Condo Living - November 2018

CONTENTS

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NOVEMBER 2018 | VOLUME 14 ISSUE 227

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COVER FEATURE 10 | Sage Hill Park’s success

The launch of the second building confirms Sage Hill Park is as hot as ever FOCUS ON 8 | Let it snow Winter is coming, a warm and cozy style for the home is what everyone needs CONDO PROFILES 14 | A dream come true Jayman BUILT’s ambitious Westman Village brings condo living to the next level 18 | West End living Avenue West End brings a cherished urban lifestyle to Calgary’s core 24 | Introducing: Capella University District welcomes its latest residential development, Capella 28 | Making its mark Shane Homes’ award-winning Mark 101 in Sage Hill delivers the goods 33 | Living it up Avi Urban releasing a new project in Livingston DESIGNER SERIES 37 | Community re-imagined RNDSQR’s commitment to communal, sustainable design shines through at Avenue West End C A LG A R Y H O M E L I V I N G . C O M

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COMMUNITY PROFILE 40 | Falling into place University District is quickly maturing to the master-planned community it is destined to be LIFESTYLE 44 | On the fast track to happiness Expecting a new baby, couple happy to move in to new Emerald Sky home STYLE 46 | Cutting-edge kitchens The future is now in the world of kitchen design FEATURE 49 | Safety at the core Award-winning safety team tackles Westman Village’s challenging build

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56 IN THE CITY 56 | Snow happens Weather you like it or not COLUMNS 61 | Ask Maria

by Maria Bartolotti 63 | Hope at Large

by Marty Hope 65 | Condoscapes

by Richard White 67 | Real Estate Insider

by Mario Toneguzzi 69 | Condo Tales

by Jim Zang ITEMS 6 | Editor’s Message 59 | Around Town 70 | Ad Index CO N D O L I V I N G N OV EM B ER 2018

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EDITOR’S MESSAGE |

THE BEAUTY OF FALL

Looking outside the window of my tiny office in a southeast industrial sector of town, fall doesn’t look all that inspiring. It’s snowing, leaves are off the branches and lying listlessly on the ground, a blustery wind is blowing intermittently — it’s a midFebruary scene and it’s not even Halloween as I write this. Life in Calgary, I guess.

But the fact remains, fall is still my favourite season. True, we don’t get a lot of it here in this side of the Rockies, but I love the quiet chill of the mornings and the midafternoon light around the pond when I take the dog for a walk. (I know, I’m a boring old, suburbanite.) The hectic pace of show home launches in the season is also another thing that makes this a time worth celebrating.

The highly-anticipated Westman Village development by Jayman BUILT was among those recent launches (see the story inside), Streetside Developments also has new townhomes and villas, the much-talked-about The Fifth opened its presentation centre, as has Battistella’s new Nude. We talk more about all of those in my Around Town news column.

This fall has been just as remarkable for Brad Remington Homes, our cover feature this issue, as they launched sales for the second building of the hit Sage Hill Park condos. Just like before, people camped out for days outside their sales centre in Sage Meadows in the northwest to get their pick. Capella by Brookfield Residential is also launching in the thriving new community of University District, and we have a feature for each inside.

Shane Homes’ Mark 101, Avenue West End and Avi Urban round out the condo profiles this issue. We also have RNDSQR’s presentation centre featured in this month’s Designer Series and their forward-thinking, sustainable, community-centred development is capturing hearts and minds.

Did I mention it’s snowing? Well, we have the Focus On photo feature on snow style inside, and there’s an In The City write-up by Brandi Holmes on sled spots. While Christina Loc’s Style column talks about design trends for the kitchen.

NEXT MONTH: We always seek to give our readers the most The Christmas issue extensive coverage on what’s available out there, and we’ve got a great representation of inner-city and suburban townhomes and condos this month and every month.

So, if you’re looking for a new home, a new place to live, or a new style for your existing abode, just follow us. We’re your best resources in finding out the best new opportunities to live in your new home.

Source Media Group info@sourcemediagroup.ca

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, Christina Loc, Mario Toneguzzi, Richard White, Portia Yip PHOTOGRAPHY | ILLUSTRATION

Lama Azari, Dustin Hoffert, 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 227 • 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.

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FOCUS ON |

LET IT SNOW! SNOW Winter is coming, a warm and cozy style for the home is what everyone needs

BY MEL LADNER

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE may be frightful; but inside we can always have more pillows, blankets and fireplaces to heat us up! This year’s winter fashion is all about looking clean and matching the snow. With whites, greys and pale colours in-style; it’s clear that we’re supposed to embrace the weather and let it snow. Don’t be afraid to drop in a slice of colour, good ol’ Christmas Red is the top accent colour for the season. Whether you apply these colour combinations to your interior (or exterior) decor, one thing is for certain, staying toasty warm is the most stylish thing you can do during the snowy season. Escape the cold and check out these hot items! CL

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7 [ 1 ] SELF Aloe Infused Cozy Socks in Coral, $11.99, at Bed, Bath and Beyond. [ 2 ] Snow Cushion - Polyester, $24.99, at Bouclair. [ 3 ] EnerG+ Hanging Electric Infrared Outdoor Heater, $159.99, at Bed, Bath and Beyond. [ 4 ] KitchenAid Personal Brewer Coffee Maker in Red, $149.99, at Bed, Bath and Beyond. [ 5 ] CANVAS Assorted Lanterns, 22”, $44.99, at Canadian Tire. [ 6 ] Grey Faux Fur Anywhere Bean Bag, $111, at Pottery Barn Kids. [ 7 ] Dimplex Anthony Mantel Electric Fireplace, $1,049.99, at La-Z-Boy Furniture. [ 8 ] Cable Knit Pom Pom Baby Blanket, $52, at Pottery Barn Kids. [ 9 ] CANVAS Pre-Lit LED White Fibre Optic Tree Wire Form, 480-count 8’, $239.99, at Canadian Tire. [ 10 ] Decorative candle holder – wood & glass, $14.99, at Bouclair. [ 11 ] CANVAS Marseille Fireplace, White, $999.99, at Canadian Tire. [ 12 ] Faux Fur Wolf Throw 50x60, $79.99, at Bouclair.

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SAGE HILL PARK’S

SUCCESS The launch of the second building confirms Sage Hill Park is as hot as ever

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ryan Logel, vice-president of sales and marketing at Brad Remington Homes, can’t help but feel a little bit excited every time they launch one of their developments. It doesn’t matter that for the last 10 years or so, every one of the award-winning developer’s condos and townhomes has invariably been a success.

The same held true again as Brad Remington Homes launched sales for the second building of their Sage Hill Park development. And just like the rest that came before it — Copperfield Park, and My Legacy Park — the response was overwhelming.

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On the first weekend that sales for the second building started, 20 suites were already snapped up of the 68 units available.

“Some people camped out three nights outside our presentation centre just so they can get the home they wanted,” Logel says.

But this has always been the case for each of their launches, Sage Hill Park’s building 2 is the young developer’s 20th building, quite a feat for a company that only started some 10 years ago. Starting with Copperfield Parks I, II, and III and My Legacy Park, all

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“Our ‘Love It, Live It, Afford It’ philosophy that runs across all our multi-family products has certainly won over the public."

in the southeast, Brad Remington Homes has crafted a name for well-built, stylishly crafted, affordably priced homes in well-loved, centralized locations.

“Our ‘Love It, Live It, Afford It’ philosophy that runs across all our multi-family products has certainly won over the public,” Logel says.

Apprehension may have been warranted this time around, as they are going against the headwinds of a lackluster market. But everything has turned up as it always does for them, and Sage Hill Park’s first building is already effectively sold out.

Demand continues to rise especially for their two-bedroom suites – and starting from the $160,000s they are the most affordable in all of Calgary, according to Logel.

“Buyers are almost a 50/50 split between young first-time home buyers and more mature downsizers, we also have some families C A LG A R Y H O M E L I V I N G . C O M

with young children purchasing,” he adds.

“We noticed the strong demand for two-bedroom suites, so almost 98 per cent of building two consists of six various of the two-bedroom designs.”

Sage Hill Park’s success can also be attributed to its sterling location on Symons Valley Road, close to Stoney Trail, in the blossoming northwest quarter.

Calgary’s northwest has always been one of the most desired residential areas in the city, but it was never the most economical. Brad Remington Homes certainly changed that with Sage Hill Park, which the developer says will usher a new era of opportunity for affordable homeownership here.

Timing also couldn’t have been better, as Sage Hill Park is going up in what the company believes will be the next corridor of growth in Calgary. Located near the corner of Symons Valley Road and 136th Street N.W., Sage Hill Park will be at the epicenter of what many predict will be the fastest growing area in Calgary in the years to come.

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FAST FACTS DEVELOPER: Brad Remington Homes COMMUNITY: Sage Meadows PROJECTS: Sage Hill Park

STYLE: Apartment-style condos SIZE: Starting from 574 sq. ft.

PRICE: From the $149,900

SALES CENTRE: Near corner of Symons Valley Road and 136th Street N.W.

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

WEBSITE: www.sagehillpark.com

An exciting, recent development is the announcement that WestJet is building a new $50 million hangar at the Calgary International Airport that is expected to bring in some 650 new jobs. It’s quite an advantageous development especially for Sage Hill Park, which is just a short distance from the airport and all these new employment opportunities.

“Sage Hill Park represents an incredible opportunity allowing potential purchasers to get in on the ground floor of something big, and own a home in what will be a highly sought-after area for years,” says Logel.

Sage Hill Park will have approximately 225 condo-style apartments over three buildings (eight buildings). With prices starting from the low $100,00’s to the mid$200,000s, they were almost guaranteed to surpass sales expectations.

“Our deluxe Georgia+ two-bed, two-bath condos are unmatched in price and design and start from $179,900, it is one of the best examples of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity Brad Remington has created at Sage Hill Park,” he says.

There are 11 floor plans available in Sage Hill Park’s building two, from one-, two- and three-bedrooms ranging from 574 to 964 square-feet.

“There is one that will fit every lifestyle and need,” Logel says. Each suite includes a titled parking stall and more are available for purchase.

The contemporary look of the exterior also blends well within the community. Hardie board cement fibre plank sidings bring a desired stylish aesthetic as well as a sturdy fire/mildew-resistant building materials. Brick accents and sloped rooflines further add to its appeal.

Speaking of the community, although the future does look bright with plenty of amenities already planned to come in to the vicinity — including a much-anticipated revival of the Symons Ranch Farmers Market that Logel thinks will be a commercial game-changer in the area — what is already here is plentiful.

“We are surrounded by a couple of major commercial centres in Creek Side and Sage Hill with plenty of choices for dining, shopping, groceries

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and services, and those are all within a ten-minute walking radius from our location,” he says.

But even if Sage Hill Park is near all this action, its actual site is in a very quiet and relaxing spot in the neighbourhood, surrounded by nature trails, scenic ponds, parks and greenspace.

“The words affordability, quality and the northwest are words not normally used in the same sentence until now.

Sage Hill Park offers everyone the opportunity to affordably own a home they love in a location they want,” he tells Condo Living. “It’s the opportunity of a lifetime.”

The presentation centre is already open at the corner of Symons Valley Road and 136th Street N.W. and possessions are slated for July 2019 when show homes are expected to open. n

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A DREAM COME TRUE Jayman BUILT’s ambitious Westman Village brings condo living to the next level

BY PEPPER RODRIGUEZ PHOTOS BY DUSTIN HOFFERT / DCPIX PHOTOGRAPHY

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he dream condo living development is now a reality as the much-anticipated Westman Village opens its doors.

Jayman BUILT celebrates an epic milestone in the unfolding story of their most ambitious development yet, as the award-winning builder and developer officially opens to the public Westman Village’s 14 new show suites, its massive 40,000 square-foot Village Centre and the new Headquarters Restaurant.

They also introduced their line-up of commercial retailers that will complete the already amenity-rich development in Calgary’s biggest lake community of Mahogany in the southeast.

Condo Living was invited to a sneak-peek of the lakeside residential complex that promises to redefine multi-family living in Calgary. It took two hours to complete the tour of all these new facilities, which underlines just how impressive the whole undertaking is.

Westman Village was always envisioned to be a landmark development that will transform the way multi-family living is experienced in Calgary, and now everyone can see just how, says Jayman BUILT chairman and CEO, Jay Westman, during opening ceremonies held on September 22.

“We went all-in for this development,” says Westman. “There is nothing else like it in the city, maybe the world.”

It certainly establishes Jayman BUILT’s reputation as a leading home builder in Calgary. What was more impressive Westman says is that they were able to accomplish everything up to this point “on time and on budget,” he told a gathered crowd of buyers and guests at the grand opening ceremonies.

Village Centre - Party Room

Village Centre

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Calligraphy

Westman Village will have a total of 18 buildings collected on 13.5 acres fronting the shores of Mahogany Lake, Calgary’s largest lake at 63 acres with 21 acres of beachfront. The southeast community of Mahogany is in itself already well established, complete with schools, shopping and its own commercial and entertainment areas.

But the extraordinary vision for Westman Village is one that sculpts a lifestyle for an entire community, and across generational lines, offering the most comprehensive and diverse choices for multi-family living.

It will have 887 multi-family homes on complete build out and will include the Calligraphy apartment-style condos, Journey Club senior’s residences, Lyric choice leases, and the upscale

Reflection luxury estate condominiums. Odyssey, which will offer more active adult living spaces, will also open shortly.

The three-level, 40,000-square-foot Village Centre holds it all together as the beating heart of Westman Village’s social and cultural life. Seeing it complete and ready for residents brings to sharp focus just how much life here will resemble living in an all-inclusive resort.

It is a recreational facility by definition, but unlike anything Calgary’s seen before. It has two swimming pools, one with a waterslide; steam

Village Centre - Fitness Centre

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FA S T FAC TS DEVELOPMENT: Westman Village COMMUNITY: Mahogany STYLE: Apartment-style condos, rental suites, retirement living residences and executive bungalow estate condominiums PRICES: Calligraphy condos start from the low $230,000s plus GST The Journey Club seniors’ residence starts from $2,200/month Reflection estate condos start from the $800,000s plus GST Lyric choice rentals are from $1,720/month Odyssey active adult living is from the mid $320,000s plus GST PRESENTATION CENTRE: 188 Mahogany Gardens S.E. HOUR: Monday to Thursday 2 to 7 p.m., weekends noon to 4 p.m.

WEBSITE: www.westmanvillage.com rooms in each the men’s and women’s washrooms; a spin studio operated by MODE (a portion of its profits goes to the upkeep of the entire facility); a fitness centre and a marketplace right next to the concierge desk.

The upper level has a gymnasium — decked out in finery for the event — a humidor outdoor terrace; library; indoor garden; billiards room; a $50,000 golf simulator room; a surround-sound theatre room; and a walking track that goes around the whole floor.

The lower level features a wine cellar where residents can rent wine racks in stately, temperature-controlled Village Centre - Wine Cellar rooms; a fully equipped arts and crafts room; and a stateof-the-art wood working room. Westman Village residents can access the Village Centre through a series of tunnels and above-ground walkways.

Adding even more flavour to this amenity-rich development is the inclusion of such popular retailers such as Diner Deluxe, Chopped Leaf, Create Compound Pharmacy, Mahogany Dental and more. They will populate the 42,000 square-

Journey Club

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feet of commercial and boutique retail space within the development. Many are set to open in early 2019.

Westman Village has certainly resounded among buyers, who see its promise for a community-based lifestyle as its biggest appeal.

Around 50 per cent of its Reflections upscale condominiums are already sold, Lyric rentals already have 30 per cent occupancy, and the first phase of Calligraphy is already at 87 per cent sold. Already averaging 86 groups of visitors a week even before the new show homes fully opened, Westman Village can already be deemed a success.

Calligraphy continues Jayman BUILT’s tradition in offering stylishly functional and innovatively designed condos and will offer apartment-style suites from 537 to 1,135 square-feet.

Prices are from the $230,000s. Lyric is very similar, but offers leasing opportunities instead.

Staying true to the multi-generational and integrated design, Westman Village offers the Journey Club — a unique retirement and seniors living concept that offers independent or assisted living and memory care with units ranging from 333 to 1,108 square-feet.

The absolute gem of this enclave is the Reflection Estate Condominiums — which are garden and lakeside homes with a limited number of walk-out basements that start from 1,528 square-feet. There are show suites for each one of the products that certainly those guests can visit and they capture the elegant, stylish, living-large lifestyle of Westman Village.

Westman Village will put Jayman BUILT’s indelible stamp on the city; it’s a legacy that can be directly traced to AC Westman, company co-founder and Jay Westman’s father, whom he credits as one of his mentors.

The Westmans’ authentic knack for understanding people — their wants, their needs, their desires for lifestyle — and it is this understanding that has become the foundation on which the company was built and is in the very DNA of Westman Village. CL C A LG A R Y H O M E L I V I N G . C O M

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WEST END LIVING

Avenue West End brings a cherished urban lifestyle to Calgary’s core

BY PEPPER RODRIGUEZ

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he anticipated excitement that Grosvenor Americas (Grosvenor) will be bringing to Calgary’s West End has arrived — the penthouse suite at Avenue West End (Avenue) is complete. Now that people have moved into their homes, the greater community can see just how much life and style the high-rise tower has added to the downtown core.

This 23-storey glass and steel high-rise has become the premiere address in the West End neighbourhood. With its brilliant mix of one- and two-bedroom apartment condos and two-storey townhomes, Avenue brings a blend of high style and functional design that buyers are proud to call home.

Bringing this vision to life was a challenge that Grosvenor was ready to rise to. But if any developer could have done it, it was Grosvenor, whose 340-year-old history of building and developing residential and commercial properties around the globe has prepared them for building in any market.

For Avenue, Grosvenor partnered with Cressey Development Group (Cressey), and together they were able to bring a luxurious presence to the corner of 5th Avenue and 10th Street S.W. that residents — who started moving in last year — have simply fallen in love with.

Robert Duteau, Senior Vice President of Development and General Manager of the Grosvenor Calgary office, says he is particularly proud of Avenue, their third development in the city following Drake and Smith.

“Avenue is a unique project that offers best-inclass amenities, combined with contemporary interiors and an ideal location close to the river. The location offers a place where you can enjoy a big city lifestyle, but can still find

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serenity by being part of a mature residential community,” he says.

Duteau says there is an unmistaken urban feel, given the building’s proximity to the downtown core, trendy Kensington community and a number of Calgary’s best wine bars and restaurants. “Yet the area still has a distinctly residential feel, steps away from the Bow River parks and pathway system.”

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But even for a company with such storied development history, Avenue still delivered a few pleasant surprises.

“One thing that was a welcome surprise in the construction process of Avenue was the opportunity to capitalize on the penthouse’s private rooftop terrace. It could have been left as just a typical gravel and tarpaper roof, but we felt we had an opportunity to do something special and take advantage of the incredible mountain and river views. This 2,000-square-foot rooftop features a hot tub, dining area, barbeque, lounge with fireplace and garden.”

This penthouse on the top floor is available for $2.45 million and the commanding view it has of the cityscape and the nearby Rockies is worth every penny.

Then again, all the suites have a particular charm, not the least of which were the views available from the upper floors.

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“I SAW THE VIEW AND I WAS LIKE — IT’S MINE.”

Shannon who bought a two bedroom, two bathroom 1,138-square foot home on the 17th floor was simply amazed with the views that took in Kensington, the Peace Bridge, the river valley bluffs and the Bow River. “I saw the view and I was like — it’s mine,” she says.

“I was sold quite quickly,” she told Condo Living.

The CresseyKitchen™, which has never been seen in Calgary before, is also another feature that Shannon and other Avenue buyers were amazed with. The benefit of the CresseyKitchen™ is its incorporation of an appliance wall that houses the fridge, ovens and additional storage. Integrating this in a full wall across from the other kitchen cabinetry space, that would otherwise be a circulation path, serves as an extension of the kitchen.

Duteau says buyers at Avenue come from all stages of life. “We have downsizers who are attracted to the lock and leave lifestyle, young professional couples in our two-level townhomes and larger two-bedroom homes for those looking for more space and potentially starting a family. We also have first time home buyers who are entering the market for the first time and are looking to invest in a high-quality product that will serve them for years to come.” Since completing construction, it has been a very busy nine months at Avenue and we have reached just over 85 per cent sold, he says. Avenue has 30 homes left to sell and the developer is seeing a great deal of interest in these homes from buyers of all different walks of life.

“We currently have one and two-bedroom homes available, as well as two-storey townhomes. We encourage prospective buyers to come

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visit our Sales Centre and three fully furnished display homes, including the penthouse, to see the layouts and different ways to style a home, and really envision what life at Avenue would look like, Duteau says.

Available homes range from 572 to 1,320 square feet; movein ready homes start from the low $300,000s.

At Avenue, residents arrive at a hotel-inspired porte-cochere and lobby, are greeted by a daytime concierge and have access to a dog washing station and bike workshop/service room.

Each air-conditioned home includes solid walnut entry doors, marble thresholds, high ceiling and wide-planked engineered hardwood flooring. All homes also feature the exclusive Cressey Kitchen™ design, an open-concept design that flows seamlessly into the living area, with its refined wood cabinetry, quartz countertops, French-door refrigerator, stainless steel gas cooktop and wall oven, wine rack and full height pantry space.

“At Avenue West End, buyers know they are getting a luxury product, and that is why our presentation centre sees a great deal of activity, with so many potential buyers coming to learn more about what Avenue West End has to offer,” Duteau says. CL

FA S T FAC TS COMMUNITY: West End PROJECT: Avenue West End DEVELOPER: Grosvenor Americas and Cressey Development Group STYLE: Luxury one and two-bedroom homes and two-storey townhomes SIZE: 572 to 1,320 sq. ft.

PRICE: Starting from the low $300,000s SALES CENTRE: 102 - 1025 5th Ave S.W, Calgary HOURS: Monday to Wednesday 12 – 6 p.m., weekends noon to 5 p.m., Thursday and Friday by appointment only. Free parking beside the sales centre.

WEBSITE: www.avenuewestend.com

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STARTING FROM THE LOW

400'S

$

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+ GST

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Introducing: CAPELLA University District welcomes its latest residential development, Capella

BY PEPPER RODRIGUEZ

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one-of-a-kind community deserves home designs that are just as unique, and Brookfield Residential has stepped up to the plate with Capella, their newest multi-family development in University District.

The award-winning new community of University District in the northwest has attracted some of the most forward-thinking multi-family residential developments in the city, and Capella is Brookfield Residential’s second endevour here following it’s highly successful Ivy. But Capella promises to bring even more to the table by offering two unique residential options that include contemporary one- and two-bedroom condos, and the new Estate Single-Level Residences that brings the bungalow concept to multi-family living.

“Capella is a really innovative development, not just for University District, but for Calgary,” says Brookfield Residential Marketing Manager Justin Castelino.

“The condos offer an incredible opportunity for young professionals to find a home that offers everything they need. While our Estate Single Level Residences are great for those who are looking for a home that offers them more square footage, without stairs, in a convenient urban setting,” Castelino says.

Capella’s condo suites range from 540 to 1,000 square-feet and offer private balconies, secure underground parking, a glamorous two-storey lobby and a fitness studio within the building.

“The contemporary condos at Capella are an intelligent collection of well thought out one and two-bedroom floor plans,” Castelino says. Starting from the high $200,000s, he adds that they represent “an incredible opportunity to own a home of exceptional design, filled with wonderful amenities, in one of Calgary’s most desirable and livable new communities.”

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“These unique homes blend the livability of a bungalow with the convenience of a townhome.”

What everyone is most excited for though is Capella’s Estate Single Level Residences — a first of their kind in Calgary, he says.

“These unique homes blend the livability of a bungalow with the convenience of a townhome.

With only six to eight residences per building, each with a private balcony, private garage and semi-private elevator, these homes are set to exceed expectations,” Castelino explains.

He says these Estate Single Level Residences may be a first for Brookfield’s Calgary team,

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but “we have drawn our inspiration from a successful Brookfield Residential development in Playa Vista — one of the most desirable neighbourhoods in Southern California.”

Along with their architect partner, Mckinley Burkart, Castelino says Brookfield has been able to bring a truly innovative housing option to Calgary, one that has been long overdue.

Starting in the upper $600,000s, the Estate Single Level Residences offer seven unique two- and three-bedroom floor plans that range from 1,300 to over 2,000 square-feet of living space.

Capella will have 92 condo units in a single five-storey building and 50 single level residences in seven four-storey buildings. There are 14

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FA S T FAC TS COMMUNITY: University District PROJECT: Capella DEVELOPER: Brookfield Residential STYLE: Contemporary condos and Estate Single Level Residences SIZE: Condos are from 540 sq. ft., and Estate Single Level Residences are from 1,300 sq. ft.

PRICE: Condos are from the high $200,000s, Estate Single Level Residences are from the $600,000s.

DISCOVERY CENTRE: 4410 University Ave., N.W. Capella show suites open on October 20.

HOURS: Tuesday to Friday 1 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Saturday & Sunday 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

WEBSITE: www.capellaliving.ca condo floor plans from 540 – 1,000 square-feet with one- and two-bedroom options.

The condos will feature an exceptional array of trendsetting design options, curated by the interior design team at Brookfield. While the Estate Single Level Residence owners will be able to personalize their homes with the guid-

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“Anyone who desires a community where they would be able to walk or bike to virtually every amenity — groceries, shopping, cafes, restaurants, fitness and more — will love University District.” ance of an interior designer at The Brookfield Studio, creating a home that truly represents their tastes and desires, he adds.

Yet the biggest draw remains to be the community of University District itself. “Anyone who desires a community where they would be able to walk or bike to virtually every amenity — groceries, shopping, cafes, restaurants, fitness and more — will love University District.”

Capella fits seamlessly into this environment of easy walks and bike rides to work, neighbourly visits on the rooftop patio, coffee dates at the park, and fitness plans for the weekend.

“The vision of University District means creating opportunities and spaces where you can connect and just enjoy life. Capella matches that vision to connect the community, and is conveniently located steps from pathways to and from all amenities and our newly opened two-acre north park and pond,” Castelino says.

Interested parties can check out Capella’s brand new show suite that is being built at the University District Discovery Centre when it opens on October 20. “The new show suites will be built in a new wing of the Discovery Centre and we will display both the contemporary condo and the Estate Single Level Residences,” Castelino says. CL

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Making its mark

Shane Homes’ award-winning Mark 101 in Sage Hill delivers the goods

BY PORTIA YIP

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ortune favours the bold, and Shane Homes certainly knew when to take advantage of such opportunities. And with Mark 101 in Sage Hill buyers also get to share in their good fortune.

For nearly four decades, Shane Homes has left an impressive mark on Calgary’s single-family home industry and when the opportunity arose to move in to the multi-family business, they quickly adapted and brought on the Shane Homes Multi-Family Division.

Headed by Kevin Taylor, the young division immediately got things going with the Mark 101 in Sage Hill — a decision that is paying off

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“WITHOUT A DOUBT THESE BUILDINGS ARE INSPIRING AND I CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY THERE IS NO ONE ELSE THAT CREATES SUCH A HIGHQUALITY PRODUCT LIKE WE DO FOR THE BEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK.” Mark 101 will have a total of 206 units in three four-storey buildings in the amenity rich and supremely accessible community of Sage Hill.

It’s just off Stoney Trail and right across the street from the thriving commercial centre, Sage Hill Crossing, that brings a wealth of shopping, entertainment and dining choices to residents.

Plenty of exclusive and contemporary single-family-home finishes come standard in Building Two including four interior colour palettes to choose from, maple cabinetry, luxury vinyl plank flooring, extended eight-foot long kitchen islands, oversized balconies and sixfoot tall windows for maximum natural light.

“There are spacious private storage lockers in a secure room and many people love our feature of a separate bike storage room so it frees up more indoor and balcony space,” adds Bidinost.

There are also gas lines to all balconies, a handsomely. Already they’ve struck gold after the Mark 101 won three awards for best water line to the fridge, a kitchen sink garburanew design as well as Shane Multi-Family winning Multi-Family Builder of the Year at the tor, air-conditioning in some units and double most recent BILD Calgary Awards.

USB ports in the kitchen island for electronic The company’s expertise in single-family home building seemed to have transferred devices. Bidinost highlights the spacious walkseamlessly to this new concern. “We’ve been building houses for 39 years and we’re ecstatic in laundry room and how the bathrooms and about breaking into the multi-family home market with Mark 101,” Dianne Bidinost, Area vanities are even larger than those in standard Manager at Shane Multi-Family tells Condo Living. single homes with features like two sinks, deep Now on its second building, the Mark 101 continues to flourish, bringing a style and soaker tubs and tall showers. affordability to a wide and diverse range of buyers in this vibrant corner of the northwest.

“These floorplans have truly stepped outside “Our first building did very well and we’ve added some new re-designed floor plans for the box with roomy and desirable spaces,” she Building Two.” says. “We attended the Calgary region awards C A LG A R Y H O M E L I V I N G . C O M

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gala in April and did unbelievably well. It was very exciting as we won three best designs and took home the 2017 multi-family builder of the year award.”

Sales for the second building of Mark 101 are well underway with a move-in date slated for fall 2018. A variety of unique floor plans including one-bedroom, one-bedroom plus den, and two-bedrooms plus two-baths are still up for grabs ranging from 610 to 947 square-feet in size and starting in the low $200,000s. For those seeking breathtaking yearround views of lush rolling hills and open prairie skies that Sage Hill is known for, a few corner units remain but are sure to be snapped up fast.

While it’s often the inside that counts, Shane Homes goes one step further to ensure Mark 101 has an equally eye-catching exterior to complement the surrounding landscape. James Hardie Board siding and an abundance of stone detailing create an attractive and sturdy exterior.

Potential buyers can expect even more perks including an accessible and level entryway with no stairs to get into the building, along with a tastefully decorated lobby area with a fireplace to add a welcoming ambience for residents and visitors.

“The curb-factor is amazing with landscaped garden areas, walking paths, park benches and outdoor greenspaces for enjoying a morning coffee or relaxing in the evening,” Bidinost says. “Without a doubt these buildings are inspiring and I can confidently say there is no one else that creates such a high-quality product like we do for the best bang for your buck.”

The attractive details and qualities of Mark 101 appeal to a broad demographic of buyers looking for unbeatable value and less maintenance mixed with optimum convenience in an ideal and established community. Mark 101 has attracted everyone from professionals and young families to downsizers and snowbirds who love to travel.

“We’re 15 minutes away from the airport and Stoney Trail is easily accessible,” Bidinost adds. “There’s a bus stop right outside the door and with Calgary rapid transit coming soon, a direct bus will take people to the C-train station and then straight to the downtown core.”

Sage Hill Crossing is the major amenity hub within walking distance and where residents are spoiled with convenient access to Loblaws City Market, Walmart Supercentre, Tim Horton’s and Starbucks, oth-

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er restaurants and fast-food eateries, banks, gas stations and more. Beacon Hill and Creekside Shopping Centre are also nearby for those looking for gyms and fitness centres, more boutiques and eateries, and other big-box stores like Costco and Reno Depot.

With a reputation over the years for exceptional customer service and responding to the changes in peoples lifestyles and goals, Shane Homes will help their customers each step of the way towards getting into the market and owning their own home. Currently, quick possessions are available for suites in Building One and buyers can take advantage of the special limited time offer and discounts available in Building 2.

“We can work with first-time buyers and provide the right financial advisors to help them on their way to getting approved and owning the place of their dreams,” says Bidinost. “We’re also here to help people sell their current homes as we’ll connect them with our realtor contacts.”

Three brand new show suites are currently ready to view and interested buyers can contact the sales centre for more information or visit the website at www.shanecondos.com. CL

FA S T FAC TS PROJECT: Mark 101 in Sage Hill BUILDER: Shane Homes COMMUNITY: Sage Hill DEVELOPER: Shane Communities STYLE: Apartment-style condominiums SIZE: From 610 to 947 sq. ft.

PRICE: Starting from the low $200,000s SALES CENTRE: 3727 Sage Hill Drive N.W. HOURS: Monday to Thursday 2 to 8 p.m., weekends and holidays noon to 5 p.m.

WEBSITE: www.shanehones.com/mark101

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LIVING IT UP Avi Urban releasing a new project in Livingston

BY BRANDI HOLMES

A

fter seeing the success they’ve had with Maverick at Livingston, Avi Urban is excited to announce their next project, with a grand opening slated for early 2019.

Jasper at Livingston will be comprised of one, two and three bedroom units and each home will come equipped with an attached single or double car garage. With four floorplans to choose from, ranging from 650 to 1,300 squarefeet throughout six buildings.

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“Jasper at Livingston will be a two- storey development that will give homeowners direct ground floor access, single level living and attached garages,” says Charron Ungar, CEO of Homes by Avi Group of Companies.

Ungar continues, “These starter to mid-level homes will be at an attractive price point, however, not at the expense of quality of construction or innovative design. There’s a real willingness to be progressive with architectural statement in Livingston, so we’ve developed a product that is truly innovative and meets buyer demand.”

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“SINCE LAUNCHING MAVERICK IN JANUARY 2017, THE COMMUNITY HAS PROGRESSED IMMENSELY, AND RESIDENTS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SETTING DOWN ROOTS IN AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY.” The first Avi Urban development in the community, Maverick at Livingston, consists of 177 condos spread across three boutique, four storey buildings. Offering 2018 and 2019 possession dates, the condos starting from the $190s and range between 530 and 974 square feet.

“Maverick pays tribute to the pioneering spirit and heritage of the city, speaking to our fortitude and commitment of building a better future,” says Ungar. “The idea of a Maverick exemplifies what the community is about; stepping outside of the ordinary in an unorthodox manner to create something innovative and bold.”

“With possession dates quickly approaching, homeowners are excited to see the vision for the development and their new homes come to life,” explains Ungar. “Since launching Maverick in January 2017, the community has progressed immensely, and residents are looking forward to setting down roots in an inclusive community.”

Located in Calgary’s new north, the master planned community of Livingston was founded on the concept of togetherness. Residents can live, shop, work, learn and play throughout every stage of their lives, while enjoying extensive amenities in neighbouring communities and quick access to major routes, such as Deerfoot

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trail and Stoney Trail will get them where they need to go.

Paying homage to the inclusive community, Avi Urban continues to deliver clever layouts with highly functional and stylish spaces that come complete with modern finishes and customizable interior selections. CL

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| CONDO PROFILE FA S T FAC TS COMMUNITY: Livingston PROJECT: Maverick at Livingston & Jasper at Livingston DEVELOPER: Avi Urban STYLE: Condos SIZE: 530 to 1,300 sq. ft.

PRICE: Starting from the $190,000s SALES CENTRE ADDRESS: 163 Livingston Ave N.E. HOURS: Monday to Thursday 2 p.m. – 8 p.m. Friday to Sunday & Holidays 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

WEBSITE: www.aviurban.com

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RNDSQR’s commitment to communal, sustainable design shines through WRITTEN BY PEPPER RODRIGUEZ PHOTOS BY DON MOLYNEAUX

G

row was always intended to better the community by being part of the community, and even the design of its presentation centre reflects this thoughtful approach.

RNDSQR, the developer of Grow, has gone the extra mile to incorporate their community-first philosophy in building their presentation centre in Marda Loop. They decided to rehabilitate an old single-family home on 2212 33 Avenue S.W. to be the face of their award-winning 20-unit development going up in Bankview.

Grow is RNDSQR’s first major development and they wanted the presentation centre to impress, but also embody what the company stands for. And does it ever!

“The home was built in the 1940s and needed a little TLC to re-purpose it and fit our needs,” says Majida Devani, one of the principals of RNDSQR and its Creative Director, who helped come up with the look for the presentation centre. “We kept all the walls but built openings, re-did the floors and make it feel like a Grow unit.”

“It will emulate Grow but we can manipulate it to fit other RNDSQR developments in the

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future,” adds Madilynn Chieduch, RNDSQR’s lead interior designer.

But the intention to involve the community in their developments remains the same. Similar to the actual Grow condos, the presentation centre has garden plots right outside growing vegetables and herbs that the community at large can help themselves to.

As you enter, there’s the sun room completely decked out with plants from Esmé Beauty and Floral Bar. Around the corner is a huge side patio, designed for hosting events or just for hanging out. “We’ve hosted yoga sessions and even movie nights here,” Majida says.

They also involve plenty of local shops in the day-to-day activities at the presentation centre. Village Ice Cream provides treats for guests, coffee is from Phil & Sebastian’s, and the show home is decked out with character pieces from Kit Interior Objects.

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Grow’s price point, starting at $289,000 is a big part of the appeal considering this includes already-upgraded standard finishes from Muuto lighting, luxury laminate plank flooring, custom cabinets with soft close hinges, to quartz counter tops.

Grow’s bathrooms reflect the understated stylishness of each suite while emphasizing the functionality of the space.

Upscale Mutina Italian tile, seamless 10-mm glass stall and high-end pull-out shower heads create a harmonious blend of style and practicality.

The Spring design option used in the show suite is one of two palettes to choose from at Grow.

“This has a light, bright and fresh vibe,” Majida says. It includes finishes like matte black hardware, quartz countertops, cabinets with soft close hinges. “The Fall option has a more earthy look with rich and warm undertones,” Madilynn says.

Grow has 20 one-, two- and three-bedroom units including condos, townhomes and lofts ranging in size from 515 to 1,315 square-feet.

The actual bedrooms are more spacious than what is shown in the presentation centre, which was limited by the dimensions of the old house, Majida says. “But I think we were still able to show how comfortable a space it can be.”

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Madilynn says she had fun outfitting the Grow living room with furniture and accents from Kit Interior Objects, another local partner. “It’s modern but not overwhelmingly so, there’s a good transitional look to it that many of our buyers can see themselves living in.” Buyers also get a discount from Kit Interiors.

“We treat the community as family,” Majida says.

Luxury laminate plank flooring are as stylish as they are sturdy and perfect for the pet-loving homeowner. “Grows location in Bankview is perfect for dog owners as there are plenty of off-leash areas, pathways and parks nearby,” Majida says.

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The cedar screen that creates an eye-catching visual for RNDSQR’s presentation centre in Marda Loop also acts as a trellis for the plants rapidly growing beside it. It is also a representation of the cedar panelling that is going to be used in Grow’s exterior. “We love cedar and use it whenever we can,” Majida says. Visit Grow’s presentation centre at 2212 33 Avenue S.W. or go to www.rndsqr.ca CL CO N D O L I V I N G

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FALLING INTO

BY PEPPER RODRIGUEZ

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o one can plan for everything, but for a master-planned community it is essential, and for Calgary’s University District everything in the plan is certainly falling into place.

One of Calgary’s most progressive and forward-thinking master-planned communities, University District is ramping up excitement in the fall as it welcomes its latest residential and commercial developments and gets ready to unveil even more amenities for residents to enjoy.

The latest feather in University District’s cap is Brookfield Residential’s new Capella, the award-winning builder’s second project here.

Capella is part of the second wave of residential developments that began in University District last year with Avi Urban’s August, and follows the early success of Truman Homes’ Noble and Brookfield Residential’s The IVY. Two senior living facilities

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— Cambridge Manor and Maple — as well as Alt Hotel, and Save-On-Foods grocery have also come on board.

People are also already calling University District home, as residents have started moving in this summer and are starting to enjoy the amenities that University District’s developer, West Campus Development Trust, has already put in place.

“It’s an exciting time!

We’re getting ready to roll out several retail announcements for the nine blocks of retail along Main Street,” says James Robertson, West Campus Development Trust pres-

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PLACE ident and CEO. “The response to University District by retailers has been overwhelming and we will have a sophisticated and diverse set of retailers with opportunities to sip and get social, get some retail therapy, be active and creative, run every day errands, and more. On top of that, we will have another residential offering to announce early in the New Year. And we’re gearing up to announce more details about our three-acre urban park in the centre of the community.”

The community is far from its total build out plan, but growth has been swift, Robertson says. “The community will be complete in an estimated 15 to 20 years and at the end there will be 7,000 homes. We have just over 1,000 already under construction.”

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University District is quickly maturing to the master-planned community it is destined to be

He explains that part of the reason for the seeming rapid growth and the almost-overnight transformation of the site just off Shaganappi Trail N.W. is their commitment to retail early on.

“We see retail as an essential part of community building that will contribute to a high-quality life for residents and the surrounding communities, and we have committed a great deal of effort to ensure that the retail experience is readily available, and dynamic and diverse.” Save-on-Foods and a variety of other retailers will open in 2020.

He adds that University District has always been meant as a prime hub that brings together a variety of lifestyle and entertainment options at the University of Calgary, Market Mall, regional athletic centres, easy access to the river and more. The residents already have access to the north pond, urban dog park and pathway system that opened this summer.

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COMMUNITY PROFILE | FA S T FAC TS COMMUNITY: University District DEVELOPER: West Campus Development Trust BUILDERS: • THE IVY by Brookfield Residential Row townhomes starting from under $500,000 • Noble by Truman Apartment condos from the $320,000s Townhomes from the $420,000s • August at University District by Avi Urban Apartment style condos from the $260,000s • Maple by Truman Independent living suites from the $290,000s • Capella by Brookfield Residential Apartment-style condos from the high $200,000s and Estate Single Level Residences from the $600,000s DISCOVERY CENTRE: 4410 University Ave N.W. (just North of the Children’s Hospital) WEBSITE: www.myuniversitydistrict.ca “We’re almost ready to open the park next door to Phase 1, which includes an inclusively designed playground and special design features like a built-in ping-pong table. Our Discovery Centre also offers chances to connect through events like our second Northwestival event at the end of the year and other seasonal programming. Our central park along Main Street — our biggest and most ambitious open space milestone — is expected to open in 2021.”

With all these in place, University District snagged this year’s BILD Alberta New Community Development Award; a prestigious honour from industry peers province-wide.

“This win is a reaffirmation of the dedication of the WCDT team that has been working on this project,” he says. “We are thrilled to be recognized by the industry and really proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the leaders in our field across Alberta.”

But, of course, the ultimate winner here is the buyer. A diverse range of buyers have fallen in love with what University District offers, including the stylish and affordable condos from the $200,000s and townhomes from the $420,000s.

“Many of our buyers come from the surrounding communities, which we think is a testament to the stakeholder-centric engagement process we applied to our land use application. Our neighbours are excited by the lifestyle available in University District a complete urban environment that allows them to put down roots, connect with community, while enjoying a variety of natural outdoor escapes and vibrant lifestyle amenities.”

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He says buyers are predominantly from the more mature adult who sees University District as a place “that will respond to their needs,” Robertson says.

“Cambridge Manor and Maple offer a unique hybrid assisted living and independent living opportunity across the street from a grocery store and the retail core of the community. The facility will allow people to stay in their homes for longer with easy access to different levels of care and the community as time goes on,” he points out.

“We’re also finding a synergy with mid-career professionals who are employed with nearby employers like the hospitals and the university.

Lots of people are really drawn to the chance to walk to work – to add extra time to the day — as the largest employment centre outside of downtown in the city.”

University District sits on endowment land from the University of Calgary and follows the successful models at UBC and Simon Fraser University. The endowment lands are set up as a trust with the University of Calgary retaining ownership of the land. Buyers lease the land through a 99-year pre-paid lease. At the end of the term, West Campus Development Trust will either negotiate an extension to the lease or buy the building back.

Robertson says buyers have not had a problem with the arrangement.

“The lease was an uncharted territory for Calgary and, despite that lots of the world’s largest urban environments like London and Hong Kong are heavily based on a leasehold model, we still weren’t 100 per cent sure how the local market would respond.

“With our partners, we built education into our marketing and sales process. This started with educating the real estate law and lending communities on the details of how the lease worked, in order to be able to support buyers. All the details were provided in transparent and accessible marketing materials, and we found that people were very open and responsive. Once you understand how the pre-paid land lease works, you find that it really isn’t that much different than buying a condominium anywhere else,” he says.

Robertson ends by saying that the idea of University District resonates with Calgarians and that people see them as a trusted neighbour.

“We’d like to think the response has been because our plan is innovative and progressive, but also people are excited to engage with the community experience that we’re creating. We genuinely hope that our community will help Calgarians live less complicated, more meaningful lives, and return that dividend to others.” CL

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ON THE FAST TRACK TO HAPPINESS Expecting a new baby, couple happy to move in to new Emerald Sky home

BY DARLENE CASTEN PHOTOS BY DON MOLYNEAUX

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hat do tea, babies and apartments have in common? They are all things Josh and Jaze are working on this year.

The last 12 months have already been busy for the engaged couple, who met three years ago, bought their first home a year ago and are now expecting a baby and opening a tea-house business.

It was a push from her mom that got them both thinking about moving out of their parents’ homes and into something of their own.

Jaze says her mom wasn’t exactly subtle when it came to presenting the idea that she should move out.

“She doesn’t like my cats,” Jaze laughs. “They were scratching up their furniture. She insinuated that she wanted us to move and she took us to show homes and asked if we liked them.”

The 30-something-year-olds are established in their careers (Jaze is a dental assistant and Josh works in a bank) and they felt ready to enter into home ownership.

Although mom was ready for her daughter to fly the coop, she wanted Jaze to stay nearby, so they looked around the northwest, close to her family’s Rocky Ridge home.

“I spend a lot of time with my family,” says Jaze. “My mom would

not have it if I didn’t visit a lot.”

Emerald Sky, an apartment condominium in Kincora built by the Carlisle Group, was where they found a move-in ready, 750-squarefoot, two-bedroom, two-bathroom home that fit their finances.

The one-bedroom units and several two-story units in the building were already sold out and Josh says a purchase price of $210,000 was the biggest factor in their decision to buy at Emerald Sky. Second was the steel and concrete construction.

“It’s very sturdy and we don’t hear our neighbours — that was the best part,” says Josh.

With a baby on the way, they are also thankful that they don’t have to worry about keeping quiet. Baby Max is set to make his appearance Valentines Day 2019.

Jaze says after they bought their condo, it was time to start a family and again her mom wasn’t holding back on the subject.

“She said, she’s getting older and I’m not getting any younger,” she says.

The layout of their condo is perfect for starting a family. The large master bedroom has space for a bassinet and the future nursery is right next to their bedroom.

Jaze appreciates the large windows in their bedroom as well.

Having two bathrooms — one with a shower and one with a bath is also great for a family of three. However, the cats (Bruce and Scout)

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Jaze says she is getting familiar with her new kitchen, which includes a stainless steel GE stove, refrigerator and over the range microwave. will have to find a new place to do their business because they are currently the masters of the master bathroom.

Easy to clean surfaces — granite countertops (in the kitchen and washrooms), glossy, white wave tiles in the showers and laminate flooring make for easy living, they add.

“Its easy to clean,” Josh says. “It takes an hour. Sometimes when she is working on a Saturday, I clean it up so she comes home to a clean house.”

Jaze says she is getting familiar with her new kitchen, which includes a stainless steel GE stove, refrigerator and over the range microwave.

“I had to learn how to cook,” Jaze says. “ I used YouTube.

He loves Filipino food so I had to learn how to cook some.”

They’ve been replacing the hand-me down furniture from Jaze’s mom (including one scratched up couch) with their own clean and modern style.

They’ve shopped around, finding a masculine grey tweed couch from The Bay, on sale, and a simple white floating television stand. Online they ordered iron bar stools for

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Jaze and Josh

their sit up glass table, which they plan to replace, when baby comes. However, the stools can be salvaged for their eat up bar.

Replacing, not accumulating is the goal, says Jaze, who says they are both minimalists. Even their oversized deck is still bare, with just one of Josh’s four bikes allowed on the outdoor space.

Jaze and Josh admit they are homebodies who mainly like to watch movies, so they love having shopping close by.

“We are close to Walmart here and City Market,” says Jaze.

And getting to their jobs in the northeast is a 15 to 20 minute commute on Stoney Trail.

Besides having a baby, juggling their careers and furnishing and decorating their new home, Josh also has plans to open an Asian-style loose leaf tea shop downtown Calgary with his soonto-be mother-in-law.

They admit since becoming homeowners, life has been on the fast track, but they are enjoying the ride.

“We only met three years ago — I think we are moving too fast,” Jaze jokes.

“It’s too late,” Josh answers. “We are already full throttle.” CL

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Sub Zero wine fridges are built rightin to the island of this penthouse suite. Not only does it enhance the look of this kitchen, but also frees up room in the main fridge. The marble countertops are also quite stunning in this condo unit.

Cutting-edge kitchens

BY CHRISTINA LOC

RIGHT: Kinetico makes a water filtration system that not only rivals bottled water but often surpasses what is produced commercially.

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he future has arrived — at least at the Calgary Fall Home Show it did. On the hunt for kitchen trends and touring through the TELUS Future Home at the annual trade show, the days of The Jetsons may be near and real.

Big plans are in place to unveil sophisticated systems integrated in to your home. Smart appliances can keep inventory of groceries, along with recipe suggestions based on the groceries you already have with step- by-step instructions.

While this technology is just emerging with Samsung leading the way with smart fridges already on the market, it’s good to have a sneak peek at where technology is heading, especially for the kitchen.

Take note, so you can plan ahead in making decisions about electrical or plumbing rough-ins while renovating or building a new home.

Also at the show is Jesse Boyetchko, founder of Marvel Cabinetry.

Keep an eye out for him and his team on next season’s Property Brothers as they showcase their impressive work being filmed right here in Calgary.

Boyetchko cites painted and melamine cabinets as a major trend now. You will fall in love with the high quality and durable paint job they do so well. If you are looking to incorporate the look of reclaimed wood for drawers or doors, they have a textured barn-

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wood melamine that is representative of the real thing!

Marvel Cabinetry’s booth also displays a farm house kitchen with an English pantry.

The English pantry is counter depth deep and runs from the floor to the height of upper cabinets. Boyetchko says, “the ease of being able to keep small appliances in one spot to use on a daily basis and then closing the doors to keep it out of sight appeals to a lot of our clients.”

Incorporate an English pantry into your kitchen design to keep organized and your counters clutter-free. Be sure to rough-in wiring for lighting and extra electrical outlets.

Banish the unsightly counter microwave.

If you are tired of polished chrome or brushed nickle, opt for a flat black or antique brass finish. A simple change in cabinet hardware and kitchen faucet could give your kitchen a fresh and economical facelift.

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

P H OTO CO U RTE S Y O F TR A I L A P P LI A N CE S

The future is now in the world of kitchen design

Heading over to Trail Appliances, Steve Parkin, an expert in home appliances with 20-plus years working with builders says, “One of the largest trends is the switch from electric and gas cook tops to induction.” The benefits of an induction glass top includes its ability to heat up three times faster than gas, has less heat loss and is easy to clean as the surface does not get overly hot.

Other trending products for appliances are water filters and wine fridges. Parkin emphasizes that, “People don’t love the taste of tap water and spend a lot of money on bottled water.” With the concern of toxic chemicals and plastic bottles filling our landfills, having a built-in water filter is the smart way to go.

Wine fridges are also on trend, built directly in to the kitchen or pantry. Many wine fridges have two zones — an area for red wine and a colder area for white wines, beer and pop, “freeing up much needed space in the main family refrigerator,” says Parkin.

Over at Stone + Tile by Hyatt, president Wayne Fang, shows us that white quartz is their number one selling product. It is a manmade product and known for its durability, fresh and timeless look.

The look of marble also remains popular. If you want to splurge and are willing to take the risks of marble being more porous and soft, marble in your kitchen is stunning with its beautiful natural veining and colours — a definite favourite! However, if the budget is not there or the maintenance risk is too high, marble-looking quartz is hugely popular too according to the design team at Stone + Tile by Hyatt.

Another way to spice up your countertops is to switch up the details. Start with a thinner countertop thickness around the perimeter of your kitchen and add to your island an edging detail; choose a thicker countertop profile; incorporate a waterfall; or use a different stone or material as a feature.

Like fashion, if you wait, everything comes full circle. While subway tiles, available in many colours, textures, material and sizes remain popular, who ever thought the white 6-inch square standard builder’s grade backsplash tile popular back in the ‘90’s would ever make a comeback! Designer, Jenn Dellaire, with Crestview Floors exC A LG A R Y H O M E L I V I N G . C O M

plains how the 6-inch square tiles get an updated look by offsetting them and using a contrasting grout on kitchen backsplashes.

If you want to go bold with beautiful patterns, cement tile has made a huge resurgence. Cement tile “knock-off ”, however, is also popular as Dellaire states, “it entails the same beautiful patterns you get in cement tile but is made with porcelain.

It is thinner and non-porous.” Offering a similar look and being a lot more durable and easier to work with, patterned porcelain tiles could be the better choice here.

And if budget is not an issue, marble mosaics always look great in traditional, contemporary or modern settings.

When it comes to kitchen flooring, the look of hardwood flooring remains the popular choice whether it is real hardwood, engineered hardwood, laminate or vinyl flooring. It’s impressive how laminate and vinyl flooring can look so real now while providing durability and affordability.

Ideally, stick to one type of flooring in your main living area to keep your space looking spacious and streamlined.

Finally, have fun with lighting. Run LED strip lights everywhere — under cabinets and countertops, toe kicks and along floating shelves. Pot lights remain the timeless choice for overall lighting and like a pair of earrings or cuff links, accessorize with one wide chandelier or a few pendant lights over the island.

Once your kitchen looks warm and too inviting, you may want to burn those calories by joining a virtual race with people from all around the world on your stationary bike hooked up to the TV. The future really has arrived. CL

LEFT: You can find great patterns in porcelain tile just like cement tile.

Visit the newly renovated showroom at Crestview Floors for a large selection of tile.

BELOW: At the Calgary Home and Garden Show, Marvel Cabinetry displays a butler pantry using painted cabinets and drawers made of textured Barnwood melamine.

P H OTO CO U RTE S Y O F M A RV EL C A B I N E TRY

P H OTO CO U RTE S Y O F CR E S T V I E W FLOO R S

| STYLE

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

| FEATURE

SAFETY AT THE CORE

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rittny Kehoe’s Fitbit is a virtual chronicle of the effort it takes to keep Westman Village a safe work place.

The safety Coordinator at Jayman BUILT’s Westman Village clocks an astounding 20,000 - 30,0000 steps a day making her rounds around the 13.7-acre multi-building, multifaceted condo development being built in the southeast community of Mahogany.

In a development of this magnitude, where there can be as many as 450 workers at the site on a given day, safety can never be taken for granted.

It doesn’t take much for an accident to happen. It goes tenfold for such a massive undertaking when you take into account the various moving parts of an active construction site, the pressures of meeting deadlines and budgets, and unexpected elements like sudden weather.

It would seem that the whole enterprise is delicately balanced on a knife’s edge. But

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

Award-winning safety team tackles Westman Village’s challenging build

BY PEPPER RODRIGUEZ

prepared-ness is the key, and the Jayman safety team takes their job seriously.

After all, lives depend on it.

“We want to ensure that every new home we build is not only well-built and well-designed, but that no one was injured in its construction,” says Trevor Klein, who heads Jayman BUILT’s award-winning safety department.

During a behind-the-scenes tour of the Westman Village construction site that Trevor and Brittny took Condo Living on, it was clear just how massive the project was and the herculean effort needed to police safety there.

Westman Village was recently opened to the public and visitors no longer have to wear hard hats and steel-toed boots and safety vests to get around the show suites and Village Centre. But there is still construction going on.

“It is an active construction site, but we have to balance this with the needs of the sales and marketing department, so we frequently have visitors going through the site so constant vigilance is needed to ensure safety for all in all regards,” Trevor says.

Trevor oversees safety for all Jayman BUILT construction sites, (“My three year-old truck has over 250,000 kilometres on it already,” he chuckles.) while Brittny is in charge of the Westman Village site exclusively.

Their work has not gone unnoticed, as Jayman BUILT’s two-person safety team has received industry-wide recognition for their work. They won BILD Alberta’s Safety Leadership Award (Large-Volume Builder) at this year’s gala event in Jasper.

»

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FEATURE |

The Safety Leadership Awards recognize builder and general members for their dedication to safety. Each year awards are presented to those companies who have found an innovative approach to their safety programs and whose staff excel in safety.

They also recently won the Trailblazer Award from the Alberta Construction Safety Association (ACSA), which recognizes the innovations and achievements in safety of companies from the Alberta construction industry, along with their contributions to the local communities in the region.

“Safety is our top priority at Jayman, so to be recognized as a leader in the industry on safety is an incredible testament to our values,” says Dave Desormeaux, President, Jayman BUILT Single Family. “Putting safety first in all levels of our business, in the office and on building sites, ensures we do all that we can to help our employees to go home safely to their families.”

Trevor says these recognitions are confirmation of his core belief in the safety standards that he has put in place since starting work here six years ago. “This lets me know that we’re on the right path,” he tells Condo Living. But he says the real reward is having no one get hurt while doing their job.

“We’re building homes, and no home should have the stigma of having someone injured on the job site in the course of building it,” he says.

According to the Alberta Government Occupational Health and Safety report, there were 17 Workplace incident fatalities across eight sectors of industry year-to-date as of May 31, 2018. Five of those fatalities were from the Construction and Construction Trades Sector.

Accidents, especially fatal accidents, can cause tremendous delays in any project, adding to its cost. But Klein says losing a life on the job is itself too high of a cost.

Safety starts at the beginning. Every member of Jayman’s construction team and trade team have to go through a rigorous orientation process to familiarize themselves with safety protocols, including what safety gear to use in particular situations.

Brittny enforces those safety rules religiously at the Westman Village site. “Because our expectations are

Trevor Klein and Brittny Kehoe

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“REPETITION IS KEY, WORKERS NEED TO BE FAMILIAR WITH OUR SAFETY EXPECTATIONS OF THEM.” high, every now and then, workers need to be reminded of what we expect from them with regards to following safety,” she says. “Repetition is key, workers need to be familiar with our safety expectations of them,” Trevor adds.

Since launch of construction in October 2016, the project has only had three “reportable” incidents, none too serious that warranted any investigation, still each is a reminder of the dangers faced by workers daily at the site.

“Every day can bring a different challenge. It is a huge undertaking, there are a lot of moving parts, so we have to be on our toes and we ask each and every team member to be as well,” Brittny says. “Constant reminders are needed – thankfully we’ve had nothing too serious happen here,” she says. “Or on any of our job sites,” adds Trevor.

Trevor points out that even a three-foot fall can result in serious injury, so building a two-storey home needless to say can be precipitous.

Imagine building several six-storey buildings like what they are doing in Westman Village.

Westman Village will have 887 multi-family homes on complete build out and will include the Calligraphy apartment-style condos, The Journey Club retirement and senior living suites, Odyssey active adult living, Lyric choice leasing, and the upscale Reflection luxury estate condominiums.

At its heart is the three-level, 40,000-square-foot Village Centre, which was always envisioned to be the beating heart of Westman Village’s social and cultural life.

It is a recreational facility by definition, but unlike anything Calgary’s seen before. It has two swimming pools, one with a waterslide; steam rooms in each the men’s and women’s washrooms; a spin studio; a fitness centre and a marketplace right next to the concierge desk. And that’s all just on the main floor.

The upper level has a gymnasium; a humidor outdoor terrace; library; indoor garden; billiards room; a $50,000 golf simulator room; a surround-sound theatre room; and a walking track that goes around the whole floor.

The lower level features a wine cellar where residents can rent wine racks in stately, temperature-controlled rooms; a fully equipped arts and crafts room; and a state-of-the-art wood working room.

“Seeing that come to life was quite an accomplishment,” Trevor says.

It was opened to huge acclaim last December. “Building the Village Centre was a big challenge but opening it to visitors while construction was still on-going in other parts of Westman Village was quite a thorny safety issue. Thankfully, it all came to pass with no problem,” Trevor says.

Today, Westman Village is opening more new show suites as parts of the development are completed. Which means more visitors and more safety concerns, but the Jayman BUILT safety team, as always, is ready for those challenges. CL

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

| A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E |

Less Drilling, More Thrilling

OUTDOOR.dental now offers drill

BY DR. JAY PATEL, DDS and freezing-free fillings

N

o one likes to hear that they have a cavity.

It brings up a lot of feelings. Guilt, for instance, because we feel our home care wasn’t up to par. Or, because we’ve consumed way too many sugary foods lately. And of course, there’s always a little bit of fear.

It isn’t uncommon for people to experience anxiety before dental treatments. In fact, 40% of the Canadian population experience some sort of dental apprehension (Stats Canada). Thankfully, there’s a new way to treat cavities that doesn’t require a drill or freezing/anesthesia.

Experience Solea Laser for Freezing-Free Fillings I’m happy to announce that I’ve equipped my Seton dental clinic with the Solea Laser: a new technology that allows me to offer patients drill-free fillings.

It is virtually free of the needle and the sound of the drill. It’s quick, easy, and done in a single visit. You’ll be able to get you back to your day in minutes.

The only time we’ll ever use the handpiece is after your fillings are done. This is strictly to polish and shape the filling, it lasts no longer that 30 seconds and you won’t notice it.

Why we’re big fans of Laser Dentistry 1. It saves time — The laser is fast and accurate, meaning fewer and shorter appointments.

2. It’s more comfortable — It’s virtually painless and much quieter than other dental drills.

3. Safe for kids — This is now our the preferred way to perform restorative dentistry on children. The reason for this is because fillings take less time and will barely cause any discomfort.

4. Costs the same as traditional fillings — You might expect these fillings to be pricier than traditional fillings, but the price is exactly the same.

Ultimately, this technology helps us put our patient’s comfort first. We understand patients put off treating cavities because of the discomfort the drill and freezing can bring.

So far we’re happy with our switch to drill-free and needle-free fillings.

With the Solea Laser, appointments are faster, less intimidating, and more comfortable.

With technology that makes things like drill free fillings possible, the future of dentistry is definitely bright for anxious patients.

Have you been putting off coming to the dentist because of dental fear?

My team is caring and compassionate, and we’ll do all we can to ease your anxiety.

Email your questions about Solea Laser to reception@outdoor.dental or make an appointment at www.outdoor.dental. n

#104 3883 Front St S.E. (Across from South Health Hospital) www.OUTDOOR.dental | Phone: 587-393-3704 Follow us @OUTDOORdental

IN THE CITY |

SNOW HAPPENS

Weather you like it or not

BY BRANDI HOLMES

A

s much as we don’t like to admit it — the chilly season is among us here in Calgary, so now comes the time to start thinking about those winter outdoor activities!

Tons of people dislike the cold with a serious passion, but I’ll take some snow on the ground over gigantic killer bugs any day.

A winter pastime that is near to my heart as I’m sure it is with a lot of others, of course, is tobogganing. You haven’t really lived until you get winded from hitting that wicked snow jump just a little too hard and getting a face full of icy snow. I look at the community hills I used to sled down when I was a kid and think, “wow, those are not how I remember them,” but back then, for those five seconds of my childhood, those hills were massive.

If you are lucky enough to live in a community that has hills that are acceptable enough to toboggan down come wintertime then awesome!

But for those of you who need a little help finding some great and safe spots, there are tons of hills around town that are city run and maintained.

Here are the communities where you can find city run toboggan hills: • Big Marlborough Park and Marlborough Community Assosication • Bridlewood • Prairie Winds Park • Confederation Park • Richmond Green • Deerfoot Athletic Park • Royal Oak • Glendale Park • Rundle • Hidden Valley • Sacramento • Kingsland • Scarboro • Maple Ridge • Signal Hill • McKenzie Towne • St. Andrew’s Heights • Monterey Park • Stanley Park • New Brighton • Throncliffe/Greenview

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Tobogganing, sledding, tubing, whatever you choose to ride down the hill on, safety should come first — so make sure you are bundled up for the weather and perhaps have a helmet on.

For more information on these hills you can visit www.calgary.ca Another huge winter pastime for almost all Canadians is ice-skating. I personally never got into the whole skating thing, but did give it a go once or twice. I was never keen on falling down onto cold, hard ice and having trouble getting back up onto my skates.

Again, those fortunate enough to live in lake communities also have the luxury of a skating rink in the winter, but for the rest of us, there are a handful of city run rinks for everyone to enjoy.

Most of these rinks are open from mid to late December through onto February — but C A LG A R Y H O M E L I V I N G . C O M

| IN THE CITY

Here is a list of ice rinks run by the city:

Skating and sledding are great family and community activities that are even fun for those of us who are still kids at heart. See you on the hills! are obviously weather dependant. Olympic Plaza is refrigerated and generally opens a little earlier in November and remains open until mid March.

All city run rinks are free to use and are flooded as needed during lower usage hours. Safety of all participants is important and helmets are strongly recommended — sticks and nets are not permitted, so sorry to all you hockey players out there.

The city also runs this awesome program called Adopt-a-rink for all those other skating rinks in C A LG A R Y H O M E L I V I N G . C O M

• Big Marlborough Park • Bowness Park Lagoon • Carburn Park • Olympic Plaza • Prairie Winds Park • Prince’s Island Park • Thomson Family Park

communities that are not maintained by the city. The program is strictly volunteer based and helps over 45 community rinks stay clean, safe and flooded during the winter months.

For more information on outdoor rinks or the adopt a rink program visit www. calgary.ca Calgary residents are lucky to be located in close proximity to the mountains and to be able to enjoy the great outdoors during the winter months. Skating and sledding are great family and community activities that are even fun for those of us who are still kids at heart. See you on the hills! CL CO N D O L I V I N G N OV EM B ER 2018

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AROUND TOWN

NUDE OPENS DOORS

ude is causing quite a stir, literally.

Battistella Developments’ newest condo high-rise just opened its on-site presentation centre in the West Beltline and the response has been remarkable.

Battistella’s Chris Pollen says they are getting a lot of demand for their micro-suites. He says Nude is offering more studio apartments than Battistella’s previous development, INK. “The studios were the first to sell out at INK and they are similarly as in-demand here in Nude,” he tells Around Town.

Nude is a 177-suite, 18-storey tower in

the West Beltline and an on-site presentation centre just opened on 1319 14th Avenue S.W. “We’ve had an enormous turnout at the opening of our presentation centre, there is some pent up demand for this product,” Pollen says.

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, just check out their presentation centre to see why.

For more information, visit www.battistella.ca

THE 5TH DISCOVERY CENTRE USHERS NEW ERA FOR 17TH AVENUE S.W.

L

ife will never be the same along “It is very much the heart Calgary’s storied 17th Avenue of Calgary’s entertainment S.W. after Tak Development opens scene right now, but what The Fifth. The first multi-family we have planned for it will mixed-use residential development bring in a High Street vibe to build right on the iconic Red that will make it comparable Mile in a very long while recently to the world’s best,” says opened its Discovery Centre and Frank Lonardelli, founder Frank Lonardelli excitement is at an all time high. and CEO of Arlington Street The 48-suite, five-storey mixed-use condo Investments, the parent company of Tak with retail base seems to have caught the Development. imagination of the city eager for a residential The Fifth provides a gateway to the building that captures the youthful energy sought after 17th Avenue lifestyle aligns and urban sophistication of historic 17th with the valued standards of today’s Avenue S.W. Millennial demographic through its Going up right on the corner of 5th Street amenities location and environmental and 17th Avenue S.W., The Fifth will usher in responsibility. With Tak Developments’ a sea change in not only the streetscape, but unyielding commitment to stimulate one’s the culture of this vital thoroughfare in neighbourhood and inspire their lifestyle Calgary’s Beltline.

The Fifth is what 17th Avenue has needed.

Visit the Discovery Centre at 602 17 Avenue S.W. or go to www.the5th.ca

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

By Pepper Rodriguez

STREETSIDE STARTS FALL WITH VILLAS OF SILVERADO AND EMBER PARK

S

treetside Developments starts fall with the launch of two highly-anticipated developments: Ember Park in the popular northeast community of Redstone, and Villas of Silverado in the established southwest neighbourhood of Silverado.

Ember Park is the newest community from StreetSide in the popular Qualico community of Redstone. Ember Park is a collection of two and three storey back to back townhomes centred around a beautiful central park. Offered from the low $200,000s, Ember Park is a terrific opportunity to own a home in this thriving, amenity-rich community. Visit the show home at 306 Redstone Boulevard N.E. The Villas of Silverado is an expertly designed, thoughtfully planned villa community offering exceptional value.

Priced from the mid-$500,000s (+gst). You will find 150 acres to explore; an 80 acre nature reserve at your doorstep, amenities within walking distance and the luxury of maintenance free living. The show home is at 101, 20 Silverado Crest Park S.W. CL

For more information, go to www.emberparktownhomes.com or www.liveinsilverado.com CO N D O L I V I N G N OV EM B ER 2018

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REV IT UP...

ASK MARIA

Electric vehicles may soon become the norm, is your condo equipped for it?

By Maria Bartolotti

Q:

Dear Maria; I’m hearing so much talk about Electric Vehicles (EV) is this something that we as a Board should be considering?

A:

Lets face it, with the way technology is progressing these days gas powered vehicles are no longer the only option available to the ecologically-conscious, tech savvy individual. Electric Vehicles are climbing in popularity.

On March 26, 2018, the province of Ontario released new regulations aimed at facilitating the installation of electric vehicle charging stations in existing condos. Am I shocked? No! To my understanding the City of Calgary is gputting a strategy for electric vehicle in places. City data suggests that there are around 750 electric vehicles registered in Alberta and climbing.

Electric vehicles are cars that run off of electricity, instead of gasoline. They are powered by rechargeable batteries, which are charged by everyday electricity. Some types of electric vehicles also include a gasoline engine to extend the car’s maximum driving range. Charging stations are used to supply electricity to the car and can be built into someone’s home and can be found in public spaces.

According to the city, one of the objectives includes encouraging quicker adoption of electric vehicles to aid in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

According to the City, the objectives of the Electric Vehicle Strategy are to: • respond to the growing demand for electric vehicle infrastructure and services, • encourage/support faster adoption of electric vehicles to aid in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, • build partnerships across Alberta to provide an electric vehicle charging network within the province that connects to other provinces or states, • establish what role The City, partner organizations and the private sector should play in providing electric vehicle infrastructure and services, and • increase awareness and create enthusiasm amongst the public and industry about electric vehicles.

In my personal opinion, it’s only a matter

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.

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

of time before Alberta adopts the same type of regulations that Ontario has and mandates that Alberta condos add a charging station in their parking facility.

With that said, should boards start talking about adding charging stations in their condominium buildings? Or remain in the past and ignore future expectations of a changing world.

Transportation is changing quickly, and charging a car rather than filling up the tank seems to be the way of the future.

Something to consider!

Until next Time…. CL

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 N OV EM B ER 2018

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SINGLE-LEVEL SOPHISTICATION

Capella’s Estate Single-Level Residences is what the downsizing market wants

T

here is, apparently, a segment of the housing market that is not being fully taken care of — and that’s single-level living in the estate segment.

But not to worry, Brookfield Residential says it’s addressing the issue with its Capella product in University District, currently coming out of the ground close by the University of Calgary.

Capella will be a blend of 50 Estate Single-Level Residences in seven buildings with each of the buildings comprising six to eight homes, and another 142 contemporary condos in one five-storey building, says Tiffany Ardolino, senior business development manager Calgary Homes for Brookfield Residential.

To offer the single-level product to Calgary, Brookfield took a page from its North American portfolio, says Ardolino, adding that the company adapted a successful product from its Southern California division that built a similar residence in its Playa Vista community there.

“We do believe that there is an underserved portion of the Calgary new home market — move-down buyers who are looking for single-level homes in the University District,” she says.

The single-level homes, being offered in two- and three-bedroom layouts measure from 1,300 to more than 2,000 square feet and are priced in the high $600,000 range while the one- and two-bedroom contemporary condos will measure from 540 to more than 1,000 square feet and start in the low-$220,000s, Ardolino adds.

Capella, being built to gold-level certification standards established by Built Green Canada, is located near University District’s North Park section which acts as the gateway C A LG A R Y H O M E L I V I N G . C O M

for pedestrians and cyclists accessing the pathway system within the district.

A show suite demonstrating elements of both styles of housing in Capella opening in late October. And, according to Brookfield, interest has been high.

Brookfield, a building partner in the community being created by West Campus Development Trust, says it is introducing single-level living to the project because: “The design is fresh and relevant while meeting practical, evolving housing needs in Calgary,” Ryan Moon, director of business development for Brookfield, said in an earlier interview.

These residences will have private, street-level garages and semi-private elevations. The contemporary condos will have underground parking and a two-storey lobby. In addition, both housing styles will have access to a fitness studio in the condominium building.

The two different styles of housing will provide options for a wider cross-section of consumers, while the condos see most interest coming from first-time home buyers and professionals attracted by location and amenities being offered, says Ardolino.

“The single-level residences are appealing primarily to those looking to right-size and update from their current older home in the northwest. They are likely ready to transition to be more lifestyle-focussed and have been waiting for estate quality single-level residences in the northwest,” she adds.

Capella is Brookfield’s second venture into

HOPE AT LARGE

By Marty Hope

the University District development, having earlier this year opened it Ivy condominium project.

The 127-townhouse project welcomed its first homeowners to their residence this past summer, and have sold well over half of the available homes. Ivy offers a central courtyard with playground and gathering spaces for social events.

Made up of 17 blocks of homes, owners are now living in two, and nine other blocks are at various stages of construction.

For information on Capella, visit www.

CapellaLiving.com.

For information on Ivy, visit the presentation centre and show suite and the University District Discovery Centre at 4410 University Avenue N.W. or visit www.theIvy.com. CL

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

CO N D O L I V I N G N OV EM B ER 2018

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HIGH-RISE HANGOUTS

CONDOSCAPES

By Richard White

Condo balconies and their impact on urban design

W

hen in Dubai many years ago, I was gobsmacked by the spectrum of balcony designs in its old town. In fact, balconies were the signature design feature of the streetscape. Since then, though I have often taken photos of buildings with interesting balconies, I have never given it much more thought. Until recently when a colleague suggested it would be an interesting subject.

In theory, a balcony is like the front porch of a house, a place to sit and watch the world go by. It is an outdoor living/ dining room where you can read, nap, chat, listen to music, browse on the laptop and even barbecue a gourmet meal. It can even be your outdoor office space for part of the year.

Yet in reality, in Calgary it is often too windy or too cold to do the above very often. Or, if your balcony faces south or west, it can be too hot and too sunny to be out on the balcony. You can’t win!

PRIVATE VS COMMON AREA Many first-time condo owners think the balcony is their private space. However, in most condos it is considered “common space” as it is maintained by the condo association, which means there are rules about what can and can’t be on the balcony.

Read your condo bylaws.

Radius Rooftop

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

In Calgary, the balcony is not a place to hang your clean laundry, unlike in Europe where you often see clothes neatly hung out to dry, creating a charm to the streetscape — in my opinion. Something often lacking in our sterile North American urban landscapes.

SO, WHAT MAKES FOR A GOOD BALCONY? • Not so deep as to prevent sunlight entering the apartment below.

• Large enough to comfortably accommodate least two chairs, small table and a barbecue.

• Screens and/or wall to filter sunlight and wind, as well as privacy.

• Located away from noisy equipment and garbage areas.

DID YOU KNOW… Balconies are a requirement in Calgary’s Land Use Bylaw. However, the City will relax this requirement if there are adequate equal common amenity area either inside or outside.

Balconies can contribute to the safety of the street as the people on them are eyes on the street.

“Overlooking” from balconies is a big issue for adjacent neighbours living in single-family homes in inner-city condo development. Bruce McKenzie VP Operations at NORR’s Calgary’s office said, “the City is encouraging semi-recessed balconies on most urban sites. This provides some sheltering and to some extent discourages overlooking.”

TYPES OF BALCONIES A recessed balcony is one that is set into

the building’s façade, rather than jutting out from it. Some think recessed balconies are best because they provide better privacy and better protection from the weather. Some also like the sleek look they give the façade of the building.

A cantilevered balcony hangs out over the side of the building, exposing it to the wind, rain and snow. From round to square, rectangular to triangular, the shape and repetition of the balcony adds a texture and pattern, that contributes to the distinct aesthetic statement of the building.

A Romeo-and-Juliet balcony is just railings attached to the outside of the building with in-swing doors or sliders.

LAST WORD Look at any condo anytime and you rarely see anyone out on the balcony. So why do they have them? In a winter city, wouldn’t it make more sense to have that space inside the condo where it would be useable year-round?

Apparently not. In chatting with a few condo dwellers, they all love their balconies, keeping heaters and blankets close by so they can use them as much as possible.

Several architects and developers indicated large balconies are a big selling feature, helping to differentiate one condo project from another. Although, I was also told shared roof-top patios are quickly becoming the “in-thing” for outdoor living of condo dwellers. 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 N OV EM B ER 2018

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OPTIMISM ON THE RISE Housing market still depressed, but there’s reason(s) for optimism

W

hen you’re looking at the current reality of any real estate market, and trying to forecast what’s going to happen in the future, you really need to pay attention to what the economists are saying.

The housing market in Calgary has faced an exceptionally challenging year this year.

There is tempered demand. Listings are elevated. It’s definitely a buyer’s market with plenty of choice but buyer’s seem to be holding back.

WHY? Well, the uncertainty surrounding the economy still exists even though the city has climbed its way out of the depths of the recession in 2015 and 2016 when Calgary was hit hard due to a collapse in oil prices beginning in the latter half of 2014.

And for a city tied so closely to the oilpatch, you know what happens. It’s a recurring theme in Calgary’s history. When the bust takes place, jobs are taken with it.

And during the last recession thousands of jobs — primarily in the downtown corporate sector — were suddenly gone.

That scenario, and the uncertainty that follows for sometimes a few years, will impact the housing market and that’s exactly where we are at today.

So is there any good news here for residential real estate as it continues to struggle? The economists can be helpful here. If the economy is expected to grow, confidence will return in the market and that’s got to have a positive impact for housing sales.

A recent report by TD Economics was encouraging. The report, Alberta’s Economy Making its Way Back Home: 8 Reasons for C A LG A R Y H O M E L I V I N G . C O M

Optimism in the Province’s Future, said the economy continues to move in the right direction about 24 months since the end of the recession.

“Two years after one of the most severe economic downturns on record, Alberta’s economy continues to grind and claw its way back. Last year’s rebound in activity proved surprisingly strong, but more recent indicators suggest that the pace of expansion has since fallen back to a more moderate growth track,” said the report. “By our estimates, Alberta’s economy is within a year of returning ‘home’ — a moniker used to characterize full recovery from recession.

However, in terms of the job market, a return in the unemployment rate back to its estimated trend level is unlikely to occur before 2020, about four years after the end of the recession.

“As Alberta’s economy continues to make up lost ground, the focus will likely be reoriented from the recovery to the state of the economy’s longer-term growth foundation. In particular, questions surround the viability of the economy’s cornerstone — its oil and gas sector. Despite these uncertainties, we provide eight reasons as to why we remain constructive on the future of the provincial economy.”

Here are the eight reasons that still give TD economists faith in Alberta’s economy over the long term:

REAL ESTATE INSIDER

By Mario Toneguzzi

1. Resilience of global oil demand; 2. Oil production costs have fallen; 3. US demand for heavy oil and limited supply outside Alberta; 4. LNG potential has grown; 5. Petrochemical boom helping to drive energy diversification; 6. A number of non-energy related industries taking flight; 7. A relatively young, educated and growing population; 8. Alberta still enjoys fiscal flexibility.

“Alberta’s ability to reassert itself as a leading growth engine will depend largely on how a number of challenges are addressed — inadequate pipeline capacity, regulatory hurdles, eliminating the provincial government’s budget deficit, competition from US shale industry for investment and addressing climate change chief among them. Arguably, the most pressing challenge relates to the degree of social acceptability of resource development in this country, which Canada has long enjoyed a comparative advantage,” said the report. 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

Lock it and leave it Everyday’s like a holiday in a condo STORY BY JIM ZANG ILLUSTRATION BY LAMA AZARI

U

ntil this past January, I’d lived in a single-family home my entire life. Not the same home, mind you, but always a house with a yard. The only time I’d ever stayed in a condo was on vacation, and since that was in Maui and Palm Springs, it’s not really fair to compare that condo lifestyle to living in, say, Calgary.

So, although I’d heard the phrase ‘lock it and leave it’ used frequently when speaking of the advantages of condo living, I’d never really experienced it first-hand.

I get it now.

Since the May long weekend, I’ve been to Palm Springs, Kelowna, Kimberley and Fairmont. In fact, I literally go away every weekend from Friday morning until Sunday evening.

My condo building is secure, I have good neighbours, and a good deadbolt, so one quick turn of the key and I’m gone. No fuss, and no worries.

My suite is on the second floor, with apartments below and above me providing plenty of heat, so I keep my heat turned down to the mid-teens year ‘round. Just don’t be a moron and leave the window open for pipes to freeze. It’s hard to believe people still do that, but I hear the stories of burst pipes and flooded condos every year. This is Calgary people: close your windows in the winter!

There’s no lawn to worry about getting mowed before I take off.

No leaves to rake. No garbage bin to manoeuvre out to the street (where it will sit for a few days until I return). Nor do I have to line anyone up to shovel the sidewalk.

I don’t have a pet to find a sitter or daycare for, although I do have a few plants that need watering every second day or so.

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

Living in a smaller condo — one bedroom, 625-square-feet — it’s a little like being on vacation even when I’m home. It’s pretty much somewhere to eat (sometimes) and sleep. For example, Wednesday nights I’m only home from work for about two hours before I go to my rec hockey game. By the time I get home it’s 11 p.m. and time to crash for the next day.

A couple of weeks from now, I’m attending a friend’s wedding out of town so I’ll be gone again.

And I notice the Flames play in Las Vegas on November 23. Hmmm. CL

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ADVERTISERS INDEX |  2018 Alberta Condo and Real Estate Convention Convention All Management page 62 ARRIVE Partners page 60 Gatestone Remington Developments page 64 Heartland Cochrane Rohit Communities page 51 Homes by Avi page 32 Legacy Commons Trico Homes page 43 Legend of Legacy Aldebaran Enterprises page 70 Mark 101 Shane Multi-family page 31 Morena West Rockford Developments page 22 Nolan Park Cardel Lifestyles page 3

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CO N D O L I V I N G N OV EM B ER 2018

Norma Robertson Calgary Home Seller page 48

Seton Rohit Communities page 53

Nude Battistella Developments page 36

The Fifth Arlington Street Investments page 52

Oudoor Dental page 54

The Guardian Hon Developments page 13

Park Point Qualex-Landmark page 7 Radius Bucci, page 4 Retreat Brookfield Residential page 27 Sage Hill Garden Aldo Rossi Homes page 58 Sage Hill Park Brad Remington Homes front cover, pages 10-12 page 48, back cover Sanderson Ridge Sanderson Ridge Properties page 66 Savanna Rohit Communities page 55 Scarboro 17 Bow Developments page 68

The Windsor Brittania Block LP page 23 Trinity Hills page 2 Unity in Seton Trico Homes page 43 Verve FRAM+Slokker Developments page 71 Wentworth Point Trico Homes page 21 Westman Village Jayman BUILT page 17 Zen Riverstone Avalon Master Builder page 21

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