Edmonton Home & Condo Living October 2013 by Source Media Group

contents O ctober 2 0 1 3

volume 5 issue 4 3

COVER FEATURE

Design & DÉCor

Children’s rooms deserve some design love and attention, too

8 Perfectly situated

19 Small-scale design

VITA places homeowners next to everything

Show home Profile

News

for the senses

10 Napoli V: a feast

Montorio’s Woodhaven show home is an Italian masterpiece

Condo Profile

The University Brownstones offer Edmonton’s home seekers something timelessly hip

14 Old-school swagger

Feature

16 Industry innovators

Prefabricated home sales are in demand and one builder is perfecting the art

S O U R C E ME D I A G R O U P : C E L E B R AT IN G I T S 10 T H Y E A R

20 Excellence Awards

Provincial home builder winners announced

Market view

23 Edmonton: a labour market leader

Feature

30 Tales from

the condo zone

A condo love story

items

6 Editor’s Message 25 Around Town 26 Maps 27 Ad Index

20 O ctober 2 01 3 E D M O N T O N H O ME & C O ND O L I V IN G • 5

editor’s message

Staying on top of things

PUBLISHER

Source Media Group

It is October, and no, I am not kidding. September flies by each year and for whatever

info@sourcemediagroup.ca

reason, I’m surprised by its speedy arrival and departure. School has started with new

A ssociate P U B L I S H E R

teams and clubs to shuttle kids to and a second New Year’s resolution and exercise regimen has also begun (theoretically) for myself. So by October, I feel I’m supposed to be a veteran to this year’s game of life. Not too much to ask, right? Well thankfully, those in the home building industry have their ducks in a row and annual expectations figured out. It’s a long-standing,

Jim Zang

jim.zang@sourcemediagroup.ca E ditor

Michelle Lindstrom michelle.lindstrom@sourcemediagroup.ca AR T DIRECTOR

Jean Faye Rodriguez

successful industry that may be changing a few of its

jean.rodriguez@sourcemediagroup.ca

tricks of the trade (see “Industry Innovators” on page

G R A P H I C D E S I G N er S

Lama Azhari

16), but homebuyers are still lining up to see what’s

lama.azhari@sourcemediagroup.ca

Dave Macaulay

next. And they won’t be disappointed.

dave.maucaulay@sourcemediagroup.ca

A twist on a classic — the brownstones (remember

Megan Sereda

megan.sereda@sourcemediagroup.ca

The Cosby Show) — can be found right here in

production administrator

downtown Edmonton. The University Brownstones

Colleen Leier

offer locals a prime location and design for a reasonable

colleen.leier@sourcemediagroup.ca

price. See for yourselves on page 14.

E ditorial

Vacation time has wrapped up for most right along with the summer months, but to still experience something with European flair, see the show home profile about an Italian-inspired gem in Woodhaven on page 10.

photography

The finalists of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) – Alberta that we noted in our September issue have now been narrowed down to the actual winners, and were announced at the annual conference in Jasper mid-September. In addition to the hard-working and deserving winners that you’ll find on page 20, CHBA – Alberta also recently announced its new president: Stephen Amonson of Lethbridge’s Ashcroft Master Builder Ltd. Amonson succeeds Calgary-based David Hooge, Stepper Homes’ president and general manager. Rosalyn Lazaruk, our Design & Décor columnist, challenges homeowners to be interesting and economically aware when designing their children’s bedrooms. Pink and blue don’t have to be the go-to colours. And being trendy, well, there are always costs to the “in” thing, but Rosalyn shows how to make the room something your child likes as much as your bank account does.

Kate Hamilton, Rosalyn Lazaruk, Michelle Lindstrom, Shelley Williamson director of S A L E S

Norma Robertson norma.robertson@sourcemediagroup.ca A dvertising S A L E S

Jennifer Mills

jennifer.mills@sourcemediagroup.ca ACCOUNTING

Donna Roberts

accounting@sourcemediagroup.ca DISTRIBUTED BY

Source Media Group, Media Classified I SS N 1918 - 4 4 6 8 PRINTED IN C ANADA

Ultimately though, enjoy all the festivities October has to offer — Thanksgiving, Halloween, falling leaves — and soak it all in with friends and family. Then when November throws some snow on us and shovelling becomes a daily activity, at least you’ll have a few not-so-distant and enjoyable outdoor memories to get you through

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.

Edmonton Home & Condo Living™ is published 12 times per annum and is available free through select distribution points in Edmonton and area. One-year subscriptions are available for $12 in Canada, $48 internationally.

the inevitable cold spell.

Michelle Lindstrom Editor michelle.lindstrom@sourcemediagroup.ca

@EdmHomeandCondo

Wesley Gunderson, Kate Hamilton, Rosalyn Lazaruk, Michelle Lindstrom, Shelley Williamson, Jim Zang

EdmontonHomeandCondoLiving

6 • E D M O N T O N H O ME & C O ND O L I V IN G O ctober 2 01 3

Edmonton Home & Condo Living™ accepts editorial submissions by electronic mail only. Please forward any submissions including all personal information to: enleditor@ sourcemediagroup.ca. Unsolicited submissions will not be returned. Advertising information available only by request.

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Canadian Home Builders’ Association

S O U R C E ME D I A G R O U P : C E L E B R AT IN G I T S 10 T H Y E A R

| Advertising cover Feature |

Perfectly situated VITA places homeowners next to everything

implicity is what homeowners in VITA at Crystallina Nera, a new community in north Edmonton, will soon have the luxury of experiencing. It’s a bit like being in the right place at the right time, and VITA is definitely in the right place. “There are many existing recreational facilities, transit centres and shopping just a short drive away,” says Jill Curtis, marketing coordinator for Walton Development and Management. “There are a lot of pubs and restaurants, too. VITA’s positioned really well.” Also, residents can easily access Anthony Henday Drive for a quick commute to the opposite end of the city, when needed. A simplified life due to accessibility to just about everything — in contrast to the average homeowner’s busy, complicated, multi-tasking life — is a welcome thought to almost everyone. An official show home and community opening date for

The vision for VITA is to create a fresh, modern community feel, while maintaining very attractive price points.

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this exciting residential development is estimated for November, but Curtis suggests homebuyers refer back to VITA’s online newsletter and website liveatvita.com for the most up-to-date launch information. “One of the things that we’re most excited about here in Walton is the diversity of architectural styles in VITA,” Curtis says. “We offer three styles — modern, prairie and craftsman — and we’ve seen some fabulous elevations from our home builders, particularly in the modern styles.” The modern exteriors have clean lines as well as an interesting use of stone, window shapes and roof pitches, Curtis says. The home builders selected to build in the area have really stepped up, providing fresh designs and stylish affordability. “We are proud to be working with three reputable builders — Morrison Homes, Sabal Homes, and Homexx — who we can rest assured will deliver a quality product,” says Laura Mills, Walton’s marketing manager for Alberta. “All three builders are offering the rear-lane product, and Homexx is also building front attached garage homes.” Mills says the vision for VITA is to create a fresh, modern community feel, while maintaining very attractive price points. “These qualities will likely attract first-time home buyers — possibly moving from S O U R C E ME D I A G R O U P : C E L E B R AT IN G I T S 10 T H Y E A R

| Advertising cover Feature |

condo living and looking for a home with a yard, young couples and families, or those looking to downsize.” But this fall welcomes Stage One of this community that is estimated to continue its development over the next few years with more stages. “Being one of the first to purchase in VITA gives you choice,” Curtis says. “You not only have three builders to choose from, but you also have a variety of lots to choose from.” There’s a lot for the developer to be tooting its horn at and expecting future homeowners to be doing the same. “VITA is unique in the sense that it will be one of Edmonton’s first master-planned communities to offer a modern architectural style influenced by urban contemporary design,” Mills says. “This style is intended to add aesthetic appeal to the community, contributing interest to the well thought-out streetscapes.” It’s simple, says Curtis: “The styles combined with the affordability factor — you get a stylish home, something a little different in a cool neighbourhood and it’s a little more affordable.” n

Fast Facts Area: VITA at Crystallina Nera Developer: Walton Development and Management Builders & Prices: Estimated to start in the low $300,000s, Morrison Homes, Sabal Homes and Homexx build two-storey laned homes and Homexx offers single-family front-attached garage homes. Hours: Refer to liveatvita.ca for the grand show home opening dates and times Web: www.liveatvita.ca

“VITA ... offers a modern architectural style influenced by urban contemporary design.”

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show home profile

Napoli V: a feast for the Montorio’s Woodhaven show home is an Italian masterpiece Story and photos by Shelley Williamson

ome shoppers looking to walk into their own Italian culinary hub won’t even have to step on a plane. That’s because the Napoli V, a new show home by Montorio Homes in Woodhaven, is just a short drive from the city core via the Anthony Henday freeway. The stunning 2,589-square-foot gem serves up space for the entire family, with extra room for growing down the road, including a walkout basement and scores of bonus areas. Area sales manager Shelley Weinstein says the home is an instant winner with visitors from the minute they enter the spacious foyer. “They like the openness of the floor plan and that you can see all the way from the front to the back of the home,” she explains. That’s not to say there’s any wasted space. From a main-floor study to a well-decked-out mudroom, complete with hooks and shelves for every member of the household, each nook serves an important purpose. “People love the mudroom and the [walk-

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through] pantry, for the convenience of groceries, and as a place to restrain pets, with a cubby for everyone,” Weinstein says. The main floor is also family friendly with scores of space for the whole gang to do their own thing, be it watching TV in the great room or sitting down for a meal together in the spacious eating nook at the rear of the home. The kitchen dishes up some upgrades, with a set of upscale stainless steel appliances that every chef will adore. “The upgraded appliance package is very functional. It takes into consideration what every gourmet cook would want,” Weinstein says, noting that the package includes two convection ovens, a fiveburner stove, under-mount microwave, an oversized refrigerator with ice and water dispensers and 42-inch high cabinets.

S O U R C E ME D I A G R O U P : C E L E B R AT IN G I T S 10 T H Y E A R

show home profile

senses Upstairs is just as well-equipped as the main floor and far from a cookie cutter plan. Even the bonus room — ideal for games, TV or a sitting area for kids or teens — is a little off the beaten path of design. Steve Curtis, sales and marketing manager for Montorio, explains the upper floor layout includes a central bonus room, instead of one over the garage, as well as three bedrooms. This design layout allows for an even larger master suite that is the epitome of luxury, complete with spacious sleeping quarters and an ensuite bath, both sharing a fireplace that separates the spaces. “The fireplace has the ensuite directly on the other side; you don’t see that a lot in this price point,” Curtis says. A separate water closet, tiled shower, double vanities and a tub adjacent to the fireplace round out the opulent retreat. Meanwhile, junior household members won’t feel lacking for space as both kids’ rooms — each 10-foot by 12-foot — come complete with a walk-in closet, and are separated by a bath to share. “Kids and teens love the convenience of the Jack-and-Jill bathroom and their walk-in closets,” Weinstein says. Another office area with its own door off the bonus space provides a central area with some privacy for kids to plug away at homework, or acts as a home office for the lord or lady of the manor. “One of the advantages to Montorio is we are a truly custom builder. That gives clients a choice to build their plan, our plan or a truly custom plan,” Weinstein explains. Some changes people have opted to make is adding eight feet to the home, which let them turn a two-car garage into three. Close to Costco, with easy access anywhere via Anthony Henday Drive, people are as drawn to the Walton community as they are to the home’s design. Part of that is the fact that the area feels like a country setting, yet it’s so close to the city’s amenities. “The biggest thing is a lot of Walton communities have a natural landscape that they leave untouched,” Curtis says. “And being so close to town there is a lot of value in the lots that back onto the ravine.” The Napoli V can be built in Woodhaven from $331,700, plus lot and GST. Lots remaining range from $147,900 for a parcel touching on green space to $253,900 for a larger, ravine-backing home site, the latter of which can accommodate a three-car garage. n S O U R C E ME D I A G R O U P : C E L E B R AT IN G I T S 10 T H Y E A R

Fast Facts Builder: Montorio Homes Model: Napoli V Area: Woodhaven Style: Two-storey Size: 2,589 square-feet Price: Starting at $331,700, plus lot and GST Address: 12420 - 171 Ave. N.W. Hours: Monday to Thursday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., weekends and holidays, noon to 5 p.m. Address: 5406 Edworthy Way Web: www.montorio.ca O ctober 2 01 3 E D M O N T O N H O ME & C O ND O L I V IN G • 11

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condo profile

Old-school swagger The University Brownstones offer Edmonton’s home seekers something timelessly hip Story and photos by Kate Hamilton

ake a saunter through Edmonton’s Queen Alexandra neighbourhood and you’ll see a transformation is taking place. From single-family homes to apartment-style condominiums, the streetscape is changing as old gives way to new. Several time-worn, rickety homes once stood where the University Brownstones stand now. They’re not true brownstones, architecturally speaking, but this condominium complex evokes the feel of East Coast terrace housing through extensive use of stone on the exterior and an old-school vibe. “It’s not contemporary or art deco because [the developer] wanted it to fit into the neighbourhood,” says Troy Stenson, a real estate consultant with Re/Max River City who markets and sells the University Brownstones on behalf of developer Tesco. Located on 71 Avenue,

... this condominium complex evokes the feel of East Coast terrace housing through extensive use of stone on the exterior and an old-school vibe.

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just east of 109 Street, the University Brownstones are tucked away in a mature neighbourhood where towering trees line the narrow streets. They’re far enough away from major roads that living is peaceful, but close enough for convenience. “The infill market is crazy in this neighbourhood,” Stenson says. “It’s an A-plus location.” Construction of Phase I was completed late in 2011 and all of the 43 units have now been sold. Phase II pre-sales started around Christmas 2012 and about half of the 72 units are still on the market, with prices for one-bedroom-plus-den and two-bedroom units starting in the $280,000s. (Phase II also included some onebedroom units but they already sold out.) “We’ll be moving people in next summer,” Stenson says. Each apartment is approximately 1,000 square-feet, plus a balcony (or patio for ground-floor units) of about 100 square-feet. A heated underground parking stall is also included with every sale. “The floor plans are all very similar: they’re based

S O U R C E ME D I A G R O U P : C E L E B R AT IN G I T S 10 T H Y E A R

condo profile

The project presents a luxurious ambiance, but all efforts have been made to keep living costs as low as possible. on the same plate, but there are 15 to choose from,” Stenson says. Units boast nine-foot ceilings, open living, dining and kitchen areas, and also have good-sized bedrooms. Currently, all units come with upgraded finishes valued at $15,000 for no additional cost to buyers. The finish package includes granite countertops throughout, hand-scraped hardwood and marble travertine floors, upgraded stainless steel appliances, frontloading washing machine and dryer, and Hunter Douglas window coverings. “We put together six different colour packages so there’s always something that appeals to everybody,” Stenson says. The project presents a luxurious ambiance, but all efforts have been made to keep living costs as low as possible. “One of the biggest things with this builder is they don’t do amenities,” Stenson says. There is no pool or gym requiring costly cleaning and maintenance, and an outdoor concept with exterior access to all units eliminates indoor common areas, meaning condo fees are kept to a minimum. Stenson says the “anti-amenities approach” also allows for more money to be spent on soundproofing and quality interiors. Each unit is mechanically self-contained. There is no shared ductwork, heating systems or hot water, allowing each unit to function more like a house than an S O U R C E ME D I A G R O U P : C E L E B R AT IN G I T S 10 T H Y E A R

apartment, giving individual owners more control over utility costs and the flexibility to install extras such as air conditioners and water softeners. There is a management company to take care of exterior maintenance, including yard work — all paid for through condo fees. The University of Alberta, the University Hospital, and bustling Whyte Avenue are all within walking distance of the complex. For those needing to commute further, the McKernan Belgravia LRT station is just a couple of kilometres away. The location, price and trendy styling of the project have attracted a certain demographic. “Young professionals are the bulk of the buyers, and the rest are retirees who want to downsize but don’t want to move out of the area,” Stenson says. “We see a lot of people who work at the university and the hospital, and also people who work downtown but don’t want to live downtown.” n

Fast Facts Developer: Tesco Move-in ready dates: Phase II possessions in summer 2014 Size: Approximately 1,000 sq. ft. Price: One-bedroom-plus-den and two-bedroom units from the $280,000s Show suite: 10808 - 71 Avenue N.W. Hours: Monday to Thursday 4 to 7 p.m., weekends 1 to 5 p.m., or call Troy Stenson at Re/Max River City 780-439-7000 Web: www.edmontoncondo.com

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feature

Industry Innovators Prefabricated home sales are in demand and one builder is perfecting the art Story and photos by Michelle Lindstrom

Photo courtesy Landmark Group

ou’ll hear a lot about Landmark Group in the news and the stories are not always about the houses this home builder constructs. Landmark provides support and donations to local organizations like the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, the University Hospital Foundation, Victoria School Foundation and more. But it’s the idea that a home can be built within a controlled environment — Landmark’s Edmonton facility that consumes 100,000 square-feet of land in the southeast Pylypow Industrial area — that is stirring up a bit of newsworthy interest. Reza Nasseri, Landmark’s founder and CEO, created the company back in the late 1970s that evolved with a few name changes to what it is today: a North American home builder that uses environmental, leading edge and sustainable practices to produce housing solutions for its customers. Curt Beyer, Landmark’s vice-president of manufacturing, was a LandReza Nasseri mark subtrade for about 15 years before joining the company as a full-time employee in the Edmonton location. “I’ve seen it from the ground up,” he says. Beyer and Nasseri came up with the idea together of prefabricating homes and put it into practice in Edmonton roughly nine years ago on a small scale. “When I first came into the picture, we were doing four homes a month, then we went to 20 a month. Then 40, 60, and in July we had 85,” Beyer says. “It’s a progression.” Last year, it was a complete production switch over, meaning no Landmark homes in Edmonton and its nearby surrounding areas were built in the traditional sense of stick frame construction. All homes had their

Landmark’s methods actually allow them to keep the same staff (54 employees on the factory floor) to produce more product with consistency and better quality.

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S O U R C E ME D I A G R O U P : C E L E B R AT IN G I T S 10 T H Y E A R

feature Five days a week, the factory runs and pumps out 3.5 houses per day. It then takes just over a day to fully erect the prefabricated components to hand over a locked home to the finishing team...

Photo courtesy Landmark Group

walls (complete with doors and windows), floors and most roofs constructed in the factory that Landmark’s staff proudly run tours through on a regular basis transparently revealing this is no smoke and mirrors Curt Beyer show. One point Beyer hopes the tour makes clear to those passing through the stacks of fire-treated lumber, engineered floor joists and high-tech computer-aided machines, is that Landmark is not a modular home builder, restricted by size for what can be carried on a trailer down the road. “We’re a component builder,” he says, adding that they build all the components they need in the factory and erect them as soon as they are delivered to the site. But to travel to Europe about a decade ago, observe some innovative construction procedures and check into what computer technology is being used abroad seems to be an expensive and time consuming research project. Beyer says they had no option really. The industry, including Landmark, needed to move forward and improve its quality and become more sustainable. “Let me put it to you this way,” Beyer says, “if Ford came to you and dropped all 34,000 pieces on your driveway and said, ‘Call a mechanic to put it all S O U R C E ME D I A G R O U P : C E L E B R AT IN G I T S 10 T H Y E A R

together.’ How would you feel? What we do in Alberta is drop 30,000 pieces of whatever in the mud, because it’s usually muddy while we’re building, and we call a professional — that seem to be really hard to find right now in our economy — and say, ‘Here put this together.’ ” Increasing the computerization of a process sets a tone that manpower may be reduced, but Beyer notes that Landmark’s methods actually allow them to keep the same staff (54 employees on the factory floor) to produce more product with consistency and better quality. Employees get to work in a controlled environment without weather playing a factor on their safety or number of hours they can put in each day. Five days a week, the factory runs and pumps out 3.5 houses per day. It then takes just over a day to fully erect the prefabricated components to hand over a locked home to the finishing team, which includes drywallers, plumbers, electricians, cabinet installers, painters and so on. It’s a continual exercise of improvement to reduce time and cost but also increase the features that can be included in the prefabricated stage of a Landmark home, such as electrical, plumbing and

Employees get to work in a controlled environment without weather playing a factor on their safety or number of hours they can put in each day.

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feature

Expect to see a similar factory as Edmonton’s in Calgary by the end of 2014.

Homebuyers have shown their support for Landmark’s prefabricated methods via sales numbers. drywall — all goals Beyer has for the company in the not-so-distant future. Since last October, Landmark has reduced its waste per newly constructed home by 33 per cent with a more deliberate and environmentally aware approach, something that started as just a goal for Beyer and his team of managers. Beyer says homebuyers have shown their support for Landmark’s prefabricated methods via sales numbers; suppliers have voiced approval to have only one material drop-off destination a day instead of three; and finishing trades are quite happy to work in an enclosed, warm, clean space. But it takes time for a whole industry to buy in. “We’re changing 100 years of mindset and you don’t do that with brilliance, you do that with tenacity,” Beyer says. “You just need to keep doing it with persistence.” Expect to see a similar factory as Edmonton’s in Calgary by the end of 2014. After that, Landmark is considering taking its ideas down south to the States. “This is definitely a trend and there’s no more turning it back,” Beyer says. “You’ll see in the next five to 10 years, so many more of these plants, not just ours, but other people doing this very same thing. It’s just a better way to build.” n 18 • E D M O N T O N H O ME & C O ND O L I V IN G O ctober 2 01 3

Landmark has reduced its waste per newly constructed home by 33 per cent with a more deliberate and environmentally aware approach.

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DESign & DÉcor

Small-scale design

Children’s rooms deserve some design love and attention, too Story and photos by Rosalyn Lazaruk

ecently, I worked on three children’s bedrooms: a girl, a boy and a baby. Kids’ rooms are always fun to plan, but there is always the challenge of creating a space that they continue to love over the next few years as they grow. As with most things in design, this means thinking about the furniture choices you make. If you are investing in quality bedroom furniture, ensure it is something that will not date itself and will lend itself to other décor palettes. While if you plan on shopping at big box stores, you will hit a lower price point making it a more manageable option to reinvent the space with new pieces later on down the road.

• Nursing chair that can be later used in another space in the home • Crib that converts into a regular bed

High

Wild West

Low

Red Riding Hood

Investing in quality pieces. Choose: • A furniture style and color that is timeless • Regular sized furniture pieces rather than a youth line • Simple design that can have other collections and pieces added to it as your children’s needs change

Planning on a budget. Choose: • Instead of investing in a bed frame, buy a mattress and box spring, then create a headboard out of repurposed materials • If you assemble it, it will save you money • DIY projects are a must, check out sites like Pinterest for great ideas

Baby

Multiplying furniture’s purpose. Choose: • A dresser that doubles as a change table

The three bedrooms that I was working on happened to be for Marcson Homes in their Ambleside and Creekwood Chappelle show homes. I was able to create the profile of the “owner” for the spaces and design the homes around that, which gave me the freedom of doing some really fun things in the kids’ spaces. The boy’s and the girl’s rooms were both inspired by their bedding and the nursery was an extension of her big sister’s space.

After finding this fun western bedding, it was easy to plan the rest from there. We built a bed out of palettes creating a platform and a headboard. We also added a fun play tent to the space resembling a teepee. Check out Pinterest for great tutorials on how to create no-sew play tents.

With clean white furniture, the bold mix of colours in this Red Riding Hood bedding are the real focus of the space. We played up the fun mix of turquoise, red and pinks by adding DIY flag streamers across the ceiling and a few more modern touches with the lamp and clock.

Nursery

Flowing off of the gorgeous colour palette of her big sister’s room, this baby girl’s room has a clean modern esthetic with a fun colourful ceiling treatment. Tissue paper flowers fill the ceiling above the crib, giving the space colour and texture. n

Designer Rosalyn Lazaruk has been working in design and décor for seven years, and established her own business, Wicket Blue Interiors, in 2004. She has a broad repertoire in designing personal spaces within the home, as well as in implementing intriguing space and design concepts within the commercial setting. Rosalyn is devoted to developing and implementing unique design ideas that reflect the vision and individuality of her clients. To see more of Rosalyn’s design ideas visit www.wicketblue.com. S O U R C E ME D I A G R O U P : C E L E B R AT IN G I T S 10 T H Y E A R

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NEWS

Excellence Awards Provincial home builder winners announced

inners of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association – Alberta’s (CHBA – Alberta) 2013 Awards of Excellence in Housing were announced September 13 at the BUILD 2013 conference in Jasper. For the first time in the history of the event, CHBA – Alberta presented Builder of the Year Awards in three categories: large volume, small volume and multi-family. In the Builder of the Year category, Homes by Avi was named the winner of the Ralph Scurfield Builder of the Year Award in the large volume division, while White Eagle Homes received the same award in the small volume category. The winner of the award in the multi-family category was Qualico Group of Companies for projects by Pacesetter Homes and Streetside Developments. Awards were also presented in 22 other categories to Alberta’s top builders, renovators and developers. Edmonton builders won 14 of the awards, Calgary won six, and one builder from both Red Deer and Lethbridge took home an award. Homes by Avi won four awards, White Eagle Homes earned

three, while both Landmark and Qualico received two awards. Other winners were Brookfield Residential, Ackard Contractors, Platinum Homes & Developments, Malbec Homes, Jayman MasterBUILT, Rohit Communities, Prominent Homes, Sterling Homes, Rococo Homes, Galko Homes Master Builder, Marcson Homes and Crystal Creek Homes. “We were delighted to receive a record 412 entries this year from all across Alberta,” said Jim Rivait, Chief Executive Officer of CHBA – Alberta. “The pride our members take in their work showed in the quality of the submissions. Our cost-review committee and team of 137 judges have done an excellent job of choosing the best of the best. Albertans are invited to visit show homes to see the outstanding craftsmanship, inspiring designs and beautiful materials.” Following is a complete list of winners. n

Builder of the Year

Single Family $310,000 – $350,000

sponsored by Lennox Industries

Landmark Homes — Unit 3109. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Calgary Multi-family Townhome or Duplex Over $400,000 sponsored by Bridgewater Bank

Prominent Homes — Altadore. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Calgary

Renovation Under $200,000 sponsored by Alberta Hardwood Flooring

Ackard Contractors — Parkview West Residence. . . . . . . . . . Edmonton Renovation $200,000 – $500,000 sponsored by JELD-WEN Windows & Doors

Platinum Homes & Developments — Goranson Residence. .Red Deer Single Family $310,000 – $350,000 Winner: Homes by Avi — Rosedale

Renovation Over $500,000 sponsored by Carrier Enterprise Canada

Malbec Homes — Barn House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Calgary

GREEN HOME sponsored by Built Green Canada

Landmark Group of Builders — Chopin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Edmonton

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT sponsored by Alberta Community Builders

Brookfield Residential — Auburn Bay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Calgary

MERIT AWARDS sponsored by All Weather Windows and Doors

Broadview Homes — Cascade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Calgary Sorento Custom Homes — Marcelo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Red Deer Daytona Homes Master Builder — Austyn II. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Edmonton Daytona Homes Master Builder — Marquis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lethbridge Brost Developments — Sovdi Residence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Medicine Hat S O U R C E ME D I A G R O U P : C E L E B R AT IN G I T S 10 T H Y E A R

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market view by Wesley Gunderson

Edmonton: a labour market leader One of the most important economic indicators to homebuyers and homeowners alike is the labour market. A strong labour market usually leads to increasing housing prices and homebuyers are better to act rather than wait. And increasing home prices give existing homeowners equity and an opportunity to move up. The latest information out of Statistics Canada shows Edmonton’s labour market is outperforming Alberta and Canada in three key labour market statistics. 1. Job creation Edmonton created 8,000 jobs in July alone. And nearly 23,000 jobs between July 2012 and July 2013. Nearly all of this job growth is in full-time positions as well. This represents 3.2 per cent employment growth, compared to 3.0 and 1.3 per cent employment growth in Alberta and Canada, respectively, over the same period. 2. Labour force Edmonton’s labour force — those of working age looking to work — has grown by 26,600 over the last year. The draw of employment prospects and a better life has exceeded the jobs we have created as Edmonton’s labour force grew by 3.7 per cent between July 2012 and 2013. This labour force growth exceeded Alberta’s 3.0 per cent and Canada’s 1.2 per cent growth over the same period. 3. Working-age population expansion Working-age is defined as those 15 years or older. According to Statistics Canada, Edmonton’s working-age population is 1,026,900 people — up 38,500, or 3.9 per cent between July 2012 and 2013. Again, Edmonton bests Alberta’s 3.5 per cent and Canada’s 1.3 per cent working-age growth.

As a result of a labour force and a working-age population growing faster than job creation, Edmonton’s unemployment rate is actually creeping upward from 4.4 per cent in July 2012 to 4.8 per cent in July 2013. To those creating jobs, this is welcome news as it gives them a better chance at finding a good hire — something that became increasingly difficult over the past few years with near full employment (economically speaking). Back to homebuyers and homeowners, we are already seeing the upward pressure on prices that is typical of strong labour markets. In Edmonton, the average sale price of all residential on MLS is up 3.8 per cent between August 2012 and August 2013, and an astonishing 5.4 per cent in single-family homes. Since the housing market usually lags the labour market and the labour market continues to improve, we anticipate this trend to continue. n

Wesley Gunderson is Vice President of Finance for Growth Marketing an Edmonton based real estate consultancy firm providing integrated marketing services to its valued clients. Mr. Gunderson has been with the firm since 1997 and actively involved in economic and market research, marketing and product strategy as well as advertising and sales promotion. S O U R C E ME D I A G R O U P : C E L E B R AT IN G I T S 10 T H Y E A R

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AROUND TOWN By Michelle Lindstrom

Provincial pride The first Tour of Alberta flew through Edmonton as quickly as 118 professional riders zipped through six days worth of racing and Albertan communities. Luckily, though, our city was able to host a family fun ride on Labour Day in Churchill Square, the day before the time trials (pre-race seating competition) took place in downtown Edmonton. Some members of the 12 professional teams in the Tour of Alberta took their first rides (for research’s sake, not competition) along city streets making the hundreds of average Edmontonians’ mountain and road bikes appear almost laughable and riding pace feel snaillike. Hobby cyclists were not discouraged, but rather in awe of the flashy and fast spandex that whooshed past the family ride’s crowds. The event supported CASA — Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health. The time trial’s route, just over seven kilometres, punished many riders with the river valley’s steep hills down Grierson

Hill and then back up again past the legislative grounds to city hall — elevation changes easy to disregard when in a car. Peter Sagan, a 23-year-old Slovak rider, got first place in the time trials completing the circuit in eight minutes 28.1 seconds. Sherwood Park hosted the start of tour’s first stage (one of six, each more than 150 kilometres long). Riders appeared calm, chit chatting to each other even as the exciting countdown began for the starter pistol to go off and send the pack out north towards Fort Saskatchewan, then east and back south past Ardrossan, ending in Camrose, all on Wednesday, September 4: Day One of the inaugural Tour of Alberta. We’ll have to wait and see if budgets and the riders’ response to this year’s event allow our city to play a similar role next year in the annual race. Don’t pack your helmets, bikes and spandex away too deep in storage, you will need them next September.

Soggy reports

Bigger fish

Large purchase

This summer’s flooding damage has not been completely washed away just yet. The provincial government expects it will be dealing with flood-related costs for roughly the next five years. Polled members of the Canadian Home Builder’s Association (CHBA) – Alberta averaged the increase of housing starts by three per cent from 2012. For the Greater Edmonton region, housing starts were up by 31 per cent compared to the first seven months of last year. Yet, after consecutive gains for eight months in the Edmonton Census Metropolitan Area (CMA), total housing starts actually dropped 25 per cent year-overyear in July. MLS average home prices for the Edmonton CMA year-to-date increased by about three per cent to $350,461.

Stewart Weir, a geomatics, engineering and environmental consulting firm with headquarters in Sherwood Park, celebrated its 100year anniversary in 2012. This year, it has possibly bigger news: Opus International Consultants purchased Stewart Weir early this September. Opus is an international multidisciplinary engineering, architecture and infrastructure consultancy that established itself in Canada in 2002. Dr. David Prentice, Opus’ managing director and chief executive told the press that, “Stewart Weir’s market status for pipeline, infrastructure and energy related projects make them a market leader in Alberta — Canada’s highest growth market.” The purpose of the purchase is to help Opus diversify into Oil & Gas and recently Stewart Weir’s offerings have included industrial engineering, geographical information systems and environmental services. Prentice says, “The merger gives us a broader range of complementary services, and added strength to our diverse capabilities.” Brian Pearse, Stewart Weir’s CEO, will stay on with the company as president.

Justin Bobier, Crystal Creek Homes’ owner, proudly made his purchase of Greenboro Homes Edmonton a public affair at the end of August. Crystal Creek is a Calgary-based custom estate home building company that Bobier and his wife started up in 2004. The company builds more than 70 homes per year in seven estate communities and has boosted its staff to 50 employees. Expanding north is exciting to Bobier considering he is a native Edmontonian and built his first home in our city in 1994. “I’m thrilled to bring our team in and take on Greenboro Homes Edmonton,” he says, adding that integrity, quality craftsmanship and exceptional customer service are all key elements to Crystal Creek that will continue with the acquisition of Greenboro. n

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CITY OF EDMONTON MAP

INNER CITY Legend Shopping Centre

Points of Interest

Hospitals

CONDO PROPERTIES 1. Aurora 2. Serenity 3. Axio Parkland 4. Mosaic Meadows Parkland 5. Windermere Village 6. Macewan Gardens 7. Sandstone at Walkers Lake Station 8. Aspen Meadows 9. Meridian Plaza 10. The Corners 11. Griesbach Wood II 12. Griesbach Wood III 13. Carlton Villas on the Lake 14. Trails of Millcreek 15. The University Brownstones 16. Century Park 17. Hollick Kenyon Pointe 18. Evergreen Community 19. Maple/Oak Ridge Community 20. The Esates of Upper Windermere 21. The Ion 22. Grand Scala 23. Heritage Landing 24. 12th Street Station 25. Mosaic Town Square 26. Mosaic Summerside 27. Axio in Parkland 28. Stone Pointe 29. Aspen Meadows 30. Walker Lake Landing 31. Rutherford Landing 32. Fox One 33. Fuzion

Colleges /Universities

NEW HOME LISTINGS 1. Walker Lake Estates 2. Lewis Estates 3. Secord 4. Parkland 5 The Hamptons 6 Copperwood 7 South Hamptons 8. The Properties of Donsdale 9. Cameron Heights 10. Terwillegar Towne 11. South Terwillegar 12. Palisades 13. Upper Windermere 14. Windermere Ridge 15. Ambleside in Windermere 16 Rutherford 17. Callaghan 18. Walker Lakes Station 19. Lake Summerside 20. Ellerslie Heights 21. Tamarack 22. Griesbach 23. Fields of Summerside 24. Allard in Heritage Valley 25. Tuscany Hills 26. McConachie Landing 27. McConachie 28. Laurel 29. Ravines of Richford 30. Trumpeter at Big Lake 31. Axio Summerside 32. Touchmark 33. Hawks Ridge at Big Lake 34. Woodhaven – Edgemont

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ADVERTISERS INDEX ATCO Gas

Page 12

www.atcogas.com Brookfield Homes

Page 31

Mosaic Townhomes www.buildwithbrookfield.com Carlisle Group

Page 24

Elements II / Creekwood Landing www.elementscondos.ca www.creekwoodlanding.ca Edmonton Home & Interior Design Show

Page 12

www.ehids.com Hunter Douglas

Page 13

www.hunterdouglas.ca Lincolnberg Master Builder

Page 2-3

www.lincolnberg.com Sabal

Page 4

www.sabalhomes.com Tamani Communities

Page 32

Southfork Leduc www.symphonyliving.ca Walton Development

Page 7

McConachie www.mcconachie.ca Walton Development

Page 22

Woodhaven www.woodhavenedgemont.com Walton Development

FC, pages 8-9

VITA www.liveatvita.ca

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EDMONTON AND AREA MAP NEW HOMES 1. Northern Lights Estates 2. Erin Ridge 3. North Ridge 4. Tuscany Hills 5. The Crossing at River’s Edge 6. The Manors of Oakmont 7. Regency Heights Estates 8. Kingswood 9. Greystone Manor 10. Pinnacle Ridge Estates 11. Riverstone Pointe 12. The Banks of Sturgeon Valley

CONDOS 1. Lakeview Estates 2. Sierras of Inglewood 3. Grande- Mission Hill 4. Tenor

NEW HOMES 1. Stony Village 2. Brookview 3. Graybriar 4. The Fairways 5. Willow Park 6. Lake Westerra 7. Stellar Homes

CONDOS 1. Laredo On The Park 2. Station 33 3. Stony Village 4. Graywood Terrace 5. Cedar Brae 6. Urbia Place

NEW HOMES 1. Jesperdale 2. Stoneshire 3. Harvest Ridge 4. Deer Park Estates 5. Hilldowns 6. Spruce Village 7. Spruce Ridge 8. Hawthorne at Heatherglen 9. Springate at Spruce Ridge 10. Legacy Park 11. Lakewood

CONDOS 1. Parkland Village 2. Fairway Eight 3. Harvest Ridge 4. Nova Ridge Villas 5. Spruce Ridge Manor 6. The Pointe 7. Kingstreet on Park

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NEW HOMES 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Village Champlain La Rose Grandin Park Close Notre Dame Estates The Lakes

NEW HOMES 1. Valley Pointe Estates 2. Forest Ridge in West Park 3. Westwood Trails 4. West Woodlands 5. Southfort 6. Southpointe 7. Sienna

CONDOS 1. Village Champlain 2. Maple Brooks Villas 3. La Rose

CONDOS 1. Riverview Estates 2. Fort Gardens 3. Walnut Grove

NEW HOMES 1. Strathcona Village 2. Aspen Trail 3. Summerwood 4. Lakeland Ridge 5. Clarkdale Park 6. Foxboro 7. Willow Ridge/The Ridge 8. Sherwood Hill Estates 9. Balmoral Heights 10. Fountain Creek Estates 11. Sherwood Golf & Country Club Estates

CONDOS 1. Pallisades on the Ravine 2. Strathcona Village 3. Crystal Estates 4. Axxess 5. Summerwood Greens 6. Maple Ridge & Oak Ridge

NEW HOMES 1. Deer Valley 2. West Haven 3. Bridgeport 4. Aspen Creek 5. Suntree 6. Windrose 7. Southfork 8. Tribute 9. Meadowiew Park

CONDOS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Brooklands at Bridgeport Ravine Villas Urbia Manor Urbia Green The Springs at Bridgeport

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NEW HOMES 1. Coloniale Estates 2. Montalet 3. Citadel Ridge 4. Eaglemont Heights 5. Montrose Estates 6. Westbrook 7. Four Seasons Estates 8. Goudreau Terrace 9. Triomphe Estates 10. Beaumont Lakes 11. Place Chaleureuse 12. Beau Val

CONDOS 1. Coventry Homes 2. The Village at Beaumont 3. Beausjour 4. Montrose View 5. Giselle Valley Manor

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Feature

Tales From The Condo Zone A condo love story

Story by Jim Zang | Illustration by Lama Azhari

must admit, I’ve got a soft spot for condominiums. And it’s not just because I work for a company that publishes magazines featuring new condominiums. Nope, lots of good things have happened to me in condominiums. Some that I can actually talk about. For instance, I met my wife in a condominium. My brother and I lived in a place owned by my mom and dad while we went to university. Two teenagers with their own place and no rent bills. Needless to say, a good time was had by all. Frequently. Both my brother and I ended up getting our degrees, however, so it wasn’t like we didn’t do our homework or anything. My wife, at that time just plain old Karla, her cousin, and her sister (and sometimes her other sister), lived in the suite upstairs from ours. We lived in a basement suite and they were on the ground level, so we could see them coming and going from the building. And watch them we did. Oh we thought we were being subtle, as boys do. But, thinking back, I’m sure they were well aware they had an audience, as girls are. Hello in the parking lot and in the hallway soon turned into an invite to a party at their place, turned into a five-year upstairs-downstairs relationship — complete with many ‘secret’ midnight rendezvous in the stairwell — turned into a marriage proposal, two kids, three houses and 25-plus years of wedded bliss. Our 26th anniversary was last month. We’re in a house now, have been since we got married and had a family. But the kids are in their 20s, finishing up their post-secondary schooling and getting ready to move on. Probably into condos of their own. In the meantime, my soul mate and I will likely continue living in our small bungalow in the suburbs until we’re ready to retire and downsize. At which time we’ll complete the circle and look for a condo again. I’m looking forward to it already. n

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