contents D ecember 2 0 1 3
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volume 5 issue 4 5
10
Focus on
Salt-and-pepper shakers add their own spice to dining décor
8 Shakin’ all over COVER FEATURE
10 Tamani treasure
Southfork offers more exciting developments, convincing homebuyers it should be their community of choice
Condo Profile
Sherwood Park homebuyers gladly welcome Grande Design to their list of stylish builders to consider
Show home Profile
You get it all in one triumphant home
12 County condos
15 Sterling standard
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
Community Profile
Laurel delivers with its amenities and accessibility to all of Edmonton
Design & DÉCor
From food to dimmer switches, you’ll be prepared
Market view
for 2014
19 Southern comfort
22 Get this party started
25 Alberta outlook
12
Feature
30 Tales from
the condo zone
Merry condo Christmas
items
6 Editor’s Message 23 Around Town 26 Maps 27 Ad Index
15 D ecember 2 01 3 NE W H O ME & C O ND O L I V IN G • 5
editor’s message
PUBLISHER
Wrapping up the year
Source Media Group
It’s the season of events, parties, food and, unfortunately, stress. Our Design & Décor columnist Rosalyn Lazaruk tackles many fears everyday event planners face and offers up a drink and appetizer recipe, too. Consider her tips our gift to you as an immediate stress reducer (see page 22). It’s OK to steal our ideas — that’s what they’re there for! Right along with all the partying this month, is a lot of internal reflection, checking in on last year’s New Year’s resolutions and future goal setting. For the housing market, the ups and downs and future forecasts are spelled out in our Market View column by Wesley Gunderson. Alberta appears to be a country leader with housing starts and GDP growth … but that’s not really a surprise, is it? See page 25 for more details. We reach out beyond the borders of Edmonton in this issue with our cover feature and condo profile. Southfork, a Tamani community, takes our cover to share the many new developments this area in Leduc is experiencing. (Hint, there’s a super park.) Check out all the details, new phases and new product offerings the award-winning builders have on display on page 10. Sherwood Park is another welcome Edmonton-andarea community to share some pages in our New Home & Condo Living magazine. Princeton Court townhomes are Grande Design Builder Groups’ first Strathcona County development and the units are selling fast. See more about this affordable choice on page 12. Sterling Homes’ show home, The Triumph, was appropriately named. It is a winner for homebuyers and the builder. Southwest Edmonton’s Allard Heritage Valley is home to this welcoming 2,319-square-foot abode full of contemporary designs and European finishes. Page 15 provides proof. To complete our jam-packed last issue of the year is the massive community of Laurel and its two well-respected developers. Dundee Developments has finished its first phase and will start another in spring 2014. Qualico Communities has its Laurel Crossing development well underway with various show homes open. Check out both builder groups on page 19 or in person in the south Edmonton community. Bundle up and enjoy time with family, friends and show home/suite staff this holiday season. And please enjoy our cover redesign. We, too, did some self reflection and tweaked our look and name. We hope you like it as much as we do and we’ll see you again next year!
info@sourcemediagroup.ca A ssociate P U B L I S H E R
Jim Zang
jim.zang@sourcemediagroup.ca E ditor
Michelle Lindstrom michelle.lindstrom@sourcemediagroup.ca AR T DIRECTOR
Jean Faye Rodriguez
jean.rodriguez@sourcemediagroup.ca G R A P H I C D E S I G N er S
Lama Azhari
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Dave Macaulay
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Megan Sereda
megan.sereda@sourcemediagroup.ca production administrator
Colleen Leier
colleen.leier@sourcemediagroup.ca E ditorial
Aaliya Essa, Wesley Gunderson, Kate Hamilton, Rosalyn Lazaruk, Michelle Lindstrom, Cait Wills, Jim Zang photography
Michelle Lindstrom 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
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Source Media Group, Media Classified I SS N 1918 - 4 4 6 8 PRINTED IN C ANADA
Copyright 2013 by Source Media Group Corp. Material cannot be reprinted in whole or in part without the expressed written permission of the publishers. Source Media Group Corp. agrees to advertise on behalf of the advertiser without responsibility for claims or misinformation made by the advertiser and acts only as an advertising medium. Source Media Group reserves the right to refuse any advertising at its sole discretion.
New Home & 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. New 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.
Michelle Lindstrom Editor michelle.lindstrom@sourcemediagroup.ca
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@EdmHomeandCondo
EdmontonHomeandCondoLiving
6 • NE W H O ME & C O ND O L I V IN G D ecember 2 01 3
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
Focus on
1
2
Shakin’ all over Salt-and-pepper shakers add their own spice to dining décor By Aaliya Essa
Nothing is as fundamental as the salt-and-pepper shaker on your tabletop, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have a choice in the form it comes in. As a matter of fact, there is a wide and varied selection to suit any decorative taste — from fancy, stainless-steel grinders, to whimsical porcelain figures that add a dash of humour to your dining area. n 1] Sheep salt & pepper shakers, $13.95 at Pier 1.
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2] Cole & Mason Oslo salt & pepper mill, $62.69 at Williams-Sonoma. 3] Mondeo stainless-steel acrylic salt shaker & pepper mills, $17.99 at Stokes.
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4] Acorn salt & pepper shakers, $49.46 at Williams-Sonoma. 5] 2-in-1 salt & pepper mill, $29.99 at Stokes. 6] Vic Firth one-handed stainless-steel salt & pepper mills, $37.59 at Williams-Sonoma. 7] Chevron salt & pepper shaker set, $37.08 at Williams-Sonoma. 8] Avocado salt & pepper shaker, $14.95 at Pier 1. 9] Dice salt & pepper shakers, $8.95 at Pier 1. 10] Malia salt & pepper mills, $39.99 at Stokes. 11] Cole & Mason wood electric salt & pepper mills, $87.79 at Williams-Sonoma.
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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
Focus On 4
3
5
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7 8
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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
D ecember 2 01 3 NE W H O ME & C O ND O L I V IN G • 9
| Advertising cover Feature |
Tamani Treasure Southfork offers more exciting developments, convincing homebuyers it should be their community of choice
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educ is thriving and taking the community of Southfork right along with it. “It’s not the same city it used to be 10 or so years ago,” says Cam Hart, Tamani Communities general manager. A 2011 census ranked Leduc as the ninth-highest municipality for population growth between 2006 and 2011. Tamani’s community of Southfork, in the City of Leduc, is just one minute away from the Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) Highway and roughly 10 minutes south of Edmonton. “It is the location of choice for homebuyers in Leduc or the south Edmonton area,” Hart says. “If you’re looking for that less-stressful lifestyle and smaller town feel, you come to Leduc.” And that is what people are doing. Just in the past year, Leduc’s population increased 6.9 per cent.
Current offerings in Southfork’s Stage 5 include semi-attached homes available for the mid-$280,000s and townhomes for mid-$200,000s. Hart proudly notes the most recent developments within Tamani’s Leduc community still include the original award-winning group of builders — Jayman MasterBUILT, Innovations by Jayman, Dolce Vita and Homes by Avi. “Over the last couple months, we’ve actually had some pretty big exciting stuff happen for us,” Hart says. “We opened up Stage 5, which is our attached stage. Homes by Avi and Innovations by Jayman both started construction on our street-oriented townhomes, which is a new product type for Southfork.” The new developments don’t stop there, though. Tamani just finished the services for Stage 6 and Hart says, “The pavement is still hot!” He’s excited for when the builders start construction of homes in this stage because it offers customers two new products
“It is the location of choice for homebuyers in Leduc or the south Edmonton area. ... If you’re looking for that lessstressful lifestyle and smaller town feel, you come to Leduc.”
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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
| Advertising cover Feature |
as well as the front-drive option already available in the area. Stage 6 will also remain true to the heritage contemporary architecture in previous stages. The two new price-competitive products Tamani eagerly offers in Stage 6 are narrow, front-drive lots and infill-sized lane lots. These options allow for the smaller lot price savings to be passed along to the homebuyer, yet the home size does not differ from others in the community. Land is expensive. Hart says the wide variety of housing styles in the community contribute to the area’s lifecycle. “We’ve got a master-planned community with every product type,” he says. “You can buy your first house here then move up to a street-oriented townhome. You can then get a narrow-lot front drive home, then a front-drive home with a larger, 40-foot-wide lot, and finally, a front-drive home that backs onto a park. It just provides the opportunity for you to live your life in Southfork and find a product type that suits your needs at that time.” In addition to the homes that were under construction this past summer, the community’s super park was also getting its finishing touches worked on. In September, residents were lucky enough to enjoy the final product for weeks before the weather changed and snow fell. The super park includes a waterfall feature, covered cookhouse with barbecues and eating area, a playground and a pathway system that connects directly to other parks within Southfork. “It’s been really popular,” Hart says. For outdoor fun this winter, a two-year-old park in the community has a great toboggan hill. “That park is connected by a nice greenway into the new super park, so it all forms one massive park system.” Those considering buying in the newest Stage 6 of Southfork, will be pleasantly surprised to know that half the lots back onto the super park.
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 Area: Southfork in Leduc Developer: Tamani Communities Builders & Prices: Homes by Avi, Dolce Vita Homes and Jayman MasterBUILT front-attached homes starting in low $400,000s (including lot and GST). Innovations by Jayman and Dolce Vita build laned homes from the high $200,000s. Dolce Vita Homes, Homes by Avi and Innovations by Jayman MasterBUILT semi-detached homes starting from mid-$280,000s. Homes by Avi and Jayman MasterBUILT townhomes start in the mid-$200,000s. Hours: Monday to Thursday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., weekends and holidays noon to 5 p.m. Web: www.southforkleduc.ca Residents can take advantage of Leduc’s family-oriented atmosphere and amenities with easy access to the Leduc Recreation Centre (contains a curling rink, hockey arena and an aquatic centre), The Maclab Centre for the Performing Arts and the reputable Black Gold Regional School system. Accessibility is always something homebuyers question and Southfork really couldn’t be better situated with direct access to the airport, something very useful for those who work in Fort McMurray. Nisku is minutes away and Edmonton is a quick commute north on the QEII. Hart says Tamani is a very successful community. So what’s stopping you from taking the quick jaunt south to see for yourself? n
D ecember 2 01 3 N E W H O ME & C O N D O L I V IN G • 11
condo profile
County condos Sherwood Park homebuyers gladly welcome Grande Design to their list of stylish builders to consider By Kate Hamilton
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or a Sherwood Park address at an affordable price, look no further than Princeton Court. Grande Design Builder Group’s first development in Strathcona County offers a crossover between the condominium and singlefamily markets, with prices starting in the $330,000s, including GST. Stylish, spacious townhomes offer independent living with less hassle than owning a house, and condo fees have been set at $160 per month, with payments for reserve and contingency funds collected from the get-go. “The condo fees cover exterior maintenance, landscaping, garbage and snow removal, common area insurance and utilities,” says Michelle Holland, area manager, adding that calculated projections for future building maintenance mean fees won’t increase significantly over time. Each 1,781-square-foot unit boasts three bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms, plus a finished flex
12 • NE W H O ME & C O ND O L I V IN G D ecember 2 01 3
room in the basement that can be customized as an entertainment space, home gym or additional storage. The main floor features a separate living room, an open plan kitchen/dining space, which opens onto a large patio, and a laundry room with half-bath. Upstairs, the master suite includes a good-sized
Unlike other builders who offer predetermined packages ... Grande Design gives buyers the opportunity to choose every individual finish. 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
ensuite and walk-in closet. There are also two additional bedrooms and a main bath. Some popular floor plan variations include having two master suites or moving the laundry room upstairs. Standard features include hardwood on the main floor, granite countertops, under mount sink, upgraded faucet, six stainless steel appliances and an automatic garage door opener with two remotes. Unlike other builders who offer predetermined packages to pick interior colours and finishes, Grande Design gives buyers the opportunity to choose every individual finish. And despite close neighbours, residents won’t ever hear what’s going on next door thanks to soundproofing features that Holland says are “second to none.” “People really want to know about the soundproofing,” she says. There are no common walls; between connecting units, two walls are separated by one inch of airspace — and electrical outlets are located in sound-control boxes. Holland says a few of Grande Design’s other higher quality construction features include a specialized window installation system that prevents moisture from getting in through the siding and an engineered joist system of two-by-four cross bars that exceeds
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D ecember 2 01 3 NE W H O ME & C O ND O L I V IN G • 1 3
condo profile
Fast Facts Builder: Size:
Grande Design Builder Group 1,781-square-feet units/three-bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms Price: Starting from the $330,000s, including GST Address: Show suite found at 301 Palisades Way, Sherwood Park Hours: Tuesday to Thursday 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Project: Completion expected spring 2015, units already available for possession Web: www.grandedesign.ca
code requirements. Areas with exposure to possible moisture have been finished with moisture- and mould-proof drywall and the oversized doubleattached garages feature top-grade spray foam ceilings, which provide extra R-value for heat retention, as well as being fume-proof. Outside at Princeton Court, units surround a large central green space. “Grande Design doesn’t utilize land the same way as other builders,” Holland says. For example, extra space is left between driveways and green space and landscaping is always included, giving a very open feeling to the development. “Some of the owners are already talking about communal barbecues next summer.” Construction of Princeton Court started in the spring of 2012, with completion expected early in 2015. Five of the 56 units are already occupied and roughly 20 more have been claimed. “We’ve had a lot of buyers that are from Sherwood Park and obviously, they want to stay in Sherwood Park,” says Holland. “We are getting every demographic from people that are downsizing to young singles and couples buying their first home.” The location is prime, close to Millennium Place recreation centre, Centennial Park and Emerald Hills shopping complex. Proximity to Anthony Henday Drive and Yellowhead Trail also means easy access into Edmonton. In addition to agreeable pricing, desirable location and stylish, high-quality units, prospective Princeton Court customers can rest assured they’ll be taken care of throughout the home-buying process. “Grande Design allows people to do so many different things, they go out of their way to accommodate, taking care of the clients and are really caring,” says Holland. n 1 4 • NE W H O ME & C O ND O L I V IN G D ecember 2 01 3
Grande Design doesn’t utilize land the same way as other builders. Extra space is left between driveways and green space and landscaping is always included.
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
Sterling standard You get it all in one triumphant home By Cait Wills
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he Triumph by Sterling Homes at Allard Heritage Valley is, in a word, welcoming. From the moment you step inside, you feel embraced in the warmth of a well-loved home. While spacious, the Triumph show home in southwest Edmonton presents at a generous 2,319 square-feet, yet never feels overwhelming. “Our homes are designed with the customer’s needs in mind,” says Erik Eisen, sales representative for the Triumph at Allard Heritage Valley. “We believe that the details that make a Sterling home special aren’t the add ons — they’re the features that we consider part of our Sterling Standard value.”
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D ecember 2 01 3 NE W H O ME & C O ND O L I V IN G • 15
show home profile
“We believe that the details that make a Sterling home special aren’t the add ons — they’re the features that we consider part of our Sterling Standard value.” The size of the home means that Sterling’s focus on contemporary finishes plays well against the streamlined floor plan, which includes a sleek, ultra-modern fireplace in the main floor great room. Additionally, the modern door designs and European-style finishes throughout boost the modern feel. A cunning hidden storage area lives under a built-in bench in the spacious front entryway, which has ceilings that soar up to the second floor. Your eye is immediately drawn upwards when you step through the front door because light beams down from a window strategically placed above the entrance. The window illuminates the great room upstairs that has enough space for a large family to relax in together. The flex room is visible from the entrance, where a cutaway looks into the living space. And this, in turn, opens onto an enormous 16 • NE W H O ME & C O ND O L I V IN G D ecember 2 01 3
kitchen area, informal dining room and great room. The kitchen island, finished with granite and a gorgeous under mount stainless steel double sink, has seating for four and a hidden storage area. Stainless steel appliances complement the décor, which is rich and warm, highlighting the burnished tiles that cover the fireplace face in the great room, soaring to the top of the nine-foot ceiling. The built-in shelves serve as bookends for the fireplace, meaning everything has its place in this cozy, but elegant, space. You can watch the seasons change from the dining area’s spacious windows that overlook a roomy back yard, or take things outside onto a 10-foot by 11-foot deck perfect for dining al fresco in the warmer months. 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
“Our homes are designed to be the best value for our customers, from top to bottom, inside and out.” The Sterling Standard specifications that make up the Triumph, include two bedrooms on the second floor and master suite with spa-like ensuite: soaker tub, granite countertops and a rain showerhead that invite relaxation. The second floor also includes a laundry room large enough to hold a full-size washer and dryer, as well as a folding and ironing area. The home comes with an unfinished basement that can be easily upgraded to include a large family room, two additional bedrooms and a third full-bathroom. While Sterling’s focus on the interior is to the highest standard, the same care has been placed with the exterior. The standard architectural materials include 30-year roofing shingles, triple-pane window glazing, R50 attic insulation and a heated garage (a rare treat during Edmonton winters). “These things are just a small sample of Sterling Home’s measure of quality,” says Eisen. “Our homes are designed to be the best value for our customers, from top to bottom, inside and out.” The neighbourhood of Heritage Valley, at 116 hectares, truly is an oasis in the city. Located just south of the Anthony Hendy, minutes to downtown on the nearby Century Park LRT line and almost as close to the Edmonton International Airport, Heritage Valley is a commuter’s paradise. Currently, Ellerslie shops and services are minutes away, the nearby Terwilliger Recreation Centre has swimming, skating, curling and fitness facilities and there are two schools — Edmonton Public and Catholic — in the area. “We invite you to come and see for yourself the Triumph,” Eisen says. “It is a perfect marriage of comfort and convenience.” 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: Sterling Homes Model: Triumph Area: Allard Heritage Valley Style: Two-storey with front attached double garage Size: 2,319 square-feet, with additional lower floor option of additional 755 square-feet Price: $495,691 Address: 3316 Abbott Crescent S.W. Hours: Monday to Thursday, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., weekends and holidays, noon to 5 p.m. Web: www.sterlingedmonton.com
D ecember 2 01 3 NE W H O ME & C O ND O L I V IN G • 17
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community profile
Southern Comfort Laurel delivers with its amenities and accessibility to all of Edmonton
Story and photos by Michelle Lindstrom
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here’s a community in south Edmonton that has a home for everyone. Two well-respected developers — Dundee Developments and Qualico Communities — are the masterminds behind the community of Laurel that has every product type a homebuyer could ever want. David Morris, development manager for Dundee Developments, says Laurel is a massive community — almost 700 acres — and even though they started in there about five years ago, he expects there to be about three to five more years of development to go for Dundee.
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D ecember 2 01 3 N E W H O ME & C O N D O L I V IN G • 19
COMMUNITY PROFILE
“We wanted a diverse community that would offer housing styles that would meet everybody’s budget ... We’ve pretty much covered the gamut in here.” The actual perimeter of the Laurel includes the land between 23rd Avenue to Anthony Henday Drive and everything between 17th and 34th Street. “Laurel is planned to accommodate, at its full population, approximately 13,500 people,” Morris says, adding that it is about 40 per cent complete in terms of development. “We have a very limited amount of lots that are for sale right now because we’re not developing a new phase until next spring,” Morris explains. It’s a different story for Qualico Communities, which has taken on the southwest quarter of the community and marketed it as Laurel Crossing. “We have several product housing types,” says Kirsten Warwick, sales and marketing manager for Qualico Communities, citing street-fronting townhomes, condos, duplexes and singlefamily homes with front-attached garages or with rear lane. 2 0 • NE W H O ME & C O ND O L I V IN G D ecember 2 01 3
“We wanted a diverse community that would offer housing styles that would meet everybody’s budget,” Warwick says. “We’ve pretty much covered the gamut in here.” Qualico began development in Laurel Crossing in 2010 and Warwick expects about two more years of development in the area from them and their builder group to sell roughly into 2016. Those builders include Landmark Homes, Tristate, Pacesetter, Bedrock, Carrington and more. One future amenity that builders, developers and especially residents are very excited about within the Laurel area is The Meadows Community Recreation Centre on 17th Street and 23rd Avenue. When finished, sometime in 2014, it will be a 234,419-square-foot public facility complete with a gymnasium, fitness centre, aquatics centre, arena, library, concession stand, multi-purpose rooms and outdoor recreation spaces, such as a spray park and ball diamonds. 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
COMMUNITY PROFILE
Fast Facts Area: Laurel Developer: Dundee Developments Builders & Prices: Single-family front attached garage by Coventry Homes, Crystal Creek Homes (formerly Greenboro), and Landmark Homes have prices starting at low $400,000s. Detached garage lane homes built by Landmark Legacy Homes and Coventry Homes, prices to be confirmed directly with builders. Duplexes by Lincolnberg Master Builder starting from $320,000s. Hours: Monday to Thursday, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.; weekends and holidays, noon to 5 p.m. Web: www.livelaurel.ca
Fast Facts
Morris notes Dundee’s 2014 spring co-development with the City of Edmonton will be immediately south of the future recreational facility; Laurel’s northwest quarter. “We will be bringing another 300 lots on the market adjacent to 23rd Ave.,” Morris says. “It will be a combination of single-family with front attached garage, single-detached with rear garage and lanes, duplexes, street townhousing, project townhousing … a complete blend of house types going forward.” He says the Meadows Community centre will play a significant role in the decision people make when deciding where to purchase a home in Edmonton. The existing nearby commercial options — grocery store, banks, restaurants — and future school sites are also notable reasons to consider Laurel. Accessibility to the rest of Edmonton, such as the Grey Nuns Hospital in Millwoods, because of the community’s proximity to Whitemud Drive and Anthony Henday Drive make the average homebuyer’s community search full of ticks in the Pro column for Laurel. “Laurel has anything any other community has and more. It’s not lacking anything,” Morris says. “The hospital in Millwoods is five minutes away. The airport is 20 minutes away. Downtown is 20 minutes away. And, the whole area is the best position in the city if you want access to jobs in Nisku.” Warwick and Morris agree the wide variety of available housing product has attracted a wide-variety of buyers. “It’s a very active community,” Morris says. “There are lots of young families in there. It’s very popular with them because it has excellent park systems and walking trails.” Keep an eye out for both developers in Edmonton’s south and expect the line-ups for lots to increase once the recreational facility is complete. It’s the place to be. 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
Area: Laurel Crossing (part of Laurel) Developer: Qualico Communities Builders & Prices: Single-family front attached by Landmark Homes, Tristate, Pacesetter and Sterling Homes start in the low $400,000s. Single-family with rear lane by Pacesetter Homes start in low $350,000s. Duplexes with front garages are built by Sterling and Pacesetter Homes. Duplexes with rear lanes are by Bedrock Homes, Pacesetter Homes and Connect Homes start in the low $315,000s. Condos are by Carrington from $130,000s. Prices for townhomes by Sterling Homes, Carrington Homes and Streetside to be confirmed directly with builders. Hours: Monday to Thursday, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.; weekends, noon to 5 p.m. Web: www.laurel-crossing.com
“Laurel has anything any other community has and more.”
D ecember 2 01 3 NE W H O ME & C O ND O L I V IN G • 21
DESign & DÉcor
Get this party started From food to dimmer switches, you’ll be prepared By Rosalyn Lazaruk
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love hosting events for friends through the holiday • Create your mood. Depending on the type of party you are season. I used to spend weeks planning and working throwing, lighting and music can make, or break, the on the event, which would only add to the already mood. Apps like Songza are great if you don’t own a huge stressful season. Now, I love to just keep it simple, which library of music. They have playlists already created for allows me to enjoy the evening just as much as my guests. every mood, occasion and genre. Candles create a warm I have learned a few things over the years about how glow, and I am always a fan of dimmer switches on all to ensure I am prepared and relaxed come party time: lights to be used for any activity. Be sure that if you have • Invest in extra dishes and cutlery. Shops like Superstore and IKEA have a great selection of side dishes, cutlery and glasses at great prices. Rather than renting, invest once in some extra wine glasses, white side plates and additional cutlery and you will never run short. After a few parties, these pieces will have paid for themselves. • Less is more. When it comes to food, keep things simple. Save yourself from running all over town looking for special ingredients and ensure your items can be found at your local grocery store. I like to keep my recipes to under five ingredients and under 20 minutes of prep time. If anything can be prepared ahead of time, that is even better! • Quality vs. Quantity. When it comes to stocking the
bar, you don’t need to be a master mixologist to keep your guests happy. I like to give my guests some options but generally keep it to two types of red wine, two types of white, two or three beer choices and a signature cocktail. For wine selection, don’t go for the least expensive bottle on the shelf. I like to go to a local wine shop and ask staff for the best wine in my price range; they are always full of fabulous suggestions.
your guests playing games that there is enough light to read by. n
Signature appetizer: BLT bites
Ingredients: • Sourdough Bread • Bacon • Campari Tomato • Lettuce • Mayonnaise Preparation: s per bread Toast sourdough bread and slice into squares (4 square Slice the crisp. until fry and slice per pieces 4 into slice). Cut bacon a touch Add . tomatoes. Wash and tear the lettuce into small pieces g layerin by ble assem and of mayonnaise to each square of bread large a Use . slices bread en betwe above prepared ingredients noted long! pick to hold the bites together. Make lots ... they don’t last
Signature cocktail: Pimm’s
& ginger Ingredients: • Pimm’s • Ginger Ale • Lemon • Mint leaves Preparation: Fill a pitcher with ice and add 1 part Pimm’s, 3 parts Ginger Ale, lemon slices and a few sprigs of mint.
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. 2 2 • NE W H O ME & C O ND O L I V IN G D ecember 2 01 3
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
AROUND TOWN By Michelle Lindstrom and Jim Zang
Designed to welcome Lesley Conway, president of Hopewell Residential and what we see as very strong and healthy future here in EdmonSabal Homes, proudly took part in the official public opening of ton,” Conway says. “The great thing about this space is there’s Sabal’s new designSense Studio and office in Edmonton’s West- room to grow and we are all about being flexible and keeping up gate Business Park. The grand opening event, held on Thursday, to date.” November 7, welcomed approximately 100 guests — Edmonton Finishes and samples will be changed out when necessary to and Calgary Hopewell Residential staff, trades, partners and stay on top of trends and respond to customer feedback. media — to mingle, sip on wine and enjoy hors d’oeuvres while It’s not only customers who will benefit from the new building taking in the impressive space. and its free parking; Edmonton staff members are also winning A sample kitchen displays a big. “It has created a whole new contemporary glass tile backlevel of energy in the office to have splash, solid countertops and new space and new offices,” Conway soft white cabinets, while at the says. back of the room wide-plank Sabal Homes is a member of the hardwood samples of various Hopewell Group of Companies shades decorate the wall. (HGOC) based in Calgary that Those building a Sabal home offers the homebuilder a wealth of in Edmonton and area will have resources to rely upon. the pleasure of picking surface “I think that buying a new home, finishes, flooring, plumbing and particular from Sabal, we identify tile with the aid of a professional ourselves as the ‘uncommonly designer in this open-concept stylish’ homebuilder, which really is design centre. Separate meeting a way of saying that we’re creative Sabal Homes management team at grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony. rooms are also off the side to and forward-looking and we offer From Left: CEO Ken Lee, designSense Studio manager Brandy Bombard, VP review finish selections. homes that really capture the buySales Edmonton & Region Richard Drader, VP Operations Edmonton Wayne Bulitz and President Lesley Conway. Photo by Michelle Lindstrom. “It was our commitment to ers’ imagination,” Conway says.
The numbers According to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), housing starts for the Edmonton Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) dropped in October (15,279 starts) compared to September (15,680 starts). “While the trend in new home construction moved lower in October, actual housing starts for both single-detached and multi-family units were higher than the previous year,” says Christina Butchart, CHMC Edmonton’s senior market analyst. Specifically for Edmonton CMA single-family housing starts, they were five per cent higher at 4,474 units compared to the same period in 2012. For Edmonton’s third quarter, sales in the existing home 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
market were up 21 per cent from the same quarter in 2012. High demand and less supply have increased pressure on the Edmonton resale market prices. The average 2013 third quarter MLS residential price was $347,809 compared to $332,339 as the average price recorded a year prior. Low mortgage rates, an expanding economy, income growth, job creation and increased migration all support the demand for housing this year.
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Around Town
Snail mail Did you know Canada Post wants to charge home builders a fee to register houses? It’s true. But apparently the good folks at The Crown corporation have suffered a recent bout of conscience (or a dose of reality) and have offered to reduce the fee they want to charge to register addresses in new neighbourhoods from $200 to $150 per home. At the recent national CHBA meetings in Ottawa, home building industry representatives from across the country
agreed that wasn’t good enough. In fact, the fight is about principle, not a price cut. That principle being: Canada Post has no business imposing new fees on home construction when its real problem is that Canadians are sending fewer and fewer pieces of mail. Adjusting community mailbox fees will not change that reality or make up the shortfall. And, as mail volumes continue to decrease, will they just continue to raise fees to try to make up the difference? CHBA has asked Canada Post
to suspend plans to impose the fee and has plans to rally members and other stakeholders to oppose Canada Post, if necessary. This issue helps illustrate how the Association provides its members — and in this case also consumers — with effective advocacy at local, provincial and national levels.
Good news for condo owners
Manmeet Bhullar
Based on a survey of more than 5,000 people — condo owners, developers, property managers and lawyers — Service Alberta Minister Manmeet Bhullar promised earlier this year that the Alberta Condominium Act would be amended. One of the main issues the new legislation will address is the responsibility, accountability and actual breadth of power of condo boards. It seems out-of-control condo boards and lack of legitimate consistent enforcement procedures brought about by weak provincial legislation, are a
problem for condo owners, with the courts all too often becoming the forum for dispute resolution. In response, Bhullar recently announced the province’s intention to convene a group of government, industry and condo owner representatives that will preside over various condo issues as a more affordable alternative. Meanwhile, work continues by many of these industry experts, as well as the provincial government, on phase two of the Condominium Property Act Review.
Alberta Condo Owners Association Speaking of new condo groups, following the lead of Ontario (something we don’t often admit to in these parts), a group of concerned Alberta condo owners formed the Alberta Condo Owners Association (ACOA). Co-founded by local condo guru Bernice (Bernie) Winter, CEO of Condo-Check, and Dr. June Donaldson, president of Donaldson & Associates Inc., the group is not just a government lobby but also provides information support to condo owners. There’s power in numbers, and with more Albertans living the condo lifestyle, the ACOA hopes to to provide one loud voice for the consumer rather than thousands of tiny voices in the wilderness. 2 4 • NE W H O ME & C O ND O L I V IN G D ecember 2 01 3
“Often, once the glow is off the granite and the reality of condo living settles in, owners can face a number of challenging issues from pets to parking to people to policies and finally to their bank account,” says Donaldson. “Right now, there appears to be nowhere for condo owners to go for timely, cost-effective, practical insight or intervention to help them have their issues recorded, consolidated or addressed. We will track owner concerns, act on issues or trends that gain momentum, build appropriate business cases for change, and inform our membership of progress made.” For more information, or to join, visit albertacoa.com. n
Dr. June Donaldson
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
market view by Wesley Gunderson
Alberta outlook for 2014 It’s hard to believe another year has passed. As we look back at the Market View column from this time last year it seems that much of what we anticipated in 2013 was as good as, or better than, forecasted. The highlights: • We said that Alberta’s starts would level off from strong growth in 2012 and come in at 31,200 starts. According to the latest forecast out of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), it looks as though we will hit 33,800 starts in 2013 • We said home prices were expected to rise 2.7 per cent in 2012. According to CMHC, the average MLS price in Alberta is up 3.6 per cent So what do we see looking to 2014? Alberta to Lead Canada in Growth Alberta is expected to post 4.1 per cent gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2014, leading all provinces. This would represent a 0.9 per cent increase over this year’s 3.2 per cent growth. Housing Starts Expected to Increase Modestly We anticipate a modest increase in housing starts in 2014 to about 34,400 starts. Single-family starts are expected to increase 3.8 per cent, while multi-family starts are expected to decrease 0.6 per cent. The only market expected to actually experience a decrease is Calgary. On the whole, starts are expected to increase 1.7 per cent.
Prices We anticipate home prices to continue to increase in 2014. Population and employment growth — the fundamental drivers of housing demand — will drive prices higher. It looks like Alberta’s net migration (those coming in minus those leaving) is 75,000 people in 2013 and is expected to be about 63,000 in 2014. From the supply side, upward cost pressure will continue to influence price as well, most notably rising labour costs. Additionally, mandatory warranty and code changes are expected to add additional cost pressures. Based on these factors, we see prices rising on average about 2.4 per cent in 2014, or almost $10,000 on the average home. Interest Rates Expected to Stay Low As Alberta continues to prosper, it seems much of the rest of the world is taking two steps forward and one step back. This drag on global economic growth is keeping interest rates low for now. However, bond rates — which have an affect on mortgage rates — have been and are expected to rise. It is starting to sound like a broken record, but higher interest rates are on the horizon. The only question is how long until we reach that horizon. We expect rates to stay low and modestly increase in 2014. Conclusion It looks to be another good year for Albertans in 2014. Strong economic fundamentals are supporting the housing market and driving prices higher. 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
D ecember 2 01 3 NE W H O ME & C O ND O L I V IN G • 25
CITY OF EDMONTON MAP
INNER CITY Legend Shopping Centre
Point of Interest
Hospital
College /Universitie
CONDO PROJECTS
Condo Project New Home Project
NEW HOME PROJECTS
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
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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
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
ADVERTISERS INDEX ATCO Gas
Page 18
www.atcogas.com Carlisle Group
Page 31
Walker Lake Gate / Vita Estates www.walkerlakegate.ca www.vitaestates.ca Tamani Communities
FC, pages 10-11
Southfork Leduc www.southforkleduc.ca Lincolnberg Master Builder
Pages 2-3
www.lincolnberg.com Sabal
Page 4
www.sabalhomes.com Walton Development
Page 32
McConachie www.mcconachie.ca Walton Development
Page 7
VITA www.liveatvita.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
D ecember 2 01 3 NE W H O ME & C O ND O L I V IN G • 27
EDMONTON AND AREA MAP NEW HOMES 1. The Banks of Sturgeon Valley 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
CONDOS 1. Lakeview Estates 2. Sierras of Inglewood 3. Grande- Mission Hill 4. Tenor 5. Sage Gardens
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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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
EDMONTON AND AREA MAP NEW HOMES 1. Village Champlain 2. La Rose 3. Grandin Park Close 4. Notre Dame Estates 5. 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. Brooklands at Bridgeport 2. Ravine Villas 3. Urbia Manor 4. Urbia Green 5. The Springs at Bridgeport
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
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
D ecember 2 01 3 NE W H O ME & C O ND O L I V IN G • 2 9
show home profile Feature
Tales from the condo zone Merry condo Christmas
T
By Jim Zang | Illustration by Lama Azhari
o many of us, Christmas just doesn’t seem, well, Christmassy, without some seasonal decorations. Trees, lights, miniature manger scenes, strings of greeting cards stretched out along the wall … When I was a kid, we had all of that. Including a giant scotch pine that my dad would always bring back for us from one of his business trips to B.C. Nothing beats the smell of a real tree. Our house looked a little like Chevy Chase’s home in Christmas Vacation. You know, the one with enough lights on it that it can be seen from the International Space Station. It seemed like there was always a sort of unspoken competition between some of the alpha males on the block to see who could have the highest monthly electric bill. At least my dad stopped at Christmas lights. Our neighbour, Dewey Butz (his real name, I kid you not), opted for the glowing, moving robotic reindeer and 12-foot inflatable Santa. On the other side of him was old man Gadget’s house. He was a Scrooge if there ever was one. No Christmas decorations and no Halloween candy. And by the way, don’t let your football accidently go onto his lawn, but that’s another story. Luckily, when I moved away from home and into a condo, I was spared this right of passage into Canadian manhood by my condo bylaws. There were strict guidelines as to what was and was not acceptable in terms of decorations, so keeping up with the Joneses (or Butzes, as the case may be) was never an issue.
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Oh, you were still allowed to celebrate Christmas if you wanted to, but in a tasteful, less in-your-face manner. A string of lights was okay, but only one and only on your deck railing. They had to be off by 11 p.m. No flashing lights and nothing that made any noise. You may like hearing the Chipmunks sing “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” every time a bird sets off your motion detector but, and trust me on this, your neighbours probably do not. Fake trees were okay, real trees were not. Something to do with fire regulations, not to mention the problem of trying to dispose of 300 trees the week after. Fine with me, I liked my fake little condo Christmas tree. What it lacked in size it more than made up for in character. Nothing but a simple wreath was allowed on outer or hallway doors, and for sure no inflatables! Somehow, even without a giant Frosty on the front lawn, Santa still found us. Of course, inside your condo is a different story. Here, you’re free to decorate to your yuletide heart’s content. For a bachelor, that might be a tree with empty beer cans hanging from it (not that I’d know anything about that); while, for my mother-in-law, it meant re-arranging the furniture for a month to make way for 70-some year’s worth of Christmas-themed crafts to come out. Personally, I kind of like the condo version of Christmas. Because the less time and money I spent decorating, the more I had to do things with friends and family. You know, the things that are really important at this time of year. 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