leasing starting in 2019, says Murray.

The building will be managed by New Coast Lifestyles of The Edward Ground Breaking Vancouver.

HOPE AT LARGE

By Marty Hope

Secton23, a relative newcomer to the Calgary housing scene, is busy keeping busy.

The announcement of The Edward comes on the heels of the company’s initial development, The Nest, in the heart of Kensington. The executive tri-plex is offering homes priced from $1.25 million.

Next up, says Murray, is the release of lots in the award-winning southeast community of Mahogany by Hopewell Residential.

“We have acquired 28 new lots to build our executive paired bungalows in conjunction with Baywest Homes,” she says.

Section23 is a 50-per-cent owner of Baywest, along with Bordeaux Properties which also owns 50 per cent.

Other smaller projects include single-family homes for Inglewood and West Hillhurst.

“But our next big project is the new southeast community of Rangeview…where we are expecting outline plan and land-use approval from the city by the end of this year. This would mean we would also be launching Rangeview to market in 2020,” says Murray.

Rangeview will be located adjacent to Seton. Under the proposed area structure plan, it will cover about 1,800 acres and be able to accommodate 44,000 people. It will be made up of two communities and 10 neighbourhoods. 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.

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SHARED AMENITIES

CONDOSCAPES

By Richard White

Arms race in fancy in-house amenities in condos

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and even have your own work bench. There is also a golf simulator, luxury pool area with its own resort-like lounge, as well as a high-end workout/yoga studio.

Not to be outdone Qualex/Landmark did away with the penthouse suites in their Mark on 10th project, replacing them with amazing rooftop amenities for all residents. This includes an outdoor barbecue area with a large hot tub with spectacular mountain views and a huge lounge area with kitchen floor to ceiling window overlooking downtown.

Even the “no parking” N3 condo project in East Village, has a spectacular outdoor roof-top amenity with great vies of new Central Library, the National Music Centre, Stampede Park, downtown, Bow and Elbow Rivers and the Rockies. It also has an attractive indoor roof-top exercise room and the best big storage system in the city. The BBQ area has become the communal living room for all the residents.

Right outside their front door is the funky Brewer’s Apprentice offering 48 beers on tap that you can take home and just around the corner is Tim Hortons.

Parham Mahboubi, Vice President, Planning & Marketing, Qualex Landmark tells me “When we design building common areas and amenities, we are thoughtful of how these spaces contribute to bringing neighbours together. For example, in Park Point, about 9,000 square-feet of amenity areas offer homeowners a place to converge, whether it is the outdoor Zen Terrace, the Park Point’s Lounge infrared sauna, gym, yoga/

here seems to be a bit of “one-upmanship” happening, these days in Calgary when it comes to condo amenities.

Bruce McKenzie, Vice President, Business Development, NORR Architects Engineers Planners tells me they are working on a project that will have luxury guest suites in a prime location looking out onto the Elbow River, a jogging/walking track, a large garden also overlooking the Elbow River and a solar cell phone charging area.

It will even have its own dog park.

He also notes their University District’s Rhapsody condo, which will have 288 units exclusively for rent, will have a huge rooftop deck with everything from cabanas and barbecue stations to bocce courts. As far as in-house amenities goes, McKenzie says, “It seems like everyone is trying to outdo the next guy!”

This may well have started in about 2014 when the upscale Concord condo was announced with its all-season garden (i.e. garden in the summer; private skating rink in the winter), two story garages so you can store all of your four and two-wheel toys

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pilates spaces or the outdoor lounge and barbecue area. It is near impossible to enter these spaces without interacting with neighbours. Even the Park Point lobby is designed with an inviting lounge seating area that creates yet another space for homeowners to interact and have a social gathering space.”

LAST WORD My only concern in the trend to build these fancy in-house amenities in new condos is that they may ultimately just take away from the whole idea of inner-city condos increasing the number of people living in the City Center to create more street life. In theory, the new urbanites would mix and mingle in their neighbourhood cafes, lounges, bistros, yoga/fitness studios, parks and pathways — be that Beltline, East Village, Eau Clare, Downtown or Mission.

Who is going to do that when you have your own lounges, fitness areas, pools, hot tubs and park-like spaces in your own building?

COULD IT BE THAT NEW CITY CENTRE CONDOS IN CALGARY HAVE TOO MANY AMENITIES? This just in… After writing this, I happened upon Minto Communities’ Annex project in Kensington designed by Nyhoff Architecture. I learned they will have a multi-use roof-top that will include dog run, a fire pit area, BBQs and what looks like a shuffleboard area. I wonder what is next! CL

Richard White has been writing about Calgary urban living for over 20 years. Follow him on twitter @everydaytourist, read his blogs at everydaytourist.ca or contact him at richardlw@shaw.ca CO N D O L I V I N G SEPTEM B ER 2018

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CALGARY HOMES REMAIN AFFORDABLE

Calgary bucks national trend in housing affordability

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hen it comes to housing affordability Calgary is doing relatively well compared with the rest of the country.

Affordability is one of those topics that makes headline news and the elevated - and growing — concern in the Canadian marketplace is evident on a consistent basis throughout the country.

How will people be able to afford a home when prices are so high? That’s the common refrain heard these days.

And the reason is because of the skyrocketing prices in Canada’s big centres like Toronto and Vancouver.

A recent quarterly report by RBC Economic Research — Housing Trends and Affordability - sheds some light on how Calgary relates to those major centres — and affordability in the Alberta city is a much more decent scenario for homebuyers.

What the report does is look at how much household income is needed to cover the costs of owning a home. For Calgary, that was 43 per cent. Vancouver and Toronto — challenging markets for homebuyers for a number of years — were much higher. For Vancouver, it was 87.8 per cent and for Toronto it was 74.2 per cent.

“Housing affordability hasn’t been a real issue for close to 10 years in Calgary but the picture isn’t quite as rosy as it was just three years ago,” said the RBC report. “Tough economic times first undermined local buyers’ ability to own a property as household income fell during the provincial recession of 2015-2016. More recently, rising interest rates drove ownership costs higher despite home prices largely stagnating in the area.

“RBC’s aggregate measure for Calgary C A LG A R Y H O M E L I V I N G . C O M

tracked a slight upward trend since 2015, including in the first quarter when it rose by 0.5 percentage points to 43.0 per cent. This still shouldn’t be a big issue though buyers now also have to contend with the new stress test. These factors contributed to a 10 per cent drop in home resales in the first quarter.”

So how does the RBC Housing Affordability Measure work? The measure shows the proportion of median pre-tax household income that would be required to service the cost of mortgage payments (principal and interest), property taxes, and utilities based on the average market price for single-family detached homes and condo apartments. The affordability measures are based on a 25 per cent down payment, and a 25-year mortgage loan at a five-year fixed rate.

Let’s take a closer look at what those measures indicate for the Calgary market.

In the first quarter of the year, the aggregate price in the city was $506,300, which translated into an affordability measure of 43 per cent. That was up 1.3 per cent from the previous year. Over the long haul, the average since 1985 was 41.5 per cent.

REAL ESTATE INSIDER

By Mario Toneguzzi

The measure for a single-detached home is understandably much higher at 47.4 per cent, up 1.8 per cent from the previous year as the price in the first quarter was $558,900. The average measure since 1985 was 44.5 per cent.

Condominium apartments in Calgary are showing better affordability these days with the measure of 26.7 per cent, which was down 0.3 per cent from a year ago and also down from the long-term average of 27.3 per cent. The price for homes in this category in this quarter was $289,400.

RBC said higher mortgage rates were the main reason why the national measure was at a multi-decade high.

“The likelihood of further interest rate increases in the period ahead is poised to make the affordability situation even more challenging for some of Canada’s markets,” says the RBC report, adding that it expects the Bank of Canada will proceed with a series of rate hikes that will raise the overnight rate to 2.25 per cent in the first half of 2019. CL

This article was shortened for space considerations. For the full text, visit www.calgaryhomeliving.com

Mario Toneguzzi. Based in Calgary, Mario Toneguzzi has 37 years of experience as a daily newspaper writer, columnist and editor. He worked for 35 years at the Calgary Herald covering sports, crime, politics, health, city and breaking news, and business. For 12 years as a business writer, his main beats were commercial and residential real estate, retail, small business and general economic news.

He nows works on his own as a freelance writer and consultant in communications and media relations/ training. Email: mdtoneguzzi@gmail.com.

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| CONDO TALES

VEGGIE BABIES No diapers necessary STORY BY JIM ZANG ILLUSTRATION BY LAMA AZARI

I

call them my babies, but they’re not.

Thanks goodness. Because, at my stage of life, the last thing — or one of the last things anyways — I would want to do would be to have another baby.

Not that I don’t love babies, I do. And, I changed many a diaper in my day. Hopefully, though, the next baby to enter my life will be of the grandchild variety. I’m looking forward to getting them all wound up having fun and full of sugar and then sending them home to their parents. Hey, what goes around comes around.

In the meantime, I’ve been satisfying my grandparental urges by growing vegetables. Or, as I like to call them, my ‘veggie babies’.

It all started when the spring Home & Garden Show rolled into town a few months ago and I was invited to the media launch party — free food and booze, so I’m in!

At the party everyone was given these very cool self-contained seed starting kit from Lee Valley Tools, complete with self-watering apparatus and greenhouse-style lid. Having exactly zero plants in my condo at the time I decided “sure, I’ll give it a shot”. So out I went and got some tomatoes (even though I don’t eat them), green peppers, basil, thyme and a couple of other herbs. I followed the directions carefully, and the tomatoes came along nicely, followed by the green peppers. Both have since been transplanted twice into larger pots and the tomato plants are over one metre tall and have tiny tomatoes starting to form!

It’s not exactly like watching your children be born but, still, to see them come from a seed to this stage is, well, fun.

The herbs didn’t make it, and it’s my fault. Thinking it would look funky to have them in glass planters with coloured drainage material under the black dirt, I filled the bottom of the planters with popcorn kernels. Imagine my surprise when, after a week of watering them, I don’t have any herbs or spices at all, but I’ve got dozens of corn shoots! Yes, I could have the world’s smallest corn field maze right here in my condo! Or I could have anyways, before I dumped them all out. I just can’t see the condo board allowing me to grow corn stalks on my balcony. Flowers, yes. Corn, no. I swear I did not know it would grow.

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Like raising children, it’s been some work and expense along the way. Remembering to water them regularly, nursing them back to health when I come home after four or five days away, buying bigger pots, putting grow cages up for the vines. I put plant food spikes into the dirt and I’ve even been shoving sugar cubes into the soil just to see if it will make sweeter vegetables.

Not that I’ll ever know, I don’t eat tomatoes. CL

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ADVERTISERS INDEX | 

2018 Alberta Condo and Real Estate Convention Convention All Management page 50 Annex Minto Communities page 41 ARRIVE at Redstone Way Partners page 32 ARRIVE at Sage Meadows Partners page 32 Calgary Fall Home Show Marketplace Events page 61 Cornerstone Jayman BUILT page 51 Cranston Ridge Cardel Lifestyles page 3 Ember Park Streetside Development page 60 Essential Savanna Rohit Communities pages 76 Fish Creek Exchange Graywood page 17

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CO N D O L I V I N G SEPTEM B ER 2018

Gatestone Remington Developments page 55

Radius Bucci page 4

The Fifth Arlington Street Investments page 25

Legacy Commons Trico Homes page 45

Regatta Brookfield Residential page 47

The Guardian Hon Developments page 36

Legacy Park Brad Remington Homes page 70

Rohit Communities Rohit Communities pages 64

The Windsor Brittania Block LP page 46

Legend of Legacy Aldebaran Enterprises page 78

Sage Hill Garden Aldo Rossi Homes page 7

Trinity Hills page 2

Loop in Evanston Streetside Development front cover, page 15

Sage Hill Park Brad Remington Homes back cover

Mark 101 Shane Multi-family page 72

Sanderson Ridge Sanderson Ridge Properties page 67

Newport at Canals Landing Genesis Builders Group page 21

Scarboro 17 Bow Developments page 56

Verve FRAM+Slokker Developments page 79

Nude Battistella Developments page 31

Stile Flats Rohit Communities pages 11

Vivace Streetside Development page 74

Oudoor Dental pages 63

Street Towns Homes by Avi page 16

Westman Village Jayman BUILT page 37

Symons Gate Brookfield Residential page 68

Zen Urban District Avalon Master Builder page 70

Park Point Qualex-Landmark pages 26-27

Tuscan Rise Rockford page 10 Unity in Seton Trico Homes page 45

C A LG A R Y H O M E L I V I N G . C O M