Loving Airdrie Living - September 2016 by Source Media Group

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contents

MARKE T OVERVIE W

5 Silver lining Slower economy means lower home prices COVER FE ATURE

6 Bungalow love ReidBuilt brings their unique take on the bungalow to Bayside DE VELOPER FE ATURE S

10 Downtown living Midtown wows with its prime location in the Heart of Airdrie

20 Small town’s bright future Vista Crossing marks new chapter in Crossfield’s growth

BUILDER FE ATURE

12 Best of Cooper’s Crossing McKee Homes hits the right notes in Cooper’s Crossing FE ATURE S

14 Airdrie: A city in motion

With QEII dividing the city, commuting is a way of life in Airdrie

17 Top 20 in Airdrie There are more than 20 things to do in Airdrie, but here are our favourites

DEPARTMENT

23 City of Airdrie map PUBLISHER •

Source Media Group

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER • EDITOR •

Jim Zang

Pepper Rodriguez

ART DIRECTOR •

Jean Faye Rodriguez

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS •

Dave Macaulay, Vivian Zhang

PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR • CONTRIBUTORS •

Colleen Leier

Aaliya Essa, Richard White

Heather Dougall, Andreal Glowatsky, James Pearce

ADVERTISING SALES •

Loving Airdrie Living® is published bi-annually and is available free through select distribution points in Calgary and Airdrie. Material cannot be reprinted in whole or in part without the written permission from the publishers. Copyright 2016 Source Media Group Corp. All rights reserved. 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. Contact: Source Media Group, 6109 – 6th Street S.E., Calgary, AB T2H 1L9. E-mail info@sourcemediagroup.ca; Tel 403.532.3101; Fax 403.532.3109; Toll free 1.888.932.3101; Printed in Canada. Distributed by Gallant Distribution Services, Media Classified, Source Media Group. PUBLICATIONS AGREEMENT NO. 41072011. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Source Media Group, 6109 – 6th Street S.E., Calgary, AB T2H 1L9.

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market overview

Silver linings

Slower economy means lower home prices n By

here’s just no escaping it anymore. Despite certain politicians’ head-in-the-sand (and that’s putting it politely) policies when it comes to the economy, and our own publication’s admitted tendency to emphasize the positive, we’re in a slump. And not a one or two game Johnny Gaudreau style slump, but a full on Brandon Bollig/Lance Bouma kind of funk. Unfortunately, the numbers don’t lie, and they’re not great. Total new home starts of all types of homes combined in year-to-date for 2016 was just 62 per cent of 2015’s amount (see Chart A). Completions and absorptions, however, were not too far off on a year-todate basis, meaning that a lot of inventory was actually started last year with possessions in 2016. July this year saw something of an anomaly in the new home market as total new home starts were above — yes, above — 2015’s total! Only by three homes, but up is up (see Chart B). Single-family starts this July actually were close to double what they were last year! Semi-detached starts were also up quite a bit, while there were no row or apartment starts in July this year. Looking back over 2016 so far, however, most other months show declining figures from 2015 totals (see Chart C). June was especially big last year, thanks to 201 new apartment units breaking ground, while June 2016 had 57 townhome starts but no apartments. Individual projects can have a big effect on the overall numbers, so it’s important to look at single-family separately

Jim Zang

and not to look at just one month. In this category, July of this year was way up, but every single other month so far this year has been down. With the fall in number of starts — which reflect market demand — has come a corresponding decline in pricing, from an average absorbed single–detached unit price of $658,077 last year compared to $507,077 in July 2016. n CHART A

New Home Construction

July 2016

July 2015

YTD 2016

YTD 2015

Starts

495

801

Completions

120

851

915

Absorptions

109

636

614 CHART B

Starts by type

July 2016

July 2015

YTD 2016

YTD 2015

Single

214

347

Semi-detached

Row

127

138

Apartment

284

Total

495

801 CHART C

New Home starts by month 2016

2015

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Single

Semi-detached 12

Semi-detached 4

Row

Apartment

83 201

ALL

95 163 277 75

Average absorbed single-detached unit price July 2016: $507,621

July 2015: $658,077 Source: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

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cover feature B A Y S I D E E S TAT E S

Bungalow love

ReidBuilt brings their unique take on the bungalow in Bayside

“You don’t see a lot of bungalows at this price range with two bedrooms plus a den on the main floor, and our location in Bayside Estates with some lots backing onto the winding canals is just perfect for this kind of home.”

hat could be more relaxing than living in a well-built bungalow by a gently flowing stream under southern Alberta’s big prairie sky? ReidBuilt Homes has a deep understanding and appreciation for the kind of easy living lifestyle that people are looking for as they approach retirement age, and they’ve come through with a home model that suits this need to perfection. What’s even more remarkable for ReidBuilt’s new Lakeside 2 bungalow in Bayside Estates in Airdrie is that even in its base form, it is uniquely designed to cater to the needs of not just retirees and empty-nesters, but young and growing families as well. “You don’t see a lot of bungalows at this price range with two bedrooms plus a den on the main floor, and our location in Bayside Estates with some lots backing onto the winding canals is just perfect for this kind of home,” says Lynn Abrams, co-area manager for ReidBuilt in Bayside Estates and Canals Landing in Airdrie. The show home on 1335 Bayside Drive gives the best indication of this kind of lifestyle they offer. The 1,737-square-foot Lakeside 2 show home sits on a walk-out lot backing onto the canals. It has a further 910 square-feet

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of developed basement that expertly lays out the enormous potential of the home. “That’s only a portion of the 1,600 squarefeet of developable space in the basement, and it already has two more bedrooms a full bath and huge entertainment space including a wet bar. Buyers can certainly add a lot more living space if they need to,” Abrams says. The show home is done in a Craftsman style and leans towards the traditional style favoured by the downsizer market, but it still has touches of urban modernity that gives it a fresh, clean look. It is a double front attached garage home, and the beautiful stone arch veranda adds a lot of character and curb appeal to its exterior. The foyer is large and welcoming, and leads top a den off to one side. “Inside, the home is very spacious, and the porcelain tile hardwood-look flooring throughout the home is eye-catching and breathtaking,” Abrams says. The kitchen is just magnificent with a

The brick-looking backsplash in the kitchen matches the fireplace design in the living room for continuity, and goes well with the stainless steel appliances.

massive central island that has a commanding location in the heart of the home. The home is designed to entertain and the island has an extended ledge on one side and a raised bar on another end so you can seat up to seven people. Yet the island remains truly functional as well, with a dual sink, dishwasher and microwave set in its design along with plenty of cabinets and drawers. The stylish white quartz countertops give it a definite aesthetic punch. The brick-look backsplash in the kitchen matches the fireplace design in the living room for continuity, and goes well with the stainless steel appliances to lend an endearing contemporary look to the home. The large master bedroom has oversized windows overlooking the canal, and its attached ensuite is utterly amazing with a custom shower, huge soaker tub, double vanities, private water closet, and heated tile floors for that extra degree of comfort. Getting out of your master suite amidst all this luxury will surely be harder now. The home starts an unbelievably afford-

able price of $606,310 and that’s on a walk-out lot backing onto the canal, says Abrams. The show home itself would be in the $775,000 range. It’s location in the stately new community of Baysides Estates makes it even more appealing. “We’re located just off 8th Street, allowing for quick access to QE II. We’re also just minutes from schools, shops, restaurants, grocery stores and the multi-milliondollar Genesis Place recreation centre,” she adds. “Bayside Estates itself has miles of canals running through the community, with pathways along side, allowing for tons of recreational opportunities for the active-minded buyers,” Abrams adds. ReidBuilt offers a wide range of single-family home options in the community, ranging from bungalows to two-storey frontattached garage homes that range from 1,731 to 2,073 square-feet and priced from the $460,000s. n

For more information call 403.945.0997 or visit www.reidbuilthomes.com NEW HOME LIVING SPECIAL SECTION

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developer feature MIDTOWN IN AIRDRIE

Downtown living

Midtown wows with its prime location in the Heart of Airdrie n By

Pepper Rodriguez

he appeal of Midtown has always been about its location in the Heart of Airdrie, and the easyliving convenience it offers residents with all the established amenities well within walking distance. The affordability of it all is also a key factor in its success. Midtown has welcomed its first few residents — not even a year after sales began — and more people are starting to realize the kind of lifestyle this new innercity community in Airdrie has to offer. Downsizers, empty-nesters, singles, young couples and families have all bought into the community, amazed by the easy convenience, walkable nature and affordability it offers. “We just welcomed our first residents to Midtown this summer,” says Creations by Shane Homes’ area manager, Satwinder Notay. “They’re a young couple who bought one of our street town homes and they just fell in love with everything that Midtown has to offer.” And what Midtown offers is a lot. It is the newest community in Airdrie, a joint development between Wenzel Developments — the new land development arm of Shane Homes — and Apex Land Developments, one of Calgary’s most established community developers. Midtown is just off Airdrie’s downtown along 8th Street S.W. and is bordered by Iron Horse Park to the north and the established community of Luxstone to the south. And like Calgary’s upscale inner-city communities, Midtown will feature this same sophisticated urban style that today’s modern families, single professionals and active downsizing couples love. Midtown offers street towns, semi-detached homes (both laned and front-attached garage models) from Excel Homes, Creations by Shane Home and Trico Homes. Two-storey front attached garage homes are from Shane Homes. Midtown will be a “boutique-style” community, at only 90 acres in size and a build-out of approximately 600 homes. Creations by Shane Homes currently offers duplexes and street towns with show homes already open for viewing. Shane Homes has also opened their two new two-storey move-up show homes in the community and

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have quick possession homes available. Trico Homes is the exclusive builder for a section of Midtown which offers premium home sites for their duplex models overlooking the pond and featuring rear lanes for parking, says area manager Carmen De Luca. “We are the only builder in Midtown that has the lots by the water,” she points out. Excel Homes boasts some of the larger semidetached home models in the city, and some of the most affordable. “We are in a really good price point, and people are seeing the value in what we are doing,” says Ken Lydiatt, area manager for Excel Homes. “With the young families focussed on price point, we can offer more value than anywhere else. People are shopping all over greater Calgary, and not seeing the same package of home and amenities,” he adds. All the builders have show homes open. Trico Homes has four semi-detached show homes, Excel and Creations by Shane Homes also have four duplex show homes each. Shane Homes also recently opened their two single-family show homes, the Tofino II and the Orion. Street towns and semi-detached homes in Midtown start from the $300,000s and single-family homes are from the $400,000s. n

Midtown will feature this sophisticated urban style that today’s modern families, single professionals and active downsizing couples love.

For more information visit www.midtowninairdrie.com

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builder feature MCKEE HOMES

Best of Cooper’s Crossing McKee Homes hits the right notes in Cooper’s Crossing n By

Pepper Rodriguez

f you’re looking for a trendy, upscale neighbourhood in Airdrie, you don’t have to look further than Cooper’s Crossing in the city’s southeast corner. And if you’re looking for a home here that matches the family-friendly and stylishly functional character of the community, McKee Homes answers the call best. McKee Homes has been building exclusively in Airdrie for nearly three decades, and this familyrun business has been the city’s biggest local home builder with a strong presence in all of Airdrie’s best communities. And in Cooper’s Crossing, McKee Homes’ decidedly stylish touch has been a big hit. Their two single-family show homes here — The Carlingford T and the Sperrin — both exhibit the smart functionality and deft craftsmanship people expect from this award-winning custom home builder. The Carlingford T is a two-storey home, threecar tandem front attached garage (the ‘T’ stands for ‘tandem’), and it has all the qualities of an efficient, practical family home, but with McKee Homes’ signature flair. The show home on 1245 Coopers Drive displays the grand potential of the home by turning the main floor into a music room, even fitting a baby grand piano in its spacious great room with a beautiful central fireplace as a backdrop. At 2,623 square-feet the Carlingford T certainly has the space for such grandeur, but it remains as practical for everyday family use with a massive central island and a thoroughly practical kitchen layout with plenty of storage and free-flowing workspace. A corner pantry and ceiling height cabinetry provides all the space for daily essentials. The vaulted ceilings of the lifestyle room and master suite provide the wow upstairs and the walkthrough master ensuite to the laundry room brings a functional style to the proceedings. Next door, is the elegant Sperrin bungalow. At 1,614 square-feet it is the epitome of single-level living with a big front office, a huge master bed-

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room and ensuite, a second bedroom and upstairs laundry. With a fantastic kitchen made to entertain including a massive L-shaped centre island. There’s an additional 1,363 square-feet of developed basement in the show home that realizes the whole exciting living potential of the home. “Cooper’s Crossing is terrific for young families and the Carlingford T is a model that suits all of the families needs,” says McKee Homes’ Kathryn Zondag, “and the Sperrin is appealing to the grandparents who want to live closer to their grandkids. It all works out perfectly for the family.” The Carlingford T starts at $620,000 including GST, and the Sperrin is from the low $575,000s, as well. Zondag says McKee Homes have homes in Cooper’s Crossing starting from the $490,000s and majority of the single-family homes they offer here are in the$550,000-$650,000 range. Emerald New Homes — McKee’s multi-family arm — also has a presence in Copper’s Crossing, offering their inimitable brand of townhomes in the low $400,000 range. n

The show home displays the grand potential of the home by turning the main floor into a music room, even fitting a baby grand piano in its spacious great room with a beautiful central fireplace as a backdrop.

For more information visit www.mckeehomes.com

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feature

Airdrie:

A city in motion

With QEII dividing the city, commuting is a way of life in Airdrie n Written

by Richard White

here is no doubt that Airdrie has grown a lot over the past few years. Fuelled by the oil boom over the last decade, Airdrie — like most of Calgary’s neighbouring small towns — enjoyed an unprecedented growth spurt. This growth has meant challenges for a lot of these smaller communities, but Airdrie seems to have weathered the storm remarkably well, and residents’ satisfaction have generally been consistently high, averaging 3.8 (out of 5) since 2009. The car-friendly character of Airdrie is something that residents embrace. Unlike Calgary’s other satellite cities — Cochrane, Canmore, High River, Okotoks and Strathmore — Airdrie doesn’t have a traditional downtown Main Street lined with historical buildings that once were (and in some cases still are) shops, banks, hotels, pubs, post office, City Hall and Court House lining the sidewalk. Rather, Airdrie’s downtown Main Street is lined with free surface parking next to the sidewalk. The shops (including a grocery store) and services (City Hall, Library and Medical Centre) are all set back from the sidewalk in suburban, strip mall fashion. Which is a fine example of the car-friendly driveability of this city.

Transit Oriented Development

If you drive five minutes south (next to the lovely Nose Creek Pathway) or north along Main Street, you arrive at two new power centers with the classic mix of big box retailers (restaurants, hardware and grocery stories) to meet resident’s everyday needs. But, if instead you walk a few blocks west from downtown, over the railway tracks and across Nose Creek environmental area, you arrive at what looks like a future Railtown. Several new low-rise condo buildings sit next to the tracks, while across the street is a power centre with a Sobey’s grocery store and other ameni1 4 LOVING AIRDRIE LIVING

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ties including a Good Earth Café. It is just waiting for a train station to be built to take commuters to and from Calgary — yes, 25 per cent of Airdrie’s workforce commutes from Calgary. To help meet commuter needs, Airdrie currently has four very successful bus commuter routes. One that links Airdrie workers to CrossIron Mills and McKnight LRT Station, two that are express routes to/ from downtown Calgary (one from the east side and one from the west side) and an Airdrie to Crossfield route. The City is also experimenting with a local transit service.

Adapting To families

While all the talk these days in the urban planning world is about making cities and new communities more walkable, cycleable and transit-oriented, nobody is talking about how to make urban places more driveable. We have walk scores and bike scores that measure a communities proximity to various amenities five- or 10-minutes away by foot and pedal, but nothing that measures the amenities that are within a five- or 10-minute drive. In today’s busy world, of two income families with lots of extracurricular activities (parents and kids), walking and cycling is in reality, mostly a recreational activity, not a form of transportation. Walking and/ or cycling, as a part of everyday living is just not practical for the average family, no matter how close they are. The automobile is not going the way of the dinosaur anytime soon, no matter what the urban evangelist say.

feature

For Airdrie, it is even more critical that its urban design adapts to the needs of the families with young children — a whopping 24 per cent of the population is under the age of 14 (16 per cent in Calgary). Having recently driven and walked around Airdrie, it seemed to me everybody lives within a five-minute drive to one or more major grocery stores, probably the most important amenity to a growing family. It also seemed the Rocky View School Division has been able to locate schools as needed in its new residential communities.

Place to play

Kudos to the City of Airdrie and Rocky View School Division for collaborating along East Lake Boulevard on the city’s east side by co-locating the Bert Church High School, Bert Church Theatre and Genesis Recreation Centre (pool, gyms, twin arenas and fieldhouse) next to each other so the facilities can be shared. This should be the model for every high school site in every city — also include a public library. In the future, all school sites should be community/public amenity sites. Airdrie boasts an ambitious schedule of annual family festivals — a Santa Claus Parade that attracts over 20,000 people (Calgary doesn’t have one), Festival of Lights (older than Calgary’s Zoolights), New Year’s Eve Fireworks, Canada Day Parade and Spring Music Festival (with over 400 musicians). The Airdrie Pro Rodeo is one of the top 10 pro rodeos in Canada with $146,000 in prize money. Today, Airdrie boasts 1,200 acres of parks, 104 kilometres of pathways, 63 playgrounds and five off-leash dog parks. For those who want to walk or bike, Airdrie has lovely pathways and parks along Nose Creek and the many canal communities in the city. Everybody is just five minutes away from a park, playground or a pathway. The city also a thriving Farmers’ Market in Jensen Park, which was the site of the historic Jensen family farm — that’s

authenticity. Every Wednesday from June to Thanksgiving, from 3:30 to 7 p.m. dozens of vendors sell fresh produce, food trucks serve up good grub and artists entertain, creating a fun, family food festival. “Airdrie goes beyond the typical chain-only style of many bedroom communities. Certainly there is no shortage of chain restaurants in Airdrie but there are many high-quality independent places too such as Thai Charm, Abe’s Restaurant, Sushi Haru and Taj that satisfy a very sophisticated market,” says Calgary food and restaurant critic John Gilchrist.

Place to work

While most people think of Airdrie as a bedroom community of Calgary, in reality only about 50 per cent of Airdrites work in Calgary. Airdrie has over 20 companies that employ over 100 employees — Propak Systems Ltd. being the largest with 1,000 employees. One of the biggest employment sectors is the grocery industry (I counted six major grocery stores with another under construction — I may have missed one or two) currently employ over 2,500 people. As well, Airdrie has 1,300 home businesses (out of 21,000 homes) partly as a result of an innovative program that proactively encourages the development of home-based businesses. It consists of an online course for starting, running and growing a home business, as well as a mentorship program with an existing business leader. Over that past 10 years, Airdrie’s commercial development has been growing as fast as its residential development as the ratio of commercial to residential tax assessment values has maintained its 17 per cent commercial to 83 per cent residential split. Airdrie is more than just a bedroom city.

Last Word

It is important urban planners adapt their thinking to the needs of the contemporary family life, rather than expecting families to adapt to planner’s urban utopian ideals. Kudos to Airdrie’s planners, politicians and business leaders for daring to be different, for embracing “driveability” as the key element to enhancing the quality of life for everyday living for its citizens. n

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feature

Top 20 in Airdrie There are more than 20 things to do in Airdrie, but here are our favourites n Compiled

by Aaliya Essa

AIRDRIE IS STILL a small town at heart, but its big city amenities are why families have chosen to live here; that, and also because it’s a fun town to live in with plenty of opportunities for good-natured family-fun. Here are 20 of what we think are the best:

Tee off at Woodside or Apple Creek golf courses.

Set ‘em up and knock ‘em down at Shamrock Lanes bowling alley.

Step into the past at the Nose Creek Valley Museum.

Sign up for a program, or just drop by the Airdrie Public Library to see what’s going on, sign out a book, music or movie.

Check the listing at the Landmark Cinemas Roxy Theatre and catch a new movie.

Take in a live play or concert at Bert Church theatre.

Head five minutes south of town to Cross Iron Mills for a world-class outlet shopping experience.

Pick up some fresh produce at the Airdrie Farmers Market, open every Wednesday at Plainsmen Arena until October 5 from 3:30 – 7 p.m. Get a head start on your Christmas shopping at the

10 Airdrie Christmas Show November 4 and 5 at the Town and Country Centre.

PHOTO COURTESY CITY OF AIRDRIE

Make a splash at the Genesis Place Rec Centre.

PHOTO COURTESY CROSS IRON MILLS

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PHOTO COURTESY CITY OF AIRDRIE

feature

Take a selfie under the city’s landmark water tower, built in 1959. Support a local sports team. High school football and

12 minor hockey are going like gangbusters in the fall. 13

Visit a haunted house for Halloween. Rumour has it, the old RCMP building on Edmonton Trail is home to a ghost.

Take the family and Fido for a stroll along some of the 98

18 kilometres of paved pathways Airdrie has to offer.

Get involved with a club or organization like the Boys and

19 Girls Club, Ag Society,

20 All aboard for miniature railway fun at Iron Horse Park. n

Treat yourself to a night off from the kitchen and a gourmet meal at one of Airdrie’s wide variety of fine dining establishments. Trot down to Balzac and try your luck at Century Downs Racetrack and Casino. Drive yourself around some of the new communities

16 and tour a couple of gorgeous show homes.

PHOTO COURTESY CITY OF AIRDRIE

PHOTO COURTESY CENTURY DOWNS

17 Find your inner Tony Hawk at the Airdrie Skate Park.

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developer feature DREAM DEVELOPMENT

Small town’s bright future Vista Crossing marks new chapter in Crossfield’s growth n By

he yearning for the freedom from the confines of our urban existence is a powerful sentiment, but choosing where to move to experience authentic small town living can be a difficult process nowadays. Many of the towns and municipalities surrounding Calgary are already showing signs of big city urbanization, but in Crossfield this reality is still in the distant horizon. Dream Development’s newest community, Vista Crossing, brings a whole new take on countryside living, evoking a more innocent era of small town living that Crossfield still has in abundance. This 160 acre brand new community is designed to call to mind a time when everyone knows everybody else in town, when the friendly front

This 160 acre brand new community is designed to call to mind a time when everyone knows everybody else in town.

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Pepper Rodriguez

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developer feature

porches of homes was mirrored by the friendliness of its inhabitants. “It’s the first truly master planned community in Crossfield, and will incorporate a number of community design features that the town hasn’t seen before,” says Michael Tandara, Dream Development’s Director. “It will include 20 acres of parkland with over four kilometres of walking trails, as well as five acres of protected wetland.” It also brings the new ideas of sustainability and walkability to the idea of a country residential community, he adds. Vista Crossing is just a 35-minute commute to downtown Calgary and convenient access to Calgary’s northern employment centres, CrossIron

CROSSFIELD AMENITIES

ACTIVITIES AND GROUPS

• Municipal Library • 18 hole golf course • Curling Rink • Community Centre • Rodeo Grounds • Fire Hall • Hockey Arena • Seniors Lodge • Dentist • Chiropractor • Doctor • Cementary • Bottle Depot • Bigway Grocery Store • Oliver Hotel • Crossfield Country Inn • Crossfield Elementary School • WG Murdoch School • Shell Gas Station • Esso Gas Station • ATB • CIBC

• Jazzercise • Lego Club • Backroom Book Club for Kids • Beavers, Cubs, and Scouts • Bridge Club • Crossfield Agricultural Society • Crossfield Curling Club • Crossfield Elks • Crossfield Figure Skating Club • Crossfield Initiative for Talent in Youth (C.I.T.Y) • Crossfield Legion Branch # 113 • Crossfield Lions Club • Crossfield/Madden 4-H Beef Club • Crossfield Minor Baseball • Crossfield Minor Hockey • Crossfield Minor Soccer Association • Crossfield Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) • Crossfield Royal Purple • Eastern Star

• Golden Key Club • Rising Sun Tae Kwon Do • Masons • Sparks, Brownies, Guides, Path Finders, and Senior Branches • Farmers Market (Thursday evenings) • Community Garden • Crossfield Writers Club RECREATION AND CULTURAL FACILITIES • Pete Knight Memorial Center • Crossfield Curling Club • Collicutt Siding Golf Course • Crossfield Rodeo Grounds • Crossfield Municipal Library • Crossfield Golden Key Club • Crossfield Fishing Ponds • Outdoor Skating Rink (seasonal) • Crossfield Skateboard Park • Crossfield Splash Park • Crossfield Churches

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developer feature

"During peak commute times residents can expect to fly right past the traffic jams in Airdrie proper and get home in as quick, if not quicker, a time."

Mills, the Calgary airport, and the various retail opportunities in Airdrie. “While technically further away than competing communities in Airdrie, during peak commute times residents can expect to fly right past the traffic jams in Airdrie proper and get home in as quick, if not quicker, a time,” Tandara says. The architecture at Vista Crossing has a very “Sears Roebuck Catalogue feel,” says Tandara, emphasizing large front verandahs, timeless details, and charming streetscapes. There will be an abundance of homes highlighted by turrets, verandas, decorative gables and lots of stone accent. Vista Crossing will have laned homes, moveup homes, and semi-estate homes backing onto the parks and wetland. Townhomes will also be introduced later. “The community is designed to emphasize intergenerational living. But fundamentally, the homes should encourage residents to actually get to know one another rather than just pull into a garage and disappear into their backyards,” Tandara says. Vista Crossing will be comprised of 9 phases, with Phase 1 launching this year. It will have some 2,900 residents on build out. n

For more information and to register, go to www.vistacrossing.ca

The Town of Crossfield has six main parks along with numerous unnamed green spaces: McCaskill Park is the Town's main outdoor recreational area. It has two softball/fastball diamonds, 1 hardball diamond, one soccer field with a 400 meter running track, and a skateboard park, new in 2004. This park also has a small playground area and a seasonal concession with functional washrooms. Veteran's Park is an 11 acre park with two memorial forests planted by the Crossfield Legion and the Crossfield United Church. It also has a toboggan hill and pathways through a natural treed area. Banta Park is the Town's central park with matured trees and bushes, play equipment for children of all ages, a paved area for basketball, and a splash park.

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Murdoch Park has two soccer fields designed for smaller children, a playground area, and a small toboggan hill. Walker and Wygle Parks both have play equipment and open green spaces for children of all ages. Crockett Park has both play equipment and open green spaces for children of all ages. n

McCaskill Park

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PHOTO COURTESY W W W. C R O S S F I E L D A L B E R TA . C O M

TOWN OF CROSSFIELD PARKS

city of airdrie map

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