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VOLUME 9 ISSUE 88 n April 2013
contents
12 cover feature
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Lakeside leisure Auburn Bay lives up to promise of leisurely lake lifestyle
PUBLICATIONS AGREEMENT NO. 41072011. RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: Source Media Group Corp. 207 - 5809 Macleod Trail S.W., Calgary, Alberta T2H 0J9
Feature
Responsible land development 64
New UDI head, Karin Finley, calls for stronger partnership with City
Special Feature Check out what’s happening in the community of Cochrane. Included in this issue of New Home Living.
april 2013 new home Living 5
contents Focus On
10 Off the wall
Create your own feature walls with new wallpaper designs
17
Show home profiles
17 The grandest prize
Calbridge Homes goes all in for 2013 Foothills Hospital lottery home
23 Arriva in style
Cardel’s newest home model in Walden a show-stopper
Community Profile
30 Timeless Legacy
West Creek opens South Calgary’s newest neighbourhood
38 Family connection
Family-friendly fun and functionality at heart of West Grove Estates
Lifestyle
Living in the green with Discovery 5
43 Green appeal
On Trend
48 A sustainable lifestyle
Green living tips for a healthier tomorrow
shopping
Experts choose their top eco-friendly products for the home
54 Green picks
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columns
73 Around Town 82 Hope at Large
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8 Editor’s Message 76 Maps 80 Advertiser Index
Feature
59 Faux grass
The logical ecological alternative to lawns
NEWS
List of 2012 finalists spotlights on the best of the best
68 26th SAM Awards finalists announced
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editor’s message n
Grand April First of all, I want to say ‘thank you’ to everyone who dropped by the Source Media Group booth at the recently concluded Home + Garden Show. It’s really great to chat with readers and the casual visitor, we’ll be announcing the winner of our draw for a Samsung Galaxy tablet from that show soon. Meanwhile, we want to announce the winner for our first draw from the HomExpo show in the Around Town section of this issue. “Grand” is the word to describe this issue, it’s the biggest New Home Living magazine we’ve had in a while, packed with all things the new home buyer needs to know, including the nominees for this year’s CHBA – Calgary Region SAM Awards. The new home industry’s much-anticipated annual gala event will be held on April 13 and you can count on us to let you know who the winners will be next issue (or better yet, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook to know the results ahead of everybody else). This exuberance in the market is felt strongly in the community of Auburn Bay, our cover feature this issue. The languid lakeside lifestyle it offers belies the energetic hum of growth it has been enjoying. We also tell you about your chance to win this year’s $2.3 million Foothills Hospital Home Lottery grand prize by Calbridge Homes — one of the best lottery homes we’ve seen recently. You would certainly be a winner if you live in Cardel Homes’ new Arriva show home that’s opening in Walden, with its hit indoor courtyard design. We also take you to visit Bri-Mor Development’s West Grove Estates community that successfully merges family life and estate luxury in a natural landscape. Something to look forward to would be Legacy in Calgary’s southern border, where the Bow River Valley landscape provides a timeless backdrop to this new community by West Creek Developments. This is our “green” issue and we talk about all sustainable stuff here, starting with Andrea Cox’s lifestyle story on Chris and Susan Williams’ Discovery 5 Net-Zero home. Kathy McCormick provides us with some insight on what green products leading industry experts prefer in her Shopping feature. And Jessica Patterson lets us in on the secrets of starting a green oriented lifestyle in her On Trend article. Of course we still have the Godfather of the local housing industry, Marty Hope, and his Hope At Large column, which has been one of the most well-received writeups on what’s going on in the Calgary residential market. These are exciting times in Calgary, the new home market is booming, so many terrific options all over the city. One thing’s for sure, the choices are a-plenty, and making a decision to find your new home starts right here.
P U B LI S H E R
Source Media Group info@sourcemediagroup.ca Ass o c i a t e P U B LI S H E R
Jim Zang jim.zang@sourcemediagroup.ca Editor
Pepper Rodriguez pepper.rodriguez@sourcemediagroup.ca Art director
Jean Faye Rodriguez jean.rodriguez@sourcemediagroup.ca g r a p h i c d es i g n e r S
Lama Azhari
lama.azhari@sourcemediagroup.ca
Dave Macaulay dave.macaulay@sourcemediagroup.ca
Megan Sereda megan.sereda@sourcemediagroup.ca p r o d u c t i o n a d m i n i s t r at o r
Colleen Leier
colleen.leier@sourcemediagroup.ca E DITORIAL
Andrea Cox, Karen Rudolph Durrie, Marty Hope, Kathy McCormick, Jessica Patterson Ph o t o g r a p h y
Don Molyneaux, Jessica Patterson A d v e r t i s i n g S AL E S
Heather Dougall
heather.dougall@sourcemediagroup.ca Accounting
Donna Roberts accounting@sourcemediagroup.ca DI S TRI B U T E D B Y
Gallant Distribution Services, Media Classified, Source Media Group ISSN 1918-4441 PRINTED IN CANADA
Copyright 2013 by Source Media Group Corp. Material cannot be reprinted in whole or in part without the expressed written permission of the publishers. Source Media Group Corp. 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. New Home Living® is published 12 times per annum and is available free through select distribution points in Calgary and area.
Pepper Rodriguez,
Editor pepper.rodriguez@sourcemediagroup.ca
New Home Living® accepts editorial submissions by electronic mail only. Please forward any submissions including all personal information to nleditor@sourcemediagroup.ca. Unsolicited submissions will not be returned. Advertising information available only by request. New Home Living® is a registered Trademark the propperty of SOURCE MEDIA GROUP CORP. Reg. CIPO TMA 693289.
Next month: All things about the backyard take centre stage. Follow us on twitter: CalgaryNewHomes 8 n e w home liv in g Apri l 2013
Like us on facebook: NewHomeLivingCalgary
Contact: Source Media Group, 207, 5809 Macleod Trail S.W., Calgary, Alberta T2H 0J9 T: 403.532.3101, F: 403.532.3109 TF: 1.888.932.3101, E: info@sourcemediagroup.ca www.sourcemediagroup.ca
focus on
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Off the wall Create your own feature walls with new wallpaper designs n
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By Pepper Rodriguez
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For a while in the 1990s and early 2000s, wallpaper was considered old-fashioned, a tired cliché from less sophisticated design times. But wallpaper has made a big comeback, and in Calgary one of the first designers to feature them more prominently in the home has been Alykhan Velji. His technique is to simplify its use and not put them up through the whole house, but rather in select spots as feature walls that would create a bigger design impact. On these pages are some of his wallpaper choices that create a visually exciting aesthetic and create texture in an otherwise bland wall. These wallpaper are only available exclusively through trades, like Aly’s Design Exchange 202. NL
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Kreme, Equestrian Cobalt, $230/roll, Alykhan Velji Design Exclusive
2] Gloockler, gold textured, $85.95/roll 3] York, Pixel Perfect (blue dots), $99.95/roll 4] York, Great Expectations, $69.75/roll 5] York, Curves Ahead, $73.95/roll 6] Ecochic, JB80201 red and silver pattern, $37.95/roll 7] Gloockler, red waves 52522, $73.95/roll 8]
Kreme, Cards (red and white), $230/roll, Alykhan Velji Design Exclusive
9] Crown Wallpaper, Pink flowers, $62.95/roll 10] Kreme, Birds, Yellow, $230/roll, Alykhan Velji Design Exclusive 11] Gloockler gold textured 52504, $85.95/roll
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| Advertising cover Feature |
Lakeside leisure Auburn Bay lives up to promise of leisurely lake lifestyle
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languid, laconic afternoon by the lakeside with the sun glinting off its smooth surface is a scene straight from the idyllic summer vacations of our youth. This suburban stay-cation lifestyle has been the enduring appeal of Auburn Bay, and the continued growth of southern Calgary has made this lake community an even more appealing choice for families. The carefree spirit of cottage-style lake living is alive and well in Auburn Bay, and seems to resonate with customers year after year, which could be why it was in the city’s top three best-selling communities in 2012 (based on building permits). Now that the area around it is developing with the new hospital already up and running and the massive Seton commercial complex underway, Auburn Bay is approaching its full potential. Auburn Bay is a 900-acre master-planned community
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that will eventually be comprised of more than 6,000 homes encircling the private 43-acre freshwater lake. There is also a 13-acre private park and recreational area for residents to enjoy, and of course Auburn House — a 16,000-square-foot contemporary lodge featuring a fullsize gymnasium, banquet space, change facilities, tennis courts and space for programs and community events. Everything from the architectural style of the community to recreational opportunities in Auburn Bay is meant to embody the cozy cottage country feel. A landscaped stone entry and tree-lined boulevard welcomes residents and visitors into the community and sets the tone for its resort-like charm. “The lake and parks, with Auburn House as its centrepiece, are the community’s focal points. Here, residents can experience four seasons of recreation. In summer, enjoy a game of tennis or volleyball, cool off in the water spray
| Advertising cover Feature |
park, canoe, fish, have a barbecue or just relax on the beach. And when the snow flies, there’s a hockey rink and pleasure skating area, fire pit and toboggan hill,” says Brookfield Residential’s Marketing Coordinator, Chelsea Stricker. It’s like camping without packing. Kelly Dowd, a business owner raising a young family, has been living in Auburn Bay for about six years, and he says the community is perfect for their needs. “It’s like living in a resort, we have both the convenience and amenities of living in the city and still enjoy the relaxed lifestyle you can only find in a lakeside resort home,” Dowd says. “Also it’s a great way to entertain guests from out of town. They get a real resort-style vacation and you don’t even have to leave the community,” he adds. “The new gymnasium is pretty cool too.” This vision for the perfect lake cottage lifestyle is embodied in the four new estate show homes that recently opened from Albi Homes and Morrison Homes, available from the $600,000s. Single-family homes by Innovations by Jayman (starting from the low $350,000s) and by Baywest Homes, Cedarglen Homes and Jayman MasterBUILT (starting in the low $400,000s) offer homebuyers designs that blend the space that families desire with elegant and contemporary convenience.
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Here, residents can experience four seasons of recreation.
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| Advertising cover Feature |
Brookfield Residential remains committed to designing communities that meet the needs of homebuyers, now and well into the future. “We’re looking forward to seeing the new move-up show home parade opening in April 2013,” she adds. On the multi-family side, Mosaic Lakeside by Brookfield Homes features condominium row townhouses; ZEN by Avalon offers one and two-level townhomes; and Stonecroft Homes showcases apartment style condos, all starting from the low $200,000s. Semi-detached and single-family homes by Brookfield Homes, both starting from the low $300,000s offer great specifications, exceptional value and stylish designs. “We’re really excited to have a new single-family showhome opening for Brookfield Homes in Auburn Bay this March,” Stricker says. But unlike the cottage vacations of our youth, you never have to leave the city for Auburn Bay, and accessibility here is just going to get better. “With the expansion of the new Stoney Trail ring road just outside of Auburn Bay and Deerfoot Trail, getting in and out of the community has never been easier,” Stricker says. These infrastructure upgrades are anticipated to be completed in 2013. Meanwhile, the Seton commercial development is conveniently located just across the road from Auburn Bay, which will offer residents a true urban district outside of downtown and easy access to everything. “Seton’s plan includes more than 2.5 mil1 4 n e w home liv in g Apri l 2013
lion square-feet of office and retail space, a 16-acre regional park, public library, schools, a hotel, seniors care facilities, 1,300 multi-family residences, an active main street, and a recently announced regional recreation centre — all serviced by the future southeast LRT,” she says. Construction of Phase 1 in Seton will be completed by fall 2013. Visit setonurbandistrict.com for more details. “We already have Calgary’s new South Health Campus next door, which opened its new Emergency Room section earlier this year,” and Stricker points out Auburn Bay will be attracting a lot of hospital staff, as well as buyers who like the peace of mind that living next to this major medical facility brings. Brookfield Residential remains committed to designing communities that meet the needs of homebuyers, now and well into the future. The company takes extra care to ensure a consistent standard of excellence in architectural guidelines, compatible home styles and quality finishing materials, plus the consistency that comes from working with the best homebuilders. All of these factors contribute to Brookfield Residential’s unparalleled value, Stricker says. n
FAST FACTS: Community: Auburn Bay Developer: Brookfield Residential Builders: Apartments and Townhomes from the low $200,000s: Mosaic Lakeside by Brookfield Homes, Stonecroft Homes, and ZEN by Avalon Master Build Semi Detached Homes from the low $290,000s: Brookfield Homes Side-By-Side Single Family Homes from the low $300,000s: Brookfield Homes Single Family Homes from the $350,000s: Innovations by Jayman Single Family Homes from the low $400,000s: Baywest Homes, Cedarglen Homes, Jayman MasterBUILT Estate Homes from the low $600,000s: Albi Homes, Morrison Homes show home Hours: Monday to Thursday 2 to 8 p.m., weekends and holidays noon to 5 p.m. Directions: South on Deerfoot Trail and exit on Seton Blvd. and follow the signs.
For more information, visit www.liveauburnbay.ca
Calbridge Homes n show home profile
The grandest prize Calbridge Homes goes all in for 2013 Foothills Hospital Lottery home n
By Pepper Rodriguez
It’s a daunting task to produce a grand prize lottery home; there’s the inherent time pressure to build a home in time for these annual charity events, and then there’s the added burden of having to come out with an architecturally distinct, knockout home design that will impress people enough to want to buy tickets for a chance to win it. You’re also going up against some of the best builders in the business who also have their own lottery homes, and it quickly becomes a high-stakes beauty pageant to draw the most crowds to your grand prize home. Calbridge Homes knows what’s at stake, and their years of partnership with the Calgary Health Trust and the Foothills Hospital Home Lottery have created some of the most memorable and distinctly unique grand prize homes that have helped make this annual charity event one of the most successful in Calgary.
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Their latest masterpiece in the new community of Artesia of Heritage Pointe is destined to be their best one yet, as this $2.3 million grand prize home has it all — a compelling design, a stunning finish of pure luxury, and a mind-blowing location at the heart of this brand new community just south of Calgary. “It is a truly remarkable home,” says Calbridge President Larry Thomson during the VIP event to launch the 2013 Foothills Hospital Home Lottery. “But it was a complete team effort to complete it, and I’d like to acknowledge the dedication and long hours everyone put in to make this amazing home happen. And it’s all in the service of a great cause.” The 5,815-square-foot contemporary mansion at 2 Waters Edge Drive is unadulterated architectural brilliance at its very best, soaring ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows with waterfront views, handsome exotic hardwood flooring, a sweeping, open-riser staircase — it is every inch a multi-million dollar home. “But it is what we call functional luxury,” says Calbridge marketing director Yvonne Lau. “With all its remarkable features, it’s still a comfortable place that you want to go home to.” It is a four-bedroom mansion with a four-car garage, including a drive-in “show bay” where you can display your collectible sports car with pride.
“It is what we call functional luxury. With all its remarkable features, it’s still a comfortable place that you want to go home to.” The main floor centres around a large and appealing gourmet kitchen, you’d feel you’re in a Martha Stewart show every time you cook meals in its splendid elegance of custom cabinetry and glossy stone countertops. It is the perfect setting for large gathering — both indoors and out — as the main floor design flows from a rustic stoneclad wine cellar and butler’s pantry to a large, covered outdoor barbecue deck overlooking the pond. The adjacent great room has a romantic fireplace, that becomes an attractive focal point. Nearby is a large dining area with enough space to seat eight people comfortably. The 1,309-square-foot lower level development is chockfull of animal comfort luxuries that includes stylish gaming and media areas, a walk-up wet bat and guest bedroom and bathroom. But be careful whom you invite — they may never leave. 1 8 n e w home liv in g Apri l 2013
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Fast facts: builder: Calbridge Homes area: Artesia of Heritage Pointe Developer: Heritage Pointe Properties Style: 2013 Foothills Hospital Home Lottery grand prize Size: 5,815 sq. ft. Value: $2.3 million (which can be won with a $100 lottery ticket) address: 2 Water Edge Drive, DeWinton Directions: South on Deerfoot Tr., exit east on DeWinton and follow the signs. Hours: Monday to Thursday 2. to 8 p.m., and noon to 5 p.m. weekends and holidays WEB: www.calbridgehomes.com, or www.foothillshospitalhomelottery.org
Upstairs, the expansive gallery-inspired master wing features a fitness gym at one end — accessible by catwalk — and a lavish ensuite at the other, which includes dual sinks, a free-standing tub and oversize, custom-tiled “Seaside Bliss” shower. This show home, as well as the second prize home in Canmore, will be awarded fully furnished, professionally decorated and landscaped along with $50,000. “We love doing this grand prize lottery homes as it gives us a chance to showcase our exacting design quality and the level of workmanship that Calbridge puts in all its homes,” Lau adds. Lottery tickets are $100 each, three for $250, or five for $375 and can be purchased at the show home. Tickets purchased before midnight on May 2, 2013 will be eligible for the early bird prize, a limited edition Jaguar XKR. Since 1993, Calgary Health Trust Lotteries have raised more than $67 million, which has funded the purchase of life saving medical equipment in crucial areas such as Cardiac Sciences, Neuro Critical Care and Cancer treatment. Details of all 9,350 prizes are on the lottery website www.foothillshospitalhomelottery.org NL april 2013 new home Living 19
Cardel Homes n show home profile
Arriva in style Cardel’s newest home model in Walden a show-stopper n By
Jessica Patterson
Urban. Modern. Sophisticated. That’s what you’ll find at the Arriva 2, a brand new Cardel show home in the popular southeast community of Walden. "It is a very unique design in this house," says Richard Bukarewicz, vice-president of architecture and design for Cardel Homes. "This one is a whole different concept in the area." The Arriva 2 has three bedrooms, two and a half baths and bonus room. Beyond those basics, the Arriva boasts some of the most unique features ever seen in Calgary. With a focus on stylish, contemporary design, the 2,434-square-foot Arriva 2 puts a new spin on suburban style with a focus on outdoor entertaining. Bukarewicz says Arriva 2 will have an outdoor courtyard in the middle of the home, a concept they first used in Denver and which has since become one of their most popular designs.
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“We liked the idea of having this outdoor courtyard in the middle. It’s all enclosed and there’s lighting on top, and if people wanted they could put patio heaters out there,” he says. This opens the home up to huge entertainment possibilities, and adding a deck to the backyard would really maximize its outdoor entertaining potential. The idea of the outdoor living space is innovative but practical. Calgary is one of the sunniest cities in Canada, averaging 332 sunny
Fast facts: Builder: Cardel Homes Area: Walden Developer: Genstar Developments Style: Semi-estate two-storey home with oversized garage, second floor patio and courtyard Size: 2,434 sq. ft. Price: Starts at $549,000 including GST Address: 14 Walden Close S.E. Directions: South on Macleod Tr., left on 194 Ave, right on Walden Gt. and follow the signs Hours: Monday to Thursday 2 to 8 p.m., weekends and holidays noon to 5 p.m. WEB: www.cardelhomes.com
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days a year. Even in the winter, and early spring months, the outdoor living space can be used. A trellis and latticework keep the space private. This design works both ways, too, as the bank of windows lends a lot of natural light to the interiors. “And if people don’t like the outdoor living space, we have an option to take the space and make it into a den,” Bukarewicz says. “The same applies with the tandem area in the garage, there’s an option to take out the tandem area and put in a dedicated mud room.” Speaking of the garage, it has an oversized design that will offer even more functionality for owner, perfect for storing the outdoor enthusiasts’ extra toys, or perhaps for a car collector. “We designed an oversized tandem garage so you could park a compact sports car in the area, or it could be storage for kids’ bikes or outdoor equipment,” Bukarewicz says. Also in the garage, is space specifically designated for those large unsightly garbage and recycling bins. “In the garage, we have incorporated a recycling centre on the side, an area in the front of the garage to tuck them in,” he says. Moving through the house, with its modern colours and design, the feeling is airy and functional. The open concept main floor incorporates the kitchen and great room with plenty of room to host parties, to entertain a select few, or to share Sunday breakfast with just the kids. Homeowners have the option of raising the ceilings in the great room, should they want an even more noticeable feeling of spaciousness. The master suite is a special area of the home, occupying the back third of the second floor. In the master bedroom, there are large his-and-hers walk-through closets. From there, the master ensuite is nothing short of a dream spa. A freestanding tub commands focus when you enter the ensuite, flanked
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by his-and-hers vanities, a makeup counter with plenty of plugins and wall-mounted lighting. A private toilet and glass shower stall complete the ensemble. The Arriva’s practical design lends itself to family living. The show home’s second floor is also home to two bedrooms for the kids, and a bonus room and an office/tech space is among its standard features. The laundry is in the second floor, too. “Another unique feature to this house is that we’ve added a balcony to the second floor,” Bukarewicz says. “It’s off the side of the bonus room. It worked out really well, because the show home is west-facing.” Imagine living here, and watching the sun set over the mountains every evening. And yet, homeowners don’t pay any extra for the view. The Arriva 2 starts at $549,000 including GST. The show home, at 14 Walden Close S.E., opens April 13. NL
Imagine living here, and watching the sun set over the mountains every evening.
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n Legacy
Timeless
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West Creek opens South Calgary’s newest neighbourhood n
By Pepper Rodriguez
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From the edge of an embankment near the magnificent Bow River, the horizon seems limitless, as is the future of Calgary’s newest southern community: Legacy. This three-mile-long ridge is part of the lush natural topography of the 1,000-acre community on Calgary’s southern edge, where 210th Avenue and Macleod Trail S.E. meet. This is where the rolling grasslands of southern Alberta become part of the Bow River Valley. It is a timeless land of breathtaking natural beauty, and it is the backdrop of this latest master-planned community from West Creek Developments. “We’ve had this piece of land since 2001 and we knew how incredible it is with its unbelievably beautiful vistas,” says West Creek Vice-President of Development, Don McLeod. “We took painstaking effort in coming up with a master-plan that would be environmentally-sustainable and form a community that future generations of families can call home,” he tells New Home Living. At its heart is 300-acres of a natural environment reserve — a verdant ribbon of land stretching to the Bow River that will remain untouched by any form of development and will remain the same for your children’s children to enjoy.
community profile
“Those ridge lots will have some stunning views and panoramic vistas with tremendous possibilities to build a home for the ages.” “It will be like living inside a park, that’s as close to nature as you can be without having to leave the comforts of the city,” McLeod says. “Those ridge lots will have some stunning views and panoramic vistas with tremendous possibilities to build a home for the ages.” West Creek is adding its own design touch to complete this intimate sense of timelessness, and is building an intricate entrance feature that calls to mind ancient Roman ruins. There will also be a clock tower that captures the eternal beauty of the land.
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“It’s an ambitious undertaking, but I believe in its vision to create a community that’s as connected to nature as anything else.” 3 2 n e w home liv in g Apri l 2013
McLeod says these features work together to provide a great sense of arrival to residents as they enter through the entrance feature and drive down the street to the clock tower at the traffic circle West Creek has invited eight of the city’s most distinguished home builders to Legacy, and they currently offer everything from semi-detached homes to semi-estate homes. Albi Homes, Excel Homes, Greenboro Homes, Morrison Homes, Shane Homes, Stepper Homes, Sterling Homes and Trico Homes will be in the community, all will have show homes open this spring. In fact, 30 show homes are expected to open this spring, starting with laned homes on April 27. “These are the city’s finest builders, whom we’ve developed a good working relationship with through the 15 years of development we’ve had in Calgary,” McLeod says. West Creek has developed communities in all quadrants of the city, as well as Chestermere. Their developments include Aspenstone, Evercreek Bluffs, Evergreen Communities, Simcrest Heights, Rockborough and Saddlecrest. Legacy will open 302 lots in the first phase with four show home parades and a total of 30 show homes. Legacy will have semi-detached homes from the low $300,000s (Trico Homes, and Creations by Shane Homes), laned homes from the $300,000s (Creations by Shane Homes, Greenboro Homes, Stepper Custom Homes, Excel Homes), move-ups from the $400,000s (Greenboro Homes, Stepper Custom Homes and Sterling Homes), and semi-estate homes from the $500,000s (Albi Homes, Morrison Homes, Trico Homes).
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The greatest care was taken with the design; every home, every pathway, every sidewalk and open space has been crafted with family in mind, making Legacy a community that will stand the test of time. “Townhomes will be introduced in the later stage of the community’s development,” McLeod says. Legacy will have some 4,500 single-family homes and 2,900 multi-family units on build out. “It’s an ambitious undertaking, but I believe in its vision to create a community that’s as connected to nature as anything else,” he adds. It may be one of Calgary’s southernmost communities, but it is by no means inaccessible, as it sits at the edge of major thoroughfares like Macleod Trail, Marquis of Lorne Trail and Deerfoot Trail. With the ongoing work on Stoney Trail extension, getting to any point of the city from Legacy will just be as easy. There are already a ton of established amenities surrounding Legacy, the Shawnessy commercial centre is just down the road, the new South Campus hospital is already up and running and the nearby Seton commercial complex is also starting construction. “Legacy has a home for every stage of life. You can build your very first home in Legacy and move up through the various home styles as your family grows and your lifestyle and needs change. If you wanted to build a Legacy of your own here, we’ve created a community you’ll never have to move away from.” The vision of Legacy has unfolded over a decade of thoughtful planning. The greatest care was taken with the design; every home, every pathway, every sidewalk and open space has been crafted with family in mind, making Legacy a community that will stand the test of time. NL
Fast facts: community: Legacy Developer: West Creek Developments Builders: Albi Homes, Excel Homes, Greenboro Homes, Morrison Homes, Shane Homes, Stepper Cusom Homes, Sterling Homes, Trico Homes. Price: Semi-detached homes from the low $300,000s, laned homes from the $300,000s, move-up homes from the $400,000s, semi-estate from the $500,000s. Hours: Monday to Thursday 2 to 8 p.m., weekends and holidays noon to 5 p.m. Directions: South on Macleod Tr. and left on 210th Ave. and follow the signs. WEB: www.buildmylegacy.ca
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Grove Estates
“We want to create a community where residents can connect with one another, with nature, with nearby neighbourhoods.”
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Family connection Family-friendly fun and functionality at heart of West Grove Estates n
By Pepper Rodriguez
A leisurely stroll through the winding pathways of West Grove Estates reveals a tranquil enclave of architecturally-distinct estate homes. Stands of aspen trees give the community a rare closeness to nature, and the abundant green space and parks lend it a family-friendly ambience so hard to find in today’s suburban culture. These paved pathways connect to the regional trails and will take you through Calgary’s southwest sector and beyond. More importantly, they embody the kind of connectivity that the community’s developer, Bri-Mor Developments, hopes to engender among its residents. “We want to create a community where residents can connect with one another, with nature, with nearby neighbourhoods,” says Bri-Mor Managing Director, Aleem Dhanani.
“It is going to be a close-knit environment where residents have lots of gathering places in the community, where they feel safe to walk their dogs at night and where they can watch their children play in the playgrounds and parks and they can get to know each other,” he tells New Home Living. This is just the kind of community that Meghan and Cam Urquhart were looking for. They just bought a home in West Grove and they cited its easy-living convenience as one of the main reasons they want to raise their family here. They say everything is within walking distance and commuting downtown is a breeze, with lots of green space and nearby schools and everything that makes raising a family here easy and convenient. Indeed, the developer behind the successful Aspen Cliff Estates has taken extra care in creating West Grove Estate’s vision of an exclusive, attainable family estate community. They already have two tot lots using the latest playground equipment, and a third is coming soon, as Bri-Mor carefully cultivates the four acres of park space the community benefits from. They’ve also installed ornamental iron fencing surrounding their green areas, as well as no-maintenance vinyl fencing for the residential areas, to create an aesthetically appealing community. “We’ve made big investments in the community in things that matter to families,” Dhanani says, pointing out that West Groves wants to be a place where residents can find a balance between home life and professional life. West Groves has made quite an impression and had been nominated in the National SAM awards for best community. “While being nominated for this national award is an honour itself, it also demonstrates we’re heading in the right direction.” Bordered to the west by 85th Street and minutes to Bow Trail, West Grove Estates is april 2013 new home Living 39
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Fast facts: community: West Grove Estates Developer: Bri-Mor Developments Builders: Arcuri Homes, Augusta Fine Homes, Crystal Creek Homes, Lupi Luxury Homes, Prominent Homes Style: Custom-built bungalows and two-storey attaced garage homes Size: Starts at around 2,500 sq. ft. and 1,600 sq. ft. for bungalows Price: Starts in the $900,000s Directions: From Bow Trail going west, a) turn right on 85th Street, right on Wentworth Drive and right on 10th Avenue, or b) right on Old Banff Coach Road and left on 73rd Street or 77th Street WEB: www.westgroveestates.com
the perfect location to find balance between work and family life. “We are perfectly situated in a location that’s at the midway point between downtown and a mountain resort getaway, and it’s an already established area with plenty of nearby amenities, including recreational facilities, schools and the new LRT station,” he points out. “Families also do not have to worry about schools for their children as there are plenty of high caliber public, private and charter schools within close proximity, including Webber Academy, the Calgary French & International School, St. Joan of Arc and many more. Together with the nearby Westside Recreational Centre and West Springs’ commercial core, life’s major conveniences can be found in this scenic, idyllic area,” he adds. Bri-Mor is well into the development of the 20-acre community that will only
“West Grove really is a community where you can live and work where you also can play.”
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see a limited total of 96 homes on build out. “We’re at 80 per cent sold now, and our newest phase will have some beautiful lots backing onto the ravine which is part of the environmental reserve.” Prominent Homes has just joined their distinguished builder group that already includes some of the best known estate custom home builders in town. Arcuri Homes, Augusta Fine Homes, Crystal Creek Homes and Lupi Luxury Homes, and now, Prominent Homes, all offer a range of bungalows and two-storey attached garage homes that start in the $900,000s. All have show homes already open in the community. “Bri-Mor puts a lot of importance in establishing relationships, and the builders we have here represent timeless family values,” Dhanani says. The unique custom home designs are quite distinctive but still follow Bri-Mor’s stringent architectural standards to create a truly one-of-a-kind community, with lots averaging 50-feet wide — and given current City of Calgary direction — one of the unique exclusive communities where only five homes are built per acre. Adding a further dash of convenience to life here is BriMor’s 110,000-square-foot commercial development called West 85th that will further boost the number of amenities. “Bank of Montreal, Vin Room’s newest flag ship location, a large daycare, and many other boutique shops and services in addition to office space. If you live in West Grove you may have the opportunity to also work in one of these offices minutes from your home.” He says the area boasts a professional demographic who appreciate the convenience of being near downtown but can still be in touch with nature and the environment. “West Grove really is a community where you can live and work where you also can play,” he adds. NL
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Green appeal Living in the green with Discovery 5 By Andrea Cox n Photos by Don Molyneaux
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ue and Chris Williams never envisioned their dream home evolving into a test project for a joint venture between eco-builder Avalon Homes, Holmes Approved Homes and SAIT Polytechnic. But the synergy evolved subtly. But it seemed inevitable — Chris is one of the managing partners and owners of Avalon Homes in Calgary. “We had already started working with SAIT to do the design and architecture of the home, so it just kind of morphed from there. We essentially provided them a sandbox to experiment in,” says Chris, adding that the home is Avalon’s 5th Discovery Eco-Home and third Net-Zero home. This contemporary two-storey infill, although built entirely on the SAIT campus, now resides in the trendy inner city neighbourhood of Altadore, a neighbourhood very close to Chris’ heart. “This lot was my grandfather’s. I used to climb the trees in the backyard and my dad grew up here,” he recalls, noting that many of the home’s details incorporate some of the history of the original home. The original bungalow, hand-crafted by Chris’ grandfather, graced a 50-foot lot oriented north-south, which Chris and Sue subdivided, selling the other half to friends. The couple removed the bungalow salvaging trusses from the ceiling and the wood from the backyard trees, which would be used to tread the open-riser sculptural metal-framed staircase, leading to the second story of the home. The trusses now frame the fireplace mantel in the main floor living space and carve shelving on the wall above. “It was a way for us to bring some of the old in with the new,” says Chris.
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Chris and Sue by their living wall. april 2013 new home Living 43
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“Being around plants just elevates your mood, and it creates a healthier environment.” In addition to the wood salvaged from the original home, Chris craned in a 14-foot boat that he had worked on with his dad and his grandfather, who was a carpenter (his shop was located three blocks from the home). It now resides in the basement waiting to become part of the sculptural aspects of the pub/entertainment room. The couple, both avid outdoors enthusiasts — they spend weekends in the mountains and Susan enjoys riding her bike to her downtown office — wanted the interior space to be highly functional — one that met their lifestyle needs plus all that they were trying to achieve from an eco-perspective. “It took quite a bit of time to come up with the design just because every time we made a decision, it had a domino effect,” says Chris. On the top of the list was air quality, so an HRV (heat recovery ventilator) system was mandatory, as were hard surfaces throughout. But arguably the most distinctive feature is the living wall. “I just loved the idea. Being around plants just elevates your mood, and it creates a healthier environment,” says Susan, adding that the wall designed by DIRTT does double duty. “It’s really become a piece of art for the house.” Sue originally wanted to plant herbs, but ended up choosing low light plants instead as the herb growing conditions 4 4 n e w home liv in g Apri l 2013
were not ideal (optimum growing conditions involve dramatic heat during the day and coolness at night.) “I’m a little sad because the idea was that I would be in the kitchen cooking and I could just come and snip an herb.” Self-professed food lovers, this thirty something duo, loves to cook and entertain, so the “must have” list included a really usable kitchen with a big island and premium appliances, good flow of space with a large great room and a mud room for their lively Golden Retriever. As for eco-features, this house packs one heck of a green punch. A well-sealed building envelope keeps the interior temperature regulated while a solar heating system utilizing three types of panels (it’s part of SAIT’s experiment to monitor which type does best) heats the radiant floor on the main level and basement as well as the domestic hot water. A passive heating system using an
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The Discovery 5 is designed to break even on power, hence the term Net-Zero. Discover 5’s state-of-the-art mechanical room
interior flat-plate solar panel and west facing windows preheats the domestic city water. “We’ve seen a four or five degree change in temperature even before the water gets to the tank. It’s kind of cool,” says Chris. A passive solar chimney also acts as a cooling funnel in the summer, sucking hot air up and through the roof with bidirectional fans and power operating roof windows. “In general the theory is all about moving air,” explains Chris. The home also boasts an elaborate rainwater system that in the past eight months has harvested close to 50,000 litres of rainwater. The water is used for flushing toilets, laundry (the couple was able to have laundry approved before the city changed their policy) and outside taps. “It feels good that we are not pulling from the city’s system. Although we don’t have a water issue in Calgary now, it makes sense to start experimenting to see what we can do.”
About $150,000 went into bringing the home up to Net-Zero standards, and the Williams’ spent from $800,00 to $900,000 to create their dream green home. The Discovery 5 is designed to break even on power, hence the term Net-Zero. That means producing as much power as it uses on an annual basis. And, now as of July 1st, 2012 homeowners can sell any excess energy generated back to the grid. That’s definitely an added bonus. Although the couple has built a number of times — five to be exact, they finally feel like they are home. “We love the feel and we love being in a smaller inner city community. There are still neighbours on this street that watched Chris’ dad grow up. That’s pretty special,” says Susan. NL april 2013 new home Living 45
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A sustainable lifestyle
Green living tips for a healthier tomorrow
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By Jessica Patterson
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reen can mean so many things these days. To most, it’s attached to a product, or a lifestyle that is not harmful to the environment. Just ask Ed Malcolm, a Calgarian who has done his best to incorporate green living into almost every aspect of his lifestyle. He and his family recycle, they are active in their community, they compost and use organic lawn care. Inside their home, they have plants, air purifiers, hand-crafted furniture, hardwood floors, non-VOC painted walls, organic bedding and linens and cleaning products. Malcolm also runs tujawellness.com, a website guide to finding amazing and green health and wellness vendors across Canada. “Tuja started in 2009, as a hobby,” Malcolm explains. “It was Healthy Living Canada. We provide people with information and resources.” Malcolm became hooked on healthy and green living as a teenager after a miAspen Clean has a line-up of environmentallyfriendly cleaning products.
nor health scare, and from there, “it too became a hobby of mine, for the last 30 years,” he explains. The Calgarian and his family live as green as they can, because it’s good for their health and good for the environment. “I’ve seen the benefits time after time, in every aspect of my life,” Malcolm says. He suggests, if Calgarians want to Ed Malcolm green their lifestyles, to start with little things. “With anything, if you try to jump into the deep end, you’re usually going to sink,” he says. “Start by introducing one or two things that work for you, and introduce a couple more. That’s the best way to do it.” Cleaning the home, and the products you use for it, is a good place to start. AspenClean is one of the newest environmentally-friendly cleaning services in Calgary that uses their own brand of natural cleaning methods. AspenClean’s all natural cleaning products are eco-friendly, biodegradable and non-toxic. “We’re proud to serve customers throughout the Lower Mainland, B.C. and Calgary, Alberta who need a professional house cleaning company, an eco-friendly maid,” says Alicia Sokolowski, AspenClean president and co-CEO. “We also offer a range of green cleaning products for the home that are guaranteed to be not only friendly to the environment but do the job as well — or better — than the regular ones do,” Solokowski says. (Clockwise) Marmoleum from Riva’s Eco Store, bamboo and cork can green your decorating inside the home.
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Greening your lifestyle doesn’t have to be a drastic, lifestyle makeover. Start your new green lifestyle with a Healthy Homes holistic in-home consultation, from Green Calgary. The consultation looks into waste reduction, water conservation, energy efficiency, toxic cleaning products and sustainable food choices. The Healthy Home program started in 2008, when Green Calgary was hired to help people with backyard composters, says Lynn MacCallum, Healthy Homes Calgary program assistant. “We went in and helped people understand how it worked and did troubleshooting,” she says. “When we were visiting these homes, as the green experts, lots of questions came up about their interiors, their living spaces.” “We’re one of the few organizations in Canada right now who are delivering this hands-on consultation on whatever residents need or are interested in,” MacCallum says. Inside the home, you can green your decorating with flooring made out of cork, bamboo or linoleum, called Marmoleum, that is made of linseed oil, cork, limestone, tree rosin and minerals. There are carpets on the market made out of recycled plastic. Invest into no- or low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paint, and green bedding and linens made of organic cotton or hemp. Guard your family’s health by choosing healthy bedding. A recent study out of Duke University suggests that more and more furniture is being treated with flame-retardent, which may be linked to cancer, altered hormones or neurological effects. “You spend a third of your life on this mattress and it’s doused in flame-retardant and it’s off-gassing from the plastically foam in it,” says Patricia Cameron, president of Green Calgary. “A lot of things off-gas, like carpets that can off-gas for years.
Five tips for healthier homes
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Insulate behind the plate of the light switches and electrical outlets located on exterior walls to prevent the two per cent of heat loss that happens there. About 10 per cent of electricity is used by phantom loads — standby lights on electronics, plugged-in chargers, and so on. Put computers and entertainment systems on power bars then turn off the power bars and unplug chargers that aren’t in use at night. Dryer sheets are the leading cause of dryer fires. Skip them altogether and use dryer balls or a dryer cloth instead. Better yet, hang clothes to dry to prolong their life and raise the humidity in your home. Clean does not have a smell — lose the air fresheners and scented cleaning products for the sake of your health. If you can’t live without scented products, use pure essential oils. Don’t stop composting just because your heap is frozen. Continue to layer greens and browns through the winter; in the spring, the pile will heat up and compost quickly.
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Green cleaning products do as good a job as traditional cleaning products, they’re healthier for people and the environment.
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Especially in a wintery climate like Calgary, where windows are closed for months of the year.” Cameron says people are unknowingly being bombarded with chemical stew. Perhaps an organic mattress or furniture from Black Sheep Mattress Company, who works with organic materials to create hand-crafted pieces from sustainable materials. Being more energy-efficient is also another way to green your lifestyle. Choose CF bulbs, low-flow shower heads, and energy-efficient appliances for heating and cooling. Water conservancy or alternative energy sources are also good ways to be green. Have you ever considered geo-thermal or solar power? Going green is like any change in the mainstream, even the big box stores see the trend and provide options. Like the market on green cleaners, which have sprung up in response to consumer demands. “People want to do the right things,” MacCallum says. “When Start by choosing Compact you give them that opportunity and make Fluorescent (CF) light bulbs when making your home it affordable, it’s an easy choice.” more energy-efficient. Green cleaning products do as good a job as traditional cleaning products, they’re healthier for people and the environment, and they’re available at the grocery store. “We dispel myths like, green cleaning products are more expensive,” MacCallum says. “When you can make most of your own with vinegar and baking soda.” Other ways to green your lifestyle include recycling and composting, adding green plants to help air quality in your home, and
reducing your carbon footprint. And then, there’s green building. Green, sustainable building, sprang up in response to potential homeowners wanting to live in residences that are more in tune with and the environment. Building systems include BREEAM, BOMA Best, Living Building Challenge, Green Globes, CEEQUAL, Above: Nui clover woven BuiltGreen and LEED, which is one comforter. Right: Organic stuffies, of the most popular green building perfect for kids with allergies. certification systems in Canada. Res- Photos courtesy sigikid. idential green building is on the rise in Calgary through sustainable and innovative building companies. Though for most, green building is something Calgarians see being constructed on their way to work. And when you’re ready to green your lifestyle, don’t jump right in. MacCallum says it’s a journey to green one’s lifestyle. “People should be kind to themselves. They’re not going to be able to get everything done at once, and that can feel really defeatist,” she says. “This is a process that should be joyful and empowering and a really enjoyable experience.” Take baby steps. NL
Being more energy-efficient is also another way to green your lifestyle. Choose CF bulbs, low-flow shower heads, and energy-efficient appliances for heating and cooling.
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Green picks
Experts choose their top eco-friendly products for the home n
By Kathy McCormick
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ermit was before his time. If our favourite frog was born today, he’d find out it is easy to be green. In fact, he’d be living in a green home that is sustainable, healthier and more comfortable than it ever was before — and it would not only cost less to live in, it would be much easier on the planet, so all his Muppet friends would love him, too. Green technology has evolved to a place where it’s not only more accessible and less costly, but
it’s become trendy, as people are more and more interested in becoming stewards of the land. Builders have made great strides today toward more energy-efficient and sustainable homes and standards in new homes are much higher than they might have been, even in Kermit’s young years. High-efficiency furnaces, low-e windows, on-demand hot water, and other sustainable products are just a few of the technologies that have made a difference in new homes today. In Calgary, builders have been so conscientious in implementing high standards for sustainability that they introduced a program to Canada called Built Green, a hybrid of other sustainable programs utilizing green building products and techniques that has now expanded to other cities and provinces throughout Canada. Some builders in the city have taken the sustainable building practices even further. Both Avalon Master Builder and Landmark Homes, for example, have the mandate to build all of their homes as Net-Zero, meaning they produce as much, if not more, energy per year than they use. Others have embraced their own variations of sustainability with new products and techniques to make the homes as energy efficient and green as possible. We asked a few of the leaders in sustainability what their favourite new products are in the field of conservation and green buildings. Here are some of their favourite new products: David bengert, Jayman Master Built “One of the reasons I like each company I have endorsed here is that sustainability is part of their corporate DNA,” says David Bengert, chairman of BuiltGreen Canada and the director of corporate purchasing for Jayman MasterBUILT. “I like the products separately as it pertains to their innovation and drive to produce products that do not cost more, but are gentler on the environment.”
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A big concern, he says, is indoor air quality today. “We have homes that are tighter and interior contaminants stay in the home longer.” His picks: • Fiandre Canada’s sustainability and photo catalytic finish on tiles “Fiandre has a line of products that help to clean the indoor air.” The tiles, for example, are made with non-volatile substances that help clean the air and they have an anti-bacterial finish.
» www.savoia.com
• Dulux Paints’ low- and no-VOC paints Reducing or eliminating VOCs (volatile organic compounds) help protect the environment and the health of Canadians from the effects of air pollution, while making the home healthier at the same time.
» www.dulux.ca
• Beaulieu’s recycled content carpets and more “Beaulieu’s carpets are certified to meet the highest standards for low VOC, similar to the ICI paint we use.” The Enviro Select carpets are made with 100 per cent recycled or recyclable materials or they utilize as few natural resources as possible in the construction, resulting in improved indoor air quality with low VOC (volatile organic compounds) as possible.
» www.beaulieucanada.ca
• Moen’s new Motion Sense kitchen faucet “Moen’s new faucet makes our life easier and reduces water usage in the kitchen.” The faucet has a ‘wave sensor’ on top that stops water flow with a wave of the hand, and a ‘ready sensor’ at the base that flows as long as the object beneath it is in range — thus saving water consumption while eliminating the need to touch the faucet.
» www.moen.ca
Of all four products, Bengert says: “Nearly every company today claims to be ‘green’ but this group of four actually are, both in the products they manufacture and the way they operate their business.” Ryan Scott, Avalon Master Builder Ryan Scott, president of Avalon Master Builder, has his own favourites: • GE GeoSpring Hybrid Water Heater “The GeoSpring hot water heater combines energy-saving heat-pump technology with traditional electric elements using a fraction of the energy. Their innovative process creates the same amount of hot water as a traditional electric water heater while reducing heating expenses up to 62 per cent — a savings of as much as $325 a year.” The GeoSpring Hybrid Water Heater offers enough hot water for the entire family but uses significantly less energy than a standard water heater.
» www.geappliances.ca
• Power Pipe-Drain Water Heat Recovery “Drain water heat recovery units are inexpensive to install and recover enough heat to pay for themselves very quickly. Essentially, they take the heat from your drain water to pre-heat your hot water, stopping your heat from literally going down the drain.”
» www.renewability.com
“We have homes that are tighter and interior contaminates stay in the home longer.”
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• Life Breath HRV “HRVs (heat recovery ventilators) should be standard in homes today. They ensure the homeowner is getting enough fresh air while saving around 80 per cent of the heat in the air you are exhausting to the outside. Indoor air quality goes up and bills go down.”
» www.lifebreath.com
• NEST Thermostat “NEST learns your schedule and programs itself — and it can be controlled by your phone. It has the potential to save up to 20 per cent in heating costs.”
• LED lighting “These may cost a bit more than any other types of lighting, but they are much safer and last for many more hours — and the light is brighter and much easier on the eyes. At the same time, these lights utilize much less energy consumption.” The lights are very efficient, using just one-tenth of the power of a regular light bulb and they run much cooler and have a long life expectancy. » www.hlclighting.com NL
» www.nest.com
Peter Mauro, New Casa Company Ltd. Peter Mauro’s company, New Casa Company Ltd., just won in its category at the 2012 ICF Builder Awards at the World of Concrete in Las Vegas for his energy-efficient duplex in Hillhurst/ Sunnyside. He has two particular favourites. • ICF (insulated concrete forms) construction “My development, which has two homes close to 3,000 square-feet in total, was built with ICF blocks — and the power bills average $500 a month for both suites combined — that includes heat, electricity, hot water, and air conditioning. And the rooms are all so comfortable, even the basement has no transfer of hot or cold from outside.”
» www.amvicsystem.com
“THESE MAY COST A BIT MORE THAN ANY OTHER TYPES OF LIGHTING, BUT THEY ARE MUCH SAFER AND LAST FOR MANY MORE HOURS.”
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Faux grass The logical ecological alternative to lawns n
By Andrea Cox
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midst a cacophony of sounds and a symphony of colour, spring has arrived and thoughts are turning to gardens, lawns and lazy days spent enjoying the sunshine. But with more and more emphasis being placed on the conservation of water and the hazardous effects of pesticides and fertilizer on our health, homeowners are tossing the mower and installing artificial lawns. The eco-inspired green stuff is becoming big business and for good reason. “It is essentially an outdoor carpet that looks fantastic all year round and even more key is that it requires no watering, no pesticides and no fertilizer,” says Russ Spence, president of Westland Limited, a Calgary based company that has launched its own brand of artificial turf for the do-it-yourselfer. “We took the approach of simplifying the process for the homeowner to do it themselves, so that they could save money and time,” says Spence, who distributes the product to retailers in western Canada including several garden centres in Calgary. Spence wanted to create a grass that would suit the landscape in Alberta so he worked with the manufacturer to get the colour just right. “It’s two toned with bio thatch,” he says, noting that the do-it-yourself version is easy to install and it is cost-effective. It is an alternative that comes out at one-third the price of a professionally installed lawn.
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Peggy Perry’s eco-grass
Spence wanted to create a grass that would suit the landscape in Alberta so he worked with the manufacturer to get the colour just right.
Westland’s product, coined Easy Ecograss hit the stores last spring and the demand has been huge. But although the installation process is simple, the do-it-yourself version is designed for smaller spaces like dog runs, shady spaces, side and small gardens. “I wouldn’t want to see someone tackle an entire huge lawn,” says Spence. “This is really a great alternative to gravel or mulch. You can add a couple of chairs and a table and really enjoy the space.”
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For those larger lawns, Spence recommends hiring a professional installation company, which is what homeowner Peggy Perry chose to do. She and her husband built a house in Altadore last year on a large corner lot and chose to go the eco-route with the lawn. “We just love it,” says Perry who was inspired to make the shift from real grass to artificial because of the ecological benefits and the low maintenance. The couple lives across the street from a pesticide-free park. “All of the seeds from the dandelions were blowing over into our lawn and we couldn’t stay on top of them. Now, we just don’t have to
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All images are from Evergreen Turf.
worry about it. Plus the colour is so bright in the midst of winter when everything is dead and brown.” And in addition to the eco-benefits, advances in the products aesthetics have catapulted the turf into the mainstream. “It’s changed drastically over the years,” says Monty Selanders, president of Evergreen Turf, the artificial lawn installation company that designed and installed Peggy Perry’s lawn. “It looks completely natural. At the home and garden show people couldn’t believe their eyes because it looks so real,” he says, adding that the demand has increased exponentially over the past few years. “We started off by doing a lot of backyard putting greens — there is huge demand for that in Calgary, but now we have a waiting list for lawns. People are pretty excited about the product.” With advanced technology at work, the grass now comes in a variety of colours and densities and each blade boasts a spine down the middle to give it memory. “The older grass didn’t have that, so it would mat down and stay there, now it pops right back up.” So just how much does it cost to go green? “Well, it’s not cheap,” says Perry, who says she paid somewhere around
$20,000. On average an installed lawn runs between $7 and $11 per square foot. A putting green is slightly higher. If you are the do-it-yourself type the cost comes in considerably lower at around $130 per 1 metre by 3 metre roll. “But, in the long run it is well worth it. No mowing, no maintenance gives you a lot of extra time to just enjoy life,” says Selanders. And with an average lawn lifespan of 15 to 20 years that adds up to a lot of afternoon naptime in the hammock. NL
With advanced technology at work, the grass now comes in a variety of colours and densities and each blade boasts a spine down the middle to give it memory.
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Responsible land de New UDI head, Karin Finley, calls for stronger partnership with City
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By Karen Rudolph Durrie
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arin Finley remembers when the west side of Calgary was bordered by Sarcee Trail, and there was little beyond it but fields of horses and cows. “But it changed shortly after we moved there, and we quickly saw similar things happening in all quadrants of the city,” recalls the born-and-raised Calgarian. A couple of decades later, the city’s landscape has shifted dramatically — and Finley has played her own role in that shift. As a vice-president with Qualico Communities responsible for community development in southern Alberta, Finley has managed award-winning developments, seeing them through from the purchase of land to the establishment of neighbourhoods teeming with new residents. Finley, a civil engineer by training, was recently appointed chair of the Urban Development Institute (UDI) for a two-year term. She says she’s dedicated to making the organization more effective and relevant as the voice of development in the city. UDI, which has been around since the 1950s, represents more than 180 member companies — a substantial number of which are concerned with residential and multi-family construction. “A lot has changed in our city, so we have made some moves to reorganize the UDI,” Finley says. “We would like to be a resource to the City of Calgary and residents of the city, to be a voice for development, provide information and be approachable.” She comes into the job at a time of great complexity. As the City and its land developers grapple with surging growth. Catchphrases like “urban sprawl” and “out-of-control growth” are often parroted by citizens and media, but Finley would like people to consider the alternative: stagnation.
The institute aims to further the average citizen’s understanding about the difference between what developers and builders do…
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velopment Sure, she acknowledges, UDI represents developers who are the beneficiaries of growth, but growth also provides people with opportunities and keeps Calgary’s economy humming along. “Look in the business sections of newspapers, where the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation uses development and building permits as a marker for positive and negative growth. That means that people want to be here. It’s the responsibility of the City of Calgary to maintain and grow that economic opportunity for people, and some of that comes to the affordability of housing,” Finley says. The institute aims to further the average citizen’s understanding about the difference between what developers and builders do, the responsibilities surrounding infrastructure, what levies and taxes are in place, where the money goes and how it all impacts the average home buyer — who can pay up to $30,000 in total levies on a new home. Developers plan, fund and install the infrastructure — roads, pipes and utilities — and then subdivide lots into individual titles, at which point homes are built. “Many Calgarians falsely believe the City of Calgary puts the infrastructure into the community. They provide approvals and regulations that support that going into the ground, but the payment and financing of that is supported largely by the developer,” Finley says. She adds that people often don’t realize that part of the agreement the developer has with the City of Calgary is to maintain infrastructure and services for a period of
Karin Finley
time — usually two years — before the city considers accepting it into its inventory and taking over services. “Within those communities, the people who buy those homes have paid for the roads, the pipes, the land, the ability to flush toilets through the hard costs of their homes. And on top of that they still pay taxes, even when the city is not maintaining (infrastructure) yet. This has a net effect on affordability,” she says. A critical assessment of the UDI’s mandate has concluded with the idea that the organization needs to move from being an operational board and organization to a strategic-thinking one, benefiting Calgarians by being part of decision-making on development before it has reached the policy stage. “There is a complex series of approvals and design to make safe, vibrant and livable communities. Things are required to create safety, marketability and then nice-to-haves. How much of that should that be incumbent on developers to build?” Finley asks. NL
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26 SAM Awards fina th
List of 2012 finalists spotlights on best of the best
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pring is here and it’s time again to honour the best-of-thebest in Calgary’s residential industry, and the Canadian Home Builders’ Association – Calgary Region is proud to announce the full list of finalists for the 2012 SAM Awards. The SAM Awards, now in its 26th year, celebrate innovation and excellence in the Calgary and area’s residential construction industry. The winners will receive their awards at the SAM Awards Gala on Saturday, April 13, 2013 at the Telus Convention Centre. “Last year was one of cautious optimism, as the industry slowly climbed out of the recession and saw a return of consumer confidence with the beginnings of a solid economic recovery for Alberta,” says Shane Wenzel, chairman of the SAM committee. “The industry brought forth innovation, value and excitement to the city with the variety of homes and neighbourhoods that people want — and the best-of-the-best are showcased at our annual SAM gala.” A total of 758 entries were submitted by members competing for 61 awards in 10 different categories covering all aspects of the residential construction industry, from the sales professionals in the field, to renovations, new neighbourhoods, marketing and advertising, and the new homes themselves. The finalists are chosen through a thorough, detailed process that involves industry judges awarding points, which are then authenticated by an accounting firm.
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lists announced Show Home Parade of the Year Brookfield Residential Properties Inc., The Preserve Series Genstar Development Company, Relax in the Valley Hopewell Residential Communities LP, Mahogany Show Home, Parade of the Year Qualico Communities, Redstone — Starter Qualico Communities, Redstone — Move Up Holdings Inc. New Community of the Year Brookfield Residential Properties Inc., Riverstone of Cranston Qualico Communities, Redstone QuinnCorp Holdings Inc, Aspen Summit Watermark Development LP, Watermark at Bearspaw
Genstar Development Company — Relax in the Valley
Community of the Year — City of Calgary Brookfield Residential Properties Inc., Auburn Bay, Brookfield Residential Properties Inc., Riverstone of Cranston Hopewell Residential Communities LP, Mahogany QuinnCorp Holdings Inc., Aspen Summit Walton Development and Management Inc., SkyView Ranch Community of the Year — Calgary Region Vesta Properties (Alberta) Ltd., Williamstown, Airdrie Watermark Development LP, Bearspaw, Rocky View County
NEW HOME AWARDS Best New Home — up to $199,999 Genesis Builders Group Inc., The Greenbriar Bayside Phase 7 (Airdrie) Morrison Homes Bolero Showhome Best New Home – $200,000-$229,999 Broadview Homes, The Laurier II in Redstone Excel Homes, Camden in HillCrest (Airdrie) Jayman Group of Companies, The Unite in Redstone NuVista Homes, The Bailey III Shane Homes Ltd., The Verve
Albi Homes — Carara
Best New Home – $230,000-$269,999 Broadview Homes, The Aberdeen in Evanston Brookfield Homes, Belvedere II in Auburn Bay Morrison Homes, The Dawson NuVista Homes Ltd., The Sienna Vesta Properties Ltd., Williamstown (Airdrie) april 2013 new home Living 69
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Best New Home – $270,000-$309,999 Douglas Homes Ltd., Koh Samui 6 Rainbow Falls (Chestermere) Homes by Avi (Calgary) Ltd., Whitfield in Elgin Jayman Group of Companies, The Azul in Chaparral Valley Jayman Group of Companies, The Nitro in Walden Morrison Homes The Burton Best New Home – $310,000-$349,999 Broadview Homes, The Cascade in Redstone Jayman Group of Companies, The Evoque in Redstone Sabal Homes LP, Ascent in Copperfield Sabal Homes LP, Maybeck in Mahogany Stepper Custom Homes Inc., Davis Residence Copperfield Best New Home – $350,000-$399,999 Homes by Avi (Calgary) Inc., Stampede Rotary Dream Home 2012 Jayman MasterBUILT, The Allure in Evanston Morrison Homes, Everett Showhome Trico Homes, The Cabernet in Montreux Vesta Properties Ltd., Williamstown (Airdrie) Best New Home – $400,000-$459,999 Broadview Homes, The Birkley in Evanston Jayman Group of Companies, The Altair 3 in Sunset Ridge Sabal Homes LP, Mystique in Mahogany Stepper Custom Homes Inc., Willow Creek Mahogany WestView Builders Inc., The Princeton II Best New Home – $460,000-$534,999 Creative Innovations & Designs Inc., The Altadore West Morrison Homes, The Bell Residence Morrison Homes, The Pacitti Residence Trico Homes, The Stanton in the Summit of Montreux Truman Homes, The Bristol in Aspen Woods Estates
Jayman — The Allure 7 0 n e w home liv in g Apri l 2013
Broadview Homes — The Birkley in Evanston
“Every year, the bar is raised and, without a doubt, Calgarians are provided with the most innovative, high-quality housing of any in North America.” “While the awards generate excitement and competition in the industry, it’s the consumers who are the real winners,” says Wendy Going, vice-chairman of the SAM committee. “Every year, the bar is raised and, without a doubt, Calgarians are provided with the most innovative, high-quality housing of any in North America. We’re proud to be celebrating our industry at the SAMs — and the SAM committee is set to deliver what we promise will be a night to remember.” Canadian Home Builders’ Association – Calgary Region presents the following SAM Awards categories (the number of awards in each category follows in brackets): Advertising & Marketing Awards (8), Developer Awards (4), Industry Achievement Awards (2), Multi-Family Awards (11), New Home Awards (15), Partner Awards (3), Renovator Awards (7), Sales Achievement Awards (4), Sales & Information Centre Awards (2), and the GRAND SAM Awards (5). GRAND SAM Awards are presented to the Builder, Renovator and Partner that have demonstrated a superior achievement in design, sales, advertising and/or service. NL
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Best New Home – $535,000-$599,999 Albi Homes Ltd., Manhattan 4 in the Riverstone of Cranston Exclusives Homes by Avi (Calgary) Inc., Waterford in The Ridges of Valley Pointe Estates Morrison Homes, The Millar Residence WestView Builders Inc., The Augusta WestView Builders Inc., The Vernon Best New Home – $600,000-$699,999 Calbridge 2010 Ltd., The Chardonnay (DeWinton) Landmark Homes (Calgary) Inc., Genoa Truman Homes, The Aspen III Truman Homes, Millenium Truman Homes Best New Home – $700,000-$849,999 Baywest Homes Ltd., Renoir Canterra Custom Homes, Osmond Residence Prominent Homes Ltd., Altadore Infill Shane Homes Ltd., The Delmar WestView Builders Ltd., The Vanderbilt Best New Home - $850,000-$999,999 Calbridge 2010 Ltd., Baines Residence Calbridge 2010 Ltd., The Berkeley (DeWinton) Landmark Homes (Calgary) Inc., Burton Prominent Homes, The Monroe WestView Builders Ltd., The Albany Best New Home - $1,000,000-$1,499,999 Albi Homes Ltd., Carrara in Artesia at Heritage Pointe (DeWinton) Astoria Homes Ltd., The Lewiston in Watermark (Rocky View County) Calbridge 2010 Ltd., DuPont Residence Canterra Custom Homes, The Palasso (Rock View County) Capstone Custom Homes Inc., Lott Creek Custom Home in Lott Creek Estates Best New Home - $1,500,000-$2,299,999 Calbridge 2010 Ltd., Thomas Residence McKinley Masters, The Bentley McKinley Masters, The Shangri-La Riverview Custom Homes, Toronto Crescent Veranda Estate Homes Inc., Custom Bearspaw Residence
Morrison Homes — Millar Residence
Best New Home - $2,300,000 and over Albi Homes Ltd., Bowness Custom Residence Calbridge 2010 Ltd. Li Residence Douglas Homes Ltd., Musak Custom Home on Chestermere Lake Homes by Us Ltd.,Watermark at Bearspaw Showhome(Rocky View County) McKinley Masters, The Cézanne april 2013 new home Living 71
around town By Pepper Rodriguez
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Albi Homes leads 2012 National SAM winners Calgary’s preeminent custom home builder, Albi Homes, won the coveted Grand SAM — Builder of Excellence award at the National SAM Awards held on March 8th in Lake Louise, Alberta. They were one of three Calgary builders and developments that were honoured at this year’s gala. “To be singled out from all the great builders throughout Canada is very humbling and a great honour,” says Allan Klassen, President and Managing Partner of Albi Homes Ltd. “This award recognizes the dedication of our tremendous staff, committed suppliers and trade partners who place customer service as our number one priority.” Albi also won the award for Best Single Detached Home Over 2,200 square-feet for the Carrara model in Artesia at Heritage Pointe, as well as the Best Sales Office for its Aspen Summit Park location. Albi Homes was only one of three Calgary homebuilders and developments that took home awards at the annual event. Macdonald Development won for Best Community Development for their Watermark at Bearspaw luxury estate community just north of Calgary, while Malbec Homes & Renovations was selected for Best Home Renovation — Whole House over $500,000. Watermark at Bearspaw
“It was a tremendous honour just to be a finalist for the Community Development Award,” says Matthew Jones, associate vice president of sales and marketing for Macdonald Development Corporation. “In essence, this award recognizes the best community in the nation, so it is truly a remarkable achievement to have won, especially given the calibre of communities that were nominated this year,” he adds. “It was actually a double win for us, as Albi Homes is one of the five exclusive home builders we have at Watermark, and their win just further validates the kind of community that we are building here,” he tells Around Town. “We are thrilled to have won this prestigious National SAM award, and for the nomination for the Calgary SAM award,” says Mike Serrao, Co-Owner and General Manager of Malbec Homes & Renovations. Co-Owner, Darren Van Impe adds: “It is an honour to be acknowledged by these accolades, and we are grateful to the homeowners for allowing us to work with them on creating such a stunning, unique home.” “Each of these National SAM Award winners has demonstrated leadership and produced leading-edge products,” CHBA President Ron Olson said. “Every award recognizes an outstanding success and I congratulate all the winners.” The Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) is the voice of the residential construction industry in Canada, representing more than 8,500 member firms across the country. This year, the CHBA received over 560 total entries for National SAM awards for new home and marketing categories. Albi Homes, Carrara
March starts remain stable
Housing starts in the Calgary Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) were trending at 11,459 units in February, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). The trend is a six month moving average of the monthly seasonally adjusted annual rates (SAAR) of total housing starts. “With February construction, the trend in Calgary housing starts has been relatively constant since October of last year,” said Richard Cho, CMHC’s Senior Market Analyst for Calgary. “A rising trend in single-detached starts continues to offset a reduction in multi-family units,” added Cho. CMHC uses the trend measure as a complement to the monthly SAAR of housing starts to account for considerable swings in monthly estimates and obtain a more complete picture of the state of the housing market. In some situations, analyzing only SAAR data can be misleading in some markets, as they are largely driven by the multiples segment of the markets which can be quite variable from one month to the next. The standalone monthly SAAR was 11,236 units in February, up from 10,310 in January.
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Brookfield Homes opens Leighton in Auburn Bay Brookfield Homes single-family division is proud to announce the grand opening of a new show home in Auburn Bay: the Leighton. What makes this 1,523-sqiare-foot home one of Brookfield’s most popular sellers is its functionality. In fact, the Leighton has consistently been a top-seller at Brookfield despite not having its own show home until now. “The Leighton model is by no means an off-the-shelf concept, but rather a well thought out, functional design project that maximizes space, while maintaining affordability,” explains Ryan Moon, Sales and Marketing Manager with Brookfield Homes. According to Moon, the Leighton also offers homebuyers an upper floor option where the standard bonus room can be converted to a larger master ensuite and upper floor laundry area. “The overall design concept was to build a home that would grow with the family and that’s what’s so exciting about this model. It offers all of the functionality you need, with three bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms and two entertainment spaces — a flex room and bonus room,” he adds. In addition to a clean, modern layout, the Leighton is nestled inside one of Calgary’s most sought after lake communities, Auburn Bay. (Learn more about Auburn Bay in this issue’s cover feature.) The Leighton model is part of an existing showhome for Brookfield Homes parade, featuring the Belvedere II, Grandin and Richmond models, which opened in March 2012. Pricing for the Leighton model starts at $320,000.
Homes by Avi wins Consumer Choice Award Homes by Avi is on a four-year win streak, as the award-winning builder won the 2013 Consumer Choice Award winner in the category of home builder for the fourth year in a row. “I am so proud to be part of such an exceptional team,” says Alice Mateyko, president Alice Mateyko of Homes by Avi, Alberta’s single family division. “The loyalty of our customers is a testament to the dedication of our staff and the quality of our products.” Each year, Consumer Choice Award conducts independent market research to determine the best service providers in a range of categories. The purpose is to recognize excellence among small to medium businesses in specific market areas. Homes by Avi was presented with the 2013 Consumer Choice Award during gala ceremonies on March 13 at Calgary’s BMO Centre Stampede Park.
Winner of Source Media Group HomExpo draw Rob Stokes won the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 grand prize for the Source Media Group raffle held during the HomExpo show in January. The High River resident who teaches guitar lessons in Okotoks tells Around Town that he is familiar with Source’s Okotoks Living publication, and dropped by their booth at the HomExpo to pick up a copy. “I filled out the Rob Stokes accepting his Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 at the Source Media raffle form just for fun,” he says. Group office. Source Media has booths at the biggest home shows in Calgary, Edmonton, Okotoks, Red Deer, and beyond. Be sure to drop by the next time to see what other cool giveaways we have in store.
Toupee for a Day marks another hit fundraising event University of Calgary engineering student Christine Ochitwa was this year’s youngest fundraiser for Toupee for a Day, bringing in $2,200 by herself, while Sabal Homes’ Sabal Crusaders was the team winner with $4,400. A total of $73,488 has been raised so far this year during the annual flagship event to help raise funds and awareness for Wellspring Calgary. “We’re keeping fund raising efforts going until March 30th in hopes that we reach our goal of raising at least $100,000,” says New Home Living’s own Heather Dougall, the event’s founder and a cancer survivor herself. This initiative brought in close to $99,000 last year, and with partnership from Sabal Homes, Source Media Group and CTV, it hopes to surpass the record. The importance of institutions like Wellspring Calgary was brought home even more strongly this year, as heartbreaking news broke about the ordeal of the 13-year-old niece of Sabal Homes’ senior vice-president for operations Richard Daley. She was diagnosed with stage three lymphoma just days after Sabal Homes had 7 4 n e w home liv in g Apri l 2013
signed on as naming sponsor for Toupee for a Day. “Cancer touches everyone, and this news hits really close to us,” says Brad Vogelsang, Sabal Homes vice-president for sales – Calgary & Region, who spoke in Daley’s behalf at the Toupee for a Day ceremonies. Daley was key in getting the builder involved with the event, and Vogelsang says he was lamenting the fact that they didn’t have a similar institution like WellChristine spring in the U.S. where his niece was being treated. Ochitwa “Wellspring is doing important work and we should all be supporting it,” he adds. In an email message he sent to Around Town, Daley says he has been touched with the support and kind words he has received from friends and family. “Cancer has been very real for our family as my mom passed away from leukemia when my sister and I were young, and now the sudden affliction with my niece. I have realized first hand with my recent experience with my niece and family in Stanford, California, the benefits of an organization such as Wellspring,” he says. n
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Chestermere
Rainbow Falls · Westcreek · Westmere
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AIRDRIE
OKOTOKS
COCHRANE april 2013 new home Living 79
advertiser index  n ATB pages 64-65 Apex Developments Heartland page 57 Apex Developments Hillcrest page 75
Dundee Developments Montrose page 80
Melcor Kings Heights pages 20-21
Emerald Soverign Court page 62
McKee Homes page 81
Genesis Builders Bayside pages 36-37
Apex Developments Mountain View page 4
Golf For Girls page 26
Baywest Homes Cranston page 42
Hopewell Copperfield Park page 35
Bri-Mor Westgrove Estates pages 2-3
Hopewell Mahogany page 47
Brookfield Homes Auburn Bay page 15
Hunter Douglas page 46
Brookfield Residential Auburn Bay FC, pages 12-14 Brookfield Residential Cranston page 67 Cardel Homes Walden Park page 28-29 Cedarglen Homes page 34 Dundee Developments Evansridge page 22
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Innovations by Jayman Riversong page 52 Jager Homes Riversong page 41
Morrison Homes page 27 NuVista page 72 Riverwood Black Diamond page 62 Sabal Homes Mahogany page 7 Tamani Riversong page 9 United Communities Drake Landing page 63 United Communities Nolan Hill page 83
Jayman Masterbuilt page 16
Walton Skyview Ranch page 53
Legacy Cover Gate Fold pages 30-33
Watermark Bearspaw page 51, 66
Mattamy Homes page 84
hope at large By Marty Hope
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The next big thing Keystone Hills looks to future When it arrives, it’s gonna be big. But the key word is “when.” Right now, and for the foreseeable future, Keystone Hills is a 1,080-hectare chunk of dirt in north Calgary. It is envisioned as a mixed use development that could eventually be home to about 60,000 people. “There’s nothing new to report regarding progress on Keystone Hills,” says Scott Lockwood, manager of new community development and subdivision services for the City of Calgary. “The area structure plan (ASP) was approved by the city this past June, other than that nothing has changed.” Lockwood also says the city is excited to be working with developers to implement the first ASP since the municipal development plan was approved a couple of years ago, and in “establishing a new vision for new community development in the city.” The major issue holding up development of the Keystone Hills is infrastructure, or rather the lack of it. And there is no infrastructure in place because there is nothing in the city budget to service the area, he adds. “Nothing has been allocated, there is no funding available — and there is, as yet, no outline plan for the community,” says Lockwood. So, that leaves it up to the development industry to find a solution, to find a way to get underground services like sanitary and storm sewers and water utilities into the area. But on paper, does Keystone Hills sound impressive. It is planned to consist of three distinct communities plus an employment centre for something like 18,000 people. Development will include wetland and native grassland areas, 8 2 n e w home liv in g Apri l 2013
be walkable, and will have public spaces and parks. As well, each of the three communities will be a blend of various housing styles and types, stores, restaurants, and community and leisure facilities. Ready and waiting to break ground are nine various landowners, including Brookfield Residential Properties, Genstar Development Company, Mattamy Homes Ltd., Walton Development and Management, Melcor Developments, Pacific Investments and Developments, Ahmadiyya Group, along with the Hong and Esposito families. And, says Lockwood, any progress regarding Keystone Hills is “entirely” up to these groups. “There are two issues: the first is how the area is going to be financed, and secondly, they have to submit outline plan/land use amendment applications,” says Lockwood. “So far, none of this has happened.” The ASP area, which involves land annexed from RockyView County in 1989 and 2007, is bounded on the north by 160th Avenue, on the east by airport property, on the south by Stoney Trail, and on the west by 14th Street NW. As well, there is a secondary piece of land bounded by 144th Avenue to the north, by a CN Rail line on the east, and by Stoney Trail on the south. So, the land is there and the interest is there, but says Lockwood: “Developers are going to have to find a solution for infrastructure.” NL
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.