The YYC inner-city difference

Saville Homes

THE YYC

INNER-CITY DIFFERENCE

by PEPPER RODRIGUEZ

There is a lot to love about living in Calgary’s inner-city. The commute to work downtown is much shorter compared to the new suburbs, there are plenty of established amenities ready to be enjoyed, and of course there is the prestige of living in a made-for-you home.

Building new infill homes in the inner-city has become more popular, as more young families rediscover the charms of living in an already established neighbourhood.

Recent City of Calgary’s community profiles reveal that there are more Calgarians under the age of 14 living in inner-city communities. Calgary’s total is at about 19 percent of that age group, but in Altadore it is at 20 percent, in West Hillhurst it is at 17 percent, and in Hillhurst it is at 15 percent. That means more young families are moving to these neighbourhoods, and more are coming in.

With the demand has come an increase in competition in the market, which has effectively brought some prices down.

NEW VOICE

There is a fledgling group of infill builders in Calgary that have banded together to bring a bigger voice to the industry’s concerns. The Calgary Inner City Builders Association (CICBA) is a non-profit organization that aims to give a bigger voice to infill builders and developers.

They are a relatively new voice founded in fall 2020, but they are working to improve Calgary’s already established communities, promote the benefits of redevelopment, create affordability in the industry and establish credibility and accountability.

Sheldon Appave, principal of Saville Homes, and cofounder of the Calgary Inner City Builders Association (CICBA), says the group can create affordability in infills by cutting red tape in the processing of applications.

“The City has been constantly changing the bylaws and code requirements for all types of products, especially in the multifamily sector. Fees are becoming increasingly high, and the cost has to be passed onto the consumer.”

Appave says CICBA wants to make a positive difference and promote healthy inner-city development and that members have been heavily involved even before the organization was even formed.

“The city needed a collective voice who specifically represented the inner-city so we stepped up. We are heavily involved with the city and the planning department. We have been included in a number of committees that the city has created with regards to planning. Our goal is to have a direct line to the city with concerns,

Sturgess Architecture

questions, process changes and to represent the small to medium size builders who would otherwise have voices that fall on deaf ears.”

Appave says he is seeing the growth of the industry with increasing membership for CICBA and tighter competition in the inner-city. “We are seeing more builders come in the inner-city market and we want to ensure standards are being met for all home buyers,” he tells Calgary New Home + Condo Guide.

APPEALING LIFESTYLE

The infill lifestyle continues to attract a very specific crowd. Darren Polanski, Senior Associate at Sturgess Architecture, says most of their buyers building infill homes are already aware that prices will be higher than building in the suburbs, but they are after a specific way of life that innercity living fulfills.

“Cost of land is the biggest difference between building in the suburbs and the inner-city,” he says. “You can build something starting at $250 – $300 per square foot in the inner-city. The main factors in cost escalation in the inner-city has to do with land value. But many of our buyers are already aware of this and have it worked in their budget.”

But living closer to Calgary’s core does have an appeal. Polanski says he is seeing more new families move to the inner-city, but downsizers and empty-nesters who no longer want large properties to maintain are also integral to the market.

For many individuals, couples, families, and downsizers, infills present the best of both worlds. Developed communities have more school options, community centers, retail and business centers, parks, and mature trees that most new communities lack. While new communities on the outer edges of the city have longer commute times, with less public transit options, and often, fewer options for urban comforts like meal deliveries and ride sharing services.

Polanski says the development of the Green Line will open up inner-city communities like Ramsey and Ogden to more infill development. The new C-Train service – which incidentally Sturgess Architecture is designing – will bring new connections and accessibility to those older neighbourhoods.

STYLISH LIFESTYLE

Another key appeal in building in the inner-city is the opportunity to build a home suited to one’s own tastes and style. “Buyers are not limited to the cookie-cutter home designs in the suburbs,” Appave says.

Polanski agrees, saying his outfit doesn’t really follow trends. “We’re more interested in getting to know the buyer first and then designing a home based on their needs. Although we don’t follow trends, there are some features for smart floorplans that we always follow, like taller windows, accessibility and connection to the outdoors.”

Appave says Saville Homes stays ahead of the competition by building relationships with their buyers and focusing on quality rather than quantity. “By accepting a limited number of custom homes to build for clients, Saville Homes is able to deliver the exceptional level of service our clients have come to expect.”

MULTI-FAMILY OPTIONS

It’s not just single-family homes that are rising in popularity in the innercity, townhomes and condos are readily available as well.

The Row by Saville features modern brick-stone rowhouse architecture, The Row is one of Calgary’s most striking townhome developments - just steps from the

attractions of Marda Loop. Only four residences will be released in this special collection inspired by the storied rowhouses of Brooklyn’s Bensonhurst and Chicago’s Lincoln Park.

Speaking of Brooklyn, Trico Homes – a homebuilder traditionally building in the suburbs – has just released their Brooklyn townhomes in the South Calgary/ Marda Loop area.

Brooklyn is actually a return for Trico to Calgary’s innercity townhome market, having completed Lakeview infills in Fall of 2018. The opportunity to build in a dynamic and vibrant neighbourhood like Marda Loop seemed too good to pass up, says Multi-Family Sales Manager, Carmen De Luca.

“Marda Loop/South Calgary has always been a very desirable place to live because of its centralized location. This is a community that will only continue to appreciate over time, thanks to the (City’s) investment into revitalizing the area, as well as the development of amenities for every need,” she tells Calgary New Home + Condo Guide.

“For this reason, it’s a great time to offer townhomes of this size and quality in an area with limited opportunity. Brooklyn allows an inner-city lifestyle without the hustle and bustle of downtown. It’s a very walkable neighbourhood, that’s also close to major roads for convenience.”

Brooklyn gathers 12 threebedroom, modern townhomes crafted into an iconic vintage style that brings new energy and vibrancy to the community’s streetscape. It is an exclusive development with very limited opportunities, designed for the metropolitan lifestyle. Two blocks with six units each are complete and available for quick possessions, offering doubleattached garages, rooftop patios with gorgeous downtown views, all built by Trico Homes with a reputation for design, craftsmanship & customer care. It is recommended to book an appointment to view these homes at tricohomes.com.

Brooklyn townhomes by Trico Homes

TOP COMMUNITIES FOR INNER-CITY INFILLS

House hunters who are considering purchasing or building a new infill have many great inner-city communities to consider. Here are our top 5 picks:

KILLARNEY-GLENGARRY, SW

A hotspot for trendy restaurants and community gardens, there is a surge of infills in this community. Many young Calgary families have moved in as there are two elementary schools in the neighbourhood and plenty of community playgrounds and recreation centers to enjoy.

ALTADORE, SW

With easy access off Crowchild, Altadore is less than 15 minutes from downtown Calgary, just south of the trendy Marda Loop, and right next to the parks along the Elbow River. It’s a very convenient place to live within Calgary and it’s hard to find a street within the community that doesn’t have a recently completed infill, or one under construction.

WEST HILLHURST, NW

West Hillhurst is very accessible to public transportation, close to Kensington and the river pathway system. West Hillhurst has a very engaged community organization with a long history of fostering community cohesion and development. With several public schools, this community is an easy pick for young families.

CRESCENT HEIGHTS, NW/NE

Crescent Heights is well situated with the downtown core and easy access to the Bow pathway to the south, and a straight route west to the mountains with 16th Ave NE to the north. Plenty of greenspaces, and close access to other hot spots like Bridgeland and Kensington make this a sought-after area.

BRIDGELAND & RENFREW, NE

Bridgeland is very popular due to the proximity to downtown, easy transit access, plenty of trendy shops and proximity to the river. It has been a hot area for redevelopment as one of Calgary’s redevelopment zones. Renfrew is an up-and-coming area for infill development because it’s close enough to the action in Bridgeland that you could walk over and access all the amenities.