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COMMUNITY FEATURES
4 Eastern expansion
Towns to Calgary’s east enjoy growth, as Chestermere becomes a city
12 Kinniburgh South wows Estate appeal realized in new Chestermere community
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COVER FEATURE
6 Live lakeside at Westmere
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Chestermere’s new community offers best value, steps from the water BUILDER FEATURES
10 Lakeside serenity Lifestyle Homes presents executive living at its best in Westmere
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14 Urban country living at its finest ReidBuilt Homes builds in Strathmore’s Edgefield community
PUBLISHER •
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Loving East Side Living® is published annually and is available free through select distribution
Jim Zang
points in Calgary and Airdrie. Material cannot be reprinted in whole or in part without written
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Elizabeth Chorney-Booth, Darlene Casten, Kiki Streets CONTRIBUTORS •
Cindy Marks Norma Robertson
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, 207 - 5809 Macleod Trail S.W., Calgary, AB T2H 0J9. 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
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Eastern expansion
Towns to Calgary’s east enjoy growth, as Chestermere becomes a city By Elizabeth Chorney-Booth
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algarians are used to having friends, family, and colleagues boast about the lower cost and relaxed living of communities north, south, and west of the city (think Airdrie, Okotoks, and Cochrane, respectively), but commuterfriendly communities east of the city don’t seem to get the same level of buzz. Which is both a shame and an advantage for places like the hidden treasures like Strathmore, Lyalta, and even the more popular city of Chestermere — all east-side gems that offer a unique sense of community and are starting to draw Calgarians eastward by the thousands. Chestermere is by far the largest and most well known of the communities east of Calgary — and also one of the closest as it actually shares a border with the east side of the city. On January 1 of this year Chestermere was granted city status by the province, a change that won’t immediately affect Chestermere’s residents in any way, but according to Mayor Patricia Matthews, will give the municipal government a stronger voice with the province to advocated for Chestermere, and will also attract business investment which could result in more retail and other services for both those living in Chestermere while also serving homeowners in smaller communities in the surrounding area. Mayor Matthews has lived in Chestermere for 16 years and has personally seen the community grow from a small town of 2,000 to the current city of over 17,000 people. But that growth is a drop in the bucket
For homebuyers looking for a slightly smaller community that still offers new, spacious homes and an easy commute to Calgary, there are quite a few options.
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compared to what’s on it’s way: in addition to newer developements like the lakeside communities of Kinniburgh, Westmere, the Shores of Chestermere Lake, and Rainbow Falls (the latter of which rolled out its final phases this past summer), a new development called Waterbridge has been approved which will see 2,400 acres of land being developed to accommodate about 45,000 new residents. The Mayor says that while Waterbridge will be a huge game changer for Chestermere, the community still works incredibly hard to maintain a semblance of the small-town feel that initially brought her family and others like it to Chestermere. That said, she does see the growth as being a good thing. “Every few years we have a huge amount of population growth,” Mayor Matthews says. “We’ve been Canada’s largest growing community twice in the last seven years. We have people who come out for the tourism aspect — they come out for the lake — but if you haven’t been out here in the last two or three years, it’s not the place you knew. It’s bigger, we have more amenities, we have more services.” For homebuyers looking for a slightly smaller community that still offers new, spacious homes and an easy commute to Calgary, there are quite a few options. Strathmore is another bustling community with a population of just over 12,000, about 50 kilometres east of Cal-
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gary. Serving the agricultural community as well as commuters, there are a number of newer neighbourhoods in the town, including Wildflower Ranch, Lakewood Meadows, The Ranch, and the town’s newest development, Edgefield. But it’s not all about the bigger cities and towns if you’re looking to head eastward. Lyalta is a tiny town that sits between Chestermere and Strathmore, and while the town proper currently only has a handful of new homes, the Muirfield Lakes golf course community is bringing about 110 houses to the area and the new Homesteads development will potentially bring thousands of new homes to Lyalta. Heather Dougall is currently building a home in Muirfield Lakes and says that she chose the area because of the price point, relatively quick commute (she gets to her office on McLeod Trail in about 35 minutes) and the ease in securing exactly the kind of lot she was looking for. “My big thing is I like to see the sunset,” Dougall says. “Our lot backs west and there’s nothing behind us except hole #4 of the golf course. To get a west backing lot in Calgary is hard and the land prices are much more expensive.” Lyalta isn’t the only smaller town option on the east side. Nearby Langdon is also a fairly small community, but homebuyers have been attracted to the houses on the picturesque Boulder Creek Estates, which is built around another golf course. The other growing community is in Beiseker (well known to many as being the half-way point between Calgary and Drumheller), which is home to a brand new development called The Grasslands. Between the small-town charm, growing list of amenities, relatively easy commutes, and comparatively low pricing in comparison to the big city, more and more Calgarians are realizing the advantages of these east side communities. The area is changing rapidly,
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but even as they grow, these communities will always offer a slightly different lifestyle than residents will find within Calgary’s city limits. “We are a jewel out here. Some people have discovered it and some haven’t,” says Mayor Matthews. “It’s gotten bigger, but it’s still maintained that unique sense of identity. It’s still relaxing, it’s still recreational based, its still got that tight-knit community feel.” n
NEW EAST COMMUNITIES CHESTERMERE KINNIBURGH Broadview Homes, Stepper Custom Homes, Sterling Homes, Douglas Homes, Sunstar Homes WESTMERE/SHORES OF WESTMERE Lifestyle Homes, ReidBuilt Homes, Albi Homes, Homes by Avi RAINBOW FALLS RedBuilt Homes, Jager Homes, Lionsworthe Homes, Truman Homes, Douglas Homes
STRATHMORE WILDFLOWER RANCH Aquila Homes, Loreck Homes, Ovation Homes, Trilogy Homes LAKEWOOD MEADOWS Artistique Homes, Ovation Homes, Trilogy Homes THE RANCH Jager Homes, WestView Builders EDGEFIELD WestView Builders, Ovation Homes, RedBuilt Homes, Aquila Homes
BEISEKER
Between the smalltown charm, growing list of amenities, relatively easy commutes, and comparatively ow pricing in comparison to the big city, more and more Calgarians are realizing the advantages of these east side communities. Photo of the picturesque town of Langdon.
THE GRASSLANDS Aquila Homes, River Street Homes
LANGDON BOULDER CREEK ESTATES Stepper Custom Homes, Broadview Homes
LYALTA MUIRFILED LAKES Douglas Homes, Vanity Homes
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The Shores of Westmere
Live lakeside at Westmere T
Chestermere’s new community offers best value, steps from the water
he community of Chestermere boasts two schools, commercial shopping centres and encompasses the small town lifestyle, just minutes east of Calgary. And Melcor Developments Ltd. is adding to this quaint town, developing the community of Westmere. Westmere’s manicured parks and paved pathways along the edge of Chestermere Lake, provides the best value for lakeside living. “Where else can you buy a four bedroom home with a triple car garage, only steps from the lake starting in the $500,000s,” says Catharina Mendonça, Marketing Manager at Melcor. “Our motto is Live, Work, Shop, Play. Our vision for the communities we build is always to build a complete neighborhood where families can enjoy all aspects of daily life without having to travel long distances.” Westmere’s biggest selling points really are its affordability for lakeside living and its amenities. Melcor’s aim is to complete construction of their neighborhood amenities early in the process so that residents can enjoy them shortly after moving in. Westmere is the only community in Chestermere with a Safeway, Tim Horton’s, Starbucks, Boston Pizza, a number of banking institutions and a childcare centre. “And parents love that they can live in a close-knit family community with amenities just a bike ride from their home,” adds Mendonça. “You really can walk or ride your bike to the grocery store, to schools, one of the playgrounds
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or go for a stroll along the lake’s edge. We offer the very best in family lakeside living in Chestermere.” Westmere residents also have doorstep access to Chestermere Lake. The lake is enjoyed year round, from waterskiing and paddle boarding in the summer to skating on the lake in the winter. “On the weekends, you will see the pathway around the lake buzzing with families and children out for a walk around the neighborhood,” says Mendonça. Melcor has designated two award-winning builders for Westmere – ReidBuilt Homes and Lifestyle Homes. Buyers are spoiled for choice with several models of two storey homes and bungalows. Both double and triple car garage homes are available. “Homes in Westmere range in size from 1,800 to 2,700 square-feet,” says Mendonça. “The majority of the homes are three bed-
rooms and there are also several models from both builders that offer four bedroom plans.” With multiple families in Westmere that are multigenerational in their living arrangements, Melcor’s builders have models with in-law suites and fourth bedrooms for families who have a grandparent or older child living at home. Melcor has also developed The Shores at Chestermere, a luxury enclave within Westmere. Alibi Homes and Homes by Avi are the builders for these executive homes. The environmental considerations Melcor has accounted for are an added bonus for living in Westmere. “There are approximately 45 acres of dedicated park space in the community and a protected wetland runs near Invermere Drive,” adds Mendonça. “And adjacent to Westmere is John Peake Park, an environmental reserve.” The community is roughly 90 per cent complete. There are over 2,300 homes in Westmere including single-family and multi-family homes. Westmere is currently in its second to last phase of development and the final phase of Westmere will be released in the fall of 2015. The build process is typically seven to nine months, weather permitting. Westmere offers possibly the best value a homeowner can find in a lake community. Homebuyers are afforded large lots that run up to 48 feet wide, with a triple car garage from the $500,000.00’s. “It really is incomparable value when you consider the comparisons in Calgary,” says Mendonça. “Westmere is a community where family life is embraced to its fullest and where residents have all of their needs met right within the community.” For more information on the community of Westmere, please visit www. westmere.ca. Show homes are open Monday through Thursday from 2 to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m., and closed on Fridays. n
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For more information visit www.westmere.ca
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“Westmere is a community where family life is embraced to its fullest and where residents have all of their needs met right within the community.” NEW HOME LIVING SPECIAL SECTION
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Lifestyle Homes
Lakeside serenity Lifestyle Homes presents executive living at its best in Westmere n By
Darlene Casten
Lifestyle is a custom builder that got their start in Chestermere 18 years ago and therefore are experts at providing the best quality, luxury and value to their customers.
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he serenity of life in Chestermere is reflected in Lifestyle Homes’ Enfield, its English Tudor-style show home at 606 Marina Drive. High-end finishing, like marble and glass tiles in creams, grey and beige, quartz countertops and walnut engineered hardwood create a dreamy, cloud-like feel. The open to above 18-foot ceiling in the foyer carry on to the living space, giving the feeling that you can reach to the sky. The living room is wrapped in warm light thanks to eight-foot windows, topped by another panel of sixfoot windows that complement the floor-to-ceiling brick fireplace that draws the eye all the way up. A unique L-shaped open-concept main floor allows for socializing between the kitchen and living space, but also keeps the kitchen out of sight and mind when the family or a small group is spending time in front of the fireplace. And a flexible space next to the kitchen can do duty as an office, formal dining room or den. Herrera says one of the most popular features of the home is tucked away. “People love the mudroom,” she says. “It has everything.” At the top of the beautiful wood and wrought iron staircase is the master bedroom, which features an extra-wide walk-in closet that doubles as a change area. The king-size
bed looks onto the breathtaking freestanding chrome, claw-foot bathtub in the marble and glass encased master bath. Herrera says the large bathroom with its custom tile and glass shower and separate dual sinks and vanity is soaked in natural lighting during the day because of two sixfoot translucent windows that look sexy but maintain privacy. Just down the hall, past two generously sized bedrooms and the upper-floor laundry, is the bonus room, a large family space with six windows that wrap one side of the room. The light fills the room all the way to the top of the vaulted ceiling. The 2,631-square-foot three-bedroom home starts at $660,000 and the show home can be purchased for $710,000. The minimal price gap between show home and new build, Herrera explains, is thanks to many of the luxuries being standards, including quartz and granite countertops and engineered hardwood flooring. Lifestyle is a custom builder that got their start in Chestermere 18 years ago and therefore are experts at providing the best quality, luxury and value to their customers. In their most recent lot offerings in Westmere, Herrera says people can get excited about 46-to 54-foot-wide lots with 10- to 14-foot side yards starting at $168,900. “The value is amazing,” Herrera says. When Lifestyle homeowners really go to sleep at night they can rest easy, says Herrera because all of their homes are inspected three times by Mike Holmes’ inspectors as part of their Holmes Approved Homes program that ensures everything is built correctly and exceed industry standards. “We are all about the quality of building,” Herrera says. n
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Kinniburgh South
Kinniburgh South wows Estate appeal realized in new Chestermere community n By
Pepper Rodriguez
Kinniburgh South’s reputable builder group of Broadview Homes, Stepper Custom Homes and Sterling Homes will hold a grand opening on March 14 for their three new show homes to give everyone a taste of the upscale, family-friendly comfort that can only be found here.
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he appeal of the estate home has always been to blend family life with luxurious appointments, a home where a family can find room to grow in a neighbourhood where life can be lived at a leisurely pace. These kinds of estate communities are getting harder to find in Calgary, and what there are can be beyond most budgets. But in the boomtown of Chestermere, just east of city limits, the new community of Kinniburgh South offers luxurious estate homes at a fraction of what they will most certainly cost in Calgary. But more than its appealing price, some of these homes — because of their more than generous lot sizes — can’t even be built in Calgary. Kinniburgh South’s reputable builder group of Broadview Homes, Stepper Custom Homes and Sterling Homes will hold a grand opening on March 14 for their three new show homes to give everyone a taste of the upscale, family-friendly comfort that can only be found here. All the homes in the community — developed by Kinniburgh South Ltd. Partnership — are over 2,200 squarefeet, with several lots over 50-feet wide (42-foot-wide lots is the minimum in Chetermere). Grand, three- and fourbedroom homes, many with triple-car attached garages
(some even offer four-car garages), are the rule in this executive enclave, where estate homes still start in the $600,000s. Broadview Homes’ Berkshire Tudor show home on 209 Sandpiper Boulevard is a 2,292-sqare-foot, triple garage home, featuring a five-level split floor plan. The loft in this split-level plan can be converted into a fourth bedroom. The Hampton is a 2,762-square-foot home from Stepper Custom Homes. It is a fourbedroom, two-and-a-half bath home that has everything a family will come to appreciate — especially so if you have a big family, which has been the overwhelming demographic in Kinniburgh South. “We see this demographic of extended families and multi-generational families living under one roof making happening in all areas of the city, and Hampton is a perfect fit for their needs,” says Stepper area sales manager Corri-Lynn Deitsch. Sterling Homes has The Berkshire III, a 2,887-square-foot four-bedroom home that exemplifies its commitment to quality, value and style. “We offer homes here that you can never find in Calgary, including a wing garage model on an 85-foot wide lot that has two-car garages on two sides of the home,” says Sterling Homes area manager Shawn Getty. Kinniburgh South is getting attention from families because of the new K-9 school that has just opened, and is just steps from the show home parade. Getty says Sterling Homes has been really busy here, selling out their first phase lots in just six weeks. “There’s a lot going for Kinniburgh South, which is why families love it,” he adds. n
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ReidBuilt Homes
Urban country living at its finest ReidBuilt Homes builds in Strathmore’s Edgefield community n By
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ucked just east of the hustle and bustle of Calgary, Strathmore is flourishing. This quaint small town is not only safe; it provides the same amenities that big cities do. The town of Strathmore’s abundant offerings includes hiking paths and trails, schools, restaurants, an aquatic centre, hospital, Starbucks and various shopping centres like Wal-Mart and Home Hardware, with a brand new CoOp opening in Spring 2015. All of these elements combined with ReidBuilt Homes Uniti duplex development in the town’s newest community, Edgefield, make Strathmore the perfect place to call home. “Edgefield offers affordable living, quality, unique designs and endless options to customize your next home,” says Jason Gauvreau, Area Manager – Edgefield, for ReidBuilt Homes Strathmore. “Our latest duplex development, Uniti, starts in the low $360,000s.” Edgefield is a development that spans across 325 acres of rich ranchlands with a grand boulevard entrance that leads into the community that offers affordable housing options for diverse households. “With the calculation that about 3,500 residents will call
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Edgefield home once the community is fully developed, ReidBuilt will start by building 20 Uniti craftsman-style side-by-side homes in phase one,” says Gauvreau. For these two-storey homes, there are six models to choose from, the Dakota, Wheatland, Sedona, Harbour, Montana and Montgomery. The Montgomery showhome, Uniti’s top of the line model, starts in the low $400,000s with 2,061 square feet of living space and nine-foot ceilings on the main floor and in the basement, which gives this home a significant grand feel. The walk-in closet of the front foyer, den, open concept great room and dining nook with gas fireplace, offer an ideal layout for homebuyers. The expansive kitchen is also impressive. “Our customers are really responding to the two-tone cabinets in the kitchen and very excited about the super-sized walk-in pantry,” adds Gauvreau. “And the main floor is made even more roomy with access to the one-hundred square foot rear deck.” Four bedrooms and a spacious, central bonus room upstairs make for a relaxing retreat. The master bedroom, with vaulted ceilings, a walk-in closet and spa-like ensuite boasts a giant soaker tub and custom tile shower. The laundry room is also conveniently located on the top floor. “The central retreat was fashioned after the upper floor of our SAM Award winning Ridgeway show home in The Estates of Westmere in Chestermere,” says Gauvreau. “People love the design and flow upstairs, particularly how the master bedroom connects the ensuite, walk-in closet and laundry room together.” Basements are undeveloped with roughed in plumbing provided for future development. The Montgomery showhome also includes the following optional upgrades: hardwood and tile throughout; granite countertops with un-
der mount sinks, wrought iron railings and knockdown spantex ceiling. Oversized double attached garages are standard. “Uniti lots are roughly seven-hundred square feet larger than other side-by-side lots available in the community,” says Gauvreau. “The lots are approximately four feet wider and seven feet longer than our competitor’s duplex lots so we will be able to provide our homebuyers with a larger home, larger yard, or a combination of both.” Energy efficiency is a primary focus with the design and construction of a ReidBuilt home. “Spray foamed rim joists, balloon framing and HRV’s are all standards in our construction. We utilize local manufacturers, trades, suppliers and also use sustainable manufactured products,” says Gauvreau, on just some of the environmental considerations taken into account when building their homes. ReidBuilt Homes held their grand opening in mid February and is inviting buyers to take advantage of one of their Uniti Express Homes, with possession dates available as early as this month. There is currently one
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Montgomery available with a 30-day possession, and all models, with the exception of the Harbour floor plan are currently available as Express Homes with 60, 90 and 120-day possessions. ReidBuilt Homes in Edgefield are open Monday through Thursday 2 to 8 p.m. and weekends and holidays from 12 to 5 p.m. n
For more information visit www.rbhcalgary.com/Great-Communities/Strathmore/Edgefield or www.edgefieldstrathmore.com. For current updates on Uniti in Edgefield, visit www.facebook.com/rbhstrathmore NEW HOME LIVING SPECIAL SECTION
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