Calgary Condo Living September 2013

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S o u R c E M E d i a g R o u P : c E L E B R a T i N g i T S 1 0 T h Y E a R S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 3 C O N D O L I V I N G | 7

COntentsS E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 3 | V o L u M E 9 i S S u E 1 6 5

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Focus on10 Shakin’ all over Salt and pepper shakers add their

own spice to dining décor

cover Feature12 The sharpest Edge Streetside revolutionizes

multi-family style in Airdrie with The Edge

condo ProFiles18 Sophisticated style 6th and Tenth gives new meaning

to living the high life

24 A tranquil Aura Aura of Copperfield townhomes

blend sophistication with serenity

29 Villas with a view Million-dollar views enchant

at Villas at Watermark

34 Best in Class Waterfront condominiums

set the standard in Eau Claire

38 Life in ZEN Garden Homes redefine

townhome living in ZEN in Auburn Bay

community ProFile42 Riverfront serenity Riverstone of Cranston brings

back appeal to riverside living

liFestyle46 Peaceful, easy living Chaparral Valley’s peace and

quiet is the tonic for this busy grandmother

on trend50 Making a grand entrance Tips on creating a

welcoming entry way

shoPPing54 Cleaning power As far as vacuums go, the

better it sucks the better it gets

news60 All in the family Property Brothers headline

30th year of Calgary Home + Design Show

Feature66 Art in the city How public art alters

the perception of urban livability

86 Tales from the condo zone A condo love story

columns71 Condoscapes

by Richard White 73 Ask Maria

by Maria Bartolotti75 Hope at Large

by Marty Hope77 Around Town

by Pepper Rodriguez

items 8 Editor’s Message 80 Maps84 Ad Index

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Every year, without fail, fall brings out the crowds to the new show homes and show suites around town, and the cycle promises true this year — despite the misery brought about by June’s historic floods.

Calgary’s housing starts in July bear this out with multi-family construction leading the charge. The standalone figures from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. show home starts for the month at 15,446, way up from June’s 10,420 units.

The news comes as a welcome shot-in-the-arm for an industry that was worried about how the floods would affect business, and from the looks of the crowds at the multi-family show suites in town — looks like everything’s fine and dandy.

Our cover feature on Streetside Development’s The Edge in Airdrie symbolizes the bullishness of the market as they set to unveil three new show homes this month that goes a long way in proving they are the “coolest condo” in this growing city. Both 6th and Tenth by Lamb Developments and Waterfront by Anthem Properties are inner-city high-rises that seem to have weathered the floods unscathed, as sales in both remain at a steady pace, and Waterfront is actually launching sales of their third tower. Aura of Copperfield is similarly going strong with their two and three-storey townhomes, while the long awaited Villas at Watermark finally opens their show suites that truly mark a new level of craftsmanship and style for the right-sizing market.

We also spotlight the estate enclave of Riverstone of Cranston, which many thought was in the path of the rampaging floodwaters of June, but performed beyond all

expectations, as they weren’t even put on evacuation notice during the crisis. Brookfield Residential has really done their assignment and

their line of townhomes and single-family homes here put the thrill back in riverfront living.

September is also the month for finding out new home living stuff in the ever-popular Calgary home + Design Show, where you can catch the Property Brothers and other top-notch designers for the latest lifestyle and décor tips. The

show runs from September 19 to 22 at the BMO Centre in the Stampede Grounds.

Calgary really is an amazing city, and the range of multi-family options available is nothing short of astounding. You better believe that Condo Living is your best source for the latest happenings in the industry.

editor’s message |

PUBLISHER

Source Media Group [email protected]

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Jim [email protected]

EdITOR

Pepper [email protected]

ART dIRECTOR

Jean Faye [email protected]

GRAPHIC dESIGnERS

Lama [email protected]

dave [email protected]

Megan [email protected]

PROdUCTIOn CO-ORdInATOR

Colleen [email protected]

EdITORIAL

Maria Bartolotti, Karen Rudolph durrie, Aaliya Essa, Marty Hope,

Kathy McCormick, Jessica Patterson, Richard White, Portia Yip, Jim Zang

PHOTOGRAPHY

don Molneaux, Pepper Rodriguez

AdVERTISInG SALES

Al [email protected]

ACCOUnTInG

donna [email protected]

dISTRIBUTEd BY

Gallant Distribution Services, Media Classified,Source Media Group

Issue 165 • IssN 1918-4409

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 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.

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Bouncing back

@condolivingyyc condolivingcalgary

Pepper [email protected]

Small kitchen appliances get the spotlight.

next month:

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Salt-and-pepper shakers add their own spice to dining décor

1] sheep salt & pepper shakers, $13.95 at Pier 1. 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.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.

Focus on | By aaliya essa

shakIN’ aLL OVer

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. cL

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| advertising cover Feature |

The sharpesT edge



»

C reating a relaxed, refined environment where homeowners are free to relish an active lifestyle has always been the goal at The Edge, and that goal is almost accomplished as its final building is set for completion this fall.

Three new show suites are being opened in The Edge’s sec-ond, and final, building of Streetside Development’s first multi-family venture in Airdrie. Streetside won the multi-fam-ily builder of the year at the last SAM Awards in Calgary, and The Edge’s stylish affordability is a great example of the developer’s winning style.

Tyler Scott, lead sales consultant for The Edge, says The Edge’s three new show suites will perfectly illustrate the enviable lifestyle available in what is undoubtedly Airdrie’s coolest condo.

“We will have three show suites available: a corner suite and two other two-bedroom suites with dens.”

There will be 119 units in the second building, giving The Edge a total of 190 units. The second building will have 20 floor plans for the one- and two-bedroom apartment-style suites, ranging from 582 to 982 square-feet. Two bedroom models start at 805 square-feet.

“Our one-bedroom suites are already sold out, and the two-bedroom-with-den suites are hot right now,” Scott adds.

streetside revolutionizes multi-family style in airdrie with The edge

The sharpesT edge


Fa s t Fact s

community: East Lake, Airdrie

Project: The Edge

Developer: Streetside Developments

style: Apartment style condos

size: Two-bedroom from 805 sq. ft.

Price: $188,116 – $275,000

address: 1104, 604 East Lake Blvd.

Directions: East on Yankee Valley Blvd. turn north at

East Lake Blvd. turn east on East Lake Cres.

Hours: Monday to Thursday 1 - 7 p.m.; Friday to

Sunday and holidays 12 - 5 p.m.

Phone: 403-980-2817

Website: www.condosinairdrie.com

ous centres of employment — including the Calgary International Airport, CrossIron Mills in Balzac and Airdrie’s own industrial centre — while still enjoying the serenity of the wide green space at your backyard. To top it all off, the multi-million-dollar Genesis Place recreation centre is literally just a few footsteps from The Edge.

Genesis Place is a multi-use recreation facility with swimming, hockey and yoga activities, right next door, and it “provides our residents who are physically active with a great options,” Scott says. “We don’t need to include a lot of in-house add-ons — like gyms and hot tubs — which allows us to keep condo fees low.”

What makes The Edge the coolest Airdrie condo is its architec-ture, as there is nothing like it in the city. “The look complements the surroundings and presents Airdrie’s modern, urban side,” he says. Today’s buyers are looking for a unique address and part of that expectation is the style of building — The Edge provides the uniqueness inside and out.

Prices for available units start under the $200,000 mark. “For the kind of high standards that we offer, there is nothing else in the city that can match this kind of affordability,” Scott says.

The Edge is attracting a lot of single professionals and young cou-ples. “Our designs really appeal to a wide sector of the market, from first time homebuyers, to newly singles and even downsizers,” he adds. “We see empty nesters who want to remain in the neighbour-hood, we see first time homeowners attracted by our price point.”

The Edge is a four-storey condominium community that will have a total of 190 units in the two buildings when complete. It lies ad-jacent to East Lake and East Lake Park, which has also created a peaceful environment for residents, and one that encourages an active lifestyle. n


The Edge’s biggest advantage remains its very appealing location on East Lake Boulevard, right along the picturesque East Lake.

genesis place

The Edge boasts some of the highest standard specs, as each unit comes with window coverings, five appliances, soft close cabinets, and four-inch baseboards. Units have nine-foot ceilings except on the top floor where a select number of units have vaulted ceilings that can soar as high as 16 feet.

The variety of floor plans also allow for great space allocation. Therefore, depending on the floor plan, there will be an in-suite storage room or a den for a home office and some plans have an oversized laundry room.

All floor plans though focus on functionality and the absolute use of all available space. The kitchen, for example, is designed to heighten functionality, as it provides plenty of counter space that adds to the workspace of the busy chef, and creates a terrific entertaining spot.

The Edge also offers an abundance of parking as there is both underground as well as surface parking. A number of the two-bed-room units come with tandem parking.

The Edge’s biggest advantage remains its very appealing location on East Lake Boulevard, right along the picturesque East Lake and with direct access to the city’s extensive parks and pathways system.

It’s one of the prime locations in Airdrie, where you get to enjoy the best of both worlds: The convenience of being close to numer-



condo ProFile | By aaliya essa

sOphIstICateD styLe

“if you like contemporary modern architecture, then you’ll love 6th and Tenth.”


| condo ProFile

sOphIstICateD styLe 6th and Tenth gives new meaning to living the high life

»

Finding a condo that fits your active lifestyle just became a little easier, thanks to 6th and Tenth — where life and style have merged not just into one word, but into a perfectly planned condo development.

in fact, 6th and Tenth is one of the few condos where you really can have it all. The luxury and the comfort of living in a sleek, modern new building, and downtown. it’s all about you, with no commuting, house and yard maintenance, or travel ball and chain to hold you back.

So it’s no surprise Calgarians have definitely taken notice, with sales already reaching the 50 per cent mark. 6th and Tenth is making a big im-pression on buyers, especially those that want ‘a little bit more’, says Brad J. Lamb, founder of Lamb Development Corporation. “We are a little over half sold, so that would be about 120 units sold to date,” he says.

This is their first project in Calgary says Lamb, a Toronto-based condo-minium developer with more than 20 years of experience in designing, building and marketing condo projects, and, based on how sales are going so far, it could be the first of many.

What makes 6th and Tenth unique, for starters, is simply the very look of the building. “How we have devised the ground floor, in particular, no one else has done this. in fact, in most cities you won’t see what we have done here,” says Lamb. The building entrance has been pulled back to create a park-like colonnade, whereas most developments in Canadian cities have podiums, and the building generally comes right up to the side walk. “So here we have pulled back the podium and created a water feature and a park.”

This distinctive theme is consistent throughout the building, as can be seen in their show suite. “Everything in this building is beautiful,” says Lamb. “if you like contemporary modern architecture, then you’ll love 6th and Tenth.”

The interior design is based on European styling, only in North Amer-ican sizing, meaning buyers can enjoy a gorgeous sophisticated design, with standard features that include pre engineered wood floors and floor to ceiling tile in the bath tub, while still enjoying nine-foot ceilings in

principle rooms.in the kitchen, stainless steel appliances compliment

a stone surface countertop, including an island that provides additional cabinetry, glass-tiled backsplash, and topped off with a frontloading stacked washer and dryer.

The best-seller to date is the 669-square-foot, one-bed-room plus den floor plan, which, not coincidently, is the show suite that is currently on display at the sales center. The layout has been designed to maximize the space to the fullest potential and, at a price of $331,900, it’s as affordable as it is practical.

One-bedroom suites are also available, ranging from 449 square-feet to 534 square-feet, and starting at $235,900. There is another option for a one-bed-room plus den that is 615 square-feet, and that suite is $289,900.


condo ProFile |

For buyers looking for a little more room, there is a two-bedroom option, ranging from 768 to 825 square-feet, starting at $384,900. There is also a two-bedroom plus a den that is 941 square-feet, that is $463,900. The sub penthouse suite is a two-bedroom, which is 1,250 square-feet, and is priced at $682,900. Buyers can look forward to moving in within the next two years says Lamb.

The large variety of options is intended to fit a broad spectrum of buyers. “Our one-bedroom plus den suites have been the best seller because it is the mid-point in price,” says Lamb. “For in-vestors, both the one-bedroom and one-bedroom-plus-den suites have had the best response as they make a good return on rent.” This is a great incentive for investors.

Of course, location also plays a very large part in the allure to 6th and Tenth. “We are very lucky that we are in a permanently high and dry part of the city,” says Lamb. “That’s a very positive thing for Calgarians today when they are considering where they want to live.”

Being in the beltline means easy access to just about everything. The C-Train and Plus-15 are close, and there’s a virtually limitless selection of amenities such as restaurants, clubs and specialty boutiques. “You’re only a few minutes walk from just about ev-erything. 6th and Tenth is in a really great location,” adds Lamb.

Even within the building itself, there will be a restaurant. Located in the lobby, it’s sure to be the perfect venue for catching a quick bite on your way home from work or meeting up with friends for an evening out.

And, speaking of amenities, the list doesn’t stop there. Residents will also be able to take advantage of an outdoor pool, a party room, and a skylounge area. Relax, mingle with friends, meet new ones, and take the condo lifestyle to the next level.

Enjoy the finer things in life — live life to it’s fullest — at 6th and Tenth. Because you deserve it. cL

Fa S T Fa c T Sdeveloper: lamb development corp.Project: 6th and tentharea: connaught in the BeltlineStyle: modern apartment style condosSize: From 449 sq. ftPrice: From the low $200,000saddress: on-site presentation centre at 6 st. and 10 ave. s.w.hours: monday to thursday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.; weekends and

holidays, noon to 5 p.m.Website: www.6thandtenth.com

Enjoy the finer things in life — live life to it’s fullest —

at 6th and Tenth.



Aura of Copperfield townhomes blend sophistication with serenity

a traNquIL auraW ith its air of suburban tranquility and sensible floor

plans, Aldebaran Enterprises’ Aura of Copperfield is flourishing in this beloved southeast community. A sophisticated space that comes with peace of mind

welcomes everyone into the new multi-family development with an open heart and a chance to live simply.

Behind every door at Aura of Copperfield, you’ll find the same inspiring ambience and character to live a carefree lifestyle that Aldebaran has established a name for. But Aura’s design is uniquely its own, and the range of two- and three-storey townhomes it offers look as calming and stylish as they sound.

What’s even better is that Aura has townhomes available for im-mediate possessions, and more townhomes will become ready in early 2014.

“it’s a great time in the project because we do have immediate possessions,” says Ryan Heggedal, Aldebaran sales manager. “Right now everything ranges in price from $303,000 to $313,000.”

The roomy three-storey townhomes are called Spirit, Flow and Bliss

condo ProFile | story by Portia yip | Photos by Pepper rodriguez

Photos on these pages are of the chakra

| condo ProFile

and range from 1,351 to 1,374 square-feet, but their total usable living space is extended by three exterior decks and an extra 500 square-feet in optional basement development. “The nice thing about these townhomes is that you can fully develop the basement,” Heggedal tells Condo Living.

Many of the three-storey townhomes back onto sweeping natural vistas of Copperfield’s abundant green space and blue skies. Heggedal describes that these homes have a natural area with a pond and grassy fields as their backyard, and it will stay that way. “Within the project, you’re either backing onto the large park in the middle, or you back onto the parks and spaces in between.”

The two-storey townhomes are the Zen, Chakra and Balance. They range from 1,205 to 1,314 square-feet with a basement that, once developed, also provides a great media or bonus room. Townhomes come with two or three bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths.

Buyers get to put the finishing touches on

the interior by choosing from eight different colour boards. “There’s tons of selection, tons of choices,” says Heggedal. “All the homes come with a deck and then a ground level patio. Plus, there’s a fireplace that comes standard.”

Features that make the home vibrant and airy include nine-foot ceilings, open-concept

layouts, laminate hardwood floors and glass entry doors. Better living is complemented by specifications such as a single attached garage, upgraded humidifiers, an energy efficient furnace and eco-friendly low flow toilets.

Curious buyers have the opportunity to get a feel for what would best suit their needs in Aura’s two outstanding show homes. The Zen, which comes standard, and Chakra which features all potential upgrades such as stainless steel appliances, quartz coun-tertops and more. “We do have spec homes of the other models that interested parties can also take a look at,” Heggedal says.

The townhome lifestyle includes the maintenance-free and landscaped yards that allow for even more free time to relax and live at your own pace. Strolling around Aura of Copperfield, with trees sprouting well above ground and luscious green space around every corner, only confirms the level of detail already in place.

“The community developer is Hopewell, a leader in the way of better developed com-munities and park spaces,” says Heggedal. Hopewell is a five-time winner of the CHBA – Calgary Region’s Developer of the Year award and has built up a reputation for cre-ating innovative and unique communities.

The Copperfield community is surrounded by rich scenery, amenities galore and new opportunities to connect with neighbours and liked-minded individuals no matter where you go. “We’ve been getting a mix of buyers from downsizers, grandparents who have grandkids living in the area, young people, professionals and just about everybody,”

“The community developer is Hopewell, a leader in the way of better developed

communities and park spaces.”

» S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 3 C O N D O L I V I N G | 2 5


condo ProFile |

says Heggedal. “it’s great because buyers don’t have to wait for the community to mature.”

All year round Copperfield has something to offer. Playgrounds, pathways and three lush ponds will get you out and about during the warm summer days and come winter, there’s no shortage of ac-tivities for those who like to skate or toboggan. Families with young children will get their choice of two schools conveniently located in the area.

“There’s a Catholic K-9 school that just opened last September,” says Heggedal. “And the government just announced funding for a new public school.”

With two neighbourhood shopping plazas and plans for a third, getting everything else you need to live comfortably is a breeze. Medical care for families and pets are close by — and a daycare, preschool, convenience store and other merchants are available at Copperfield Corner. Residents can also pick

Fa S T Fa c T Scommunity: copperfieldProject: aura of copperfielddeveloper: aldebaran enterprisesStyle: townhomesSize: ranges from 1,205 to 1,374 sq. ftPrice: ranges from $303,000 to

$313,000 including gstaddress: 279 copperpond common s.e.hours: monday to thursday 2 to 8

p.m., weekends and holidays noon to 5 p.m.

Website: www.myaura.ca

and choose from many restaurants and eater-ies along 130th Avenue, along with big name stores at South Trail Crossing.

Commuting to Calgary’s city centre is only a 15-minute drive and Heggedal points out that the Stoney Trail interchange is almost complete. But one word came to Heggedal’s mind when asked why Aura of Copperfield is so desirable and that’s space. “There’s space outside, there’s space inside,” he says. “Ev-erything’s here for better living.” cL

“There’s space outside, there’s space inside. Everything’s here for better living.”

Photos on this page are of the Zen



By Pepper rodriguez | condo ProFile

Million-dollar views enchant at Villas at Watermark

VILLas wIth a VIew

Come for the views, stay for the lifestyle. The mil-lion-dollar views of the Canadian Rockies are un-doubtedly the best selling point for the amazing Villas at Watermark. Surprisingly these two-level

attached bungalows aren’t priced nearly as much, considering the ultra-refined lifestyle they offer.

“Think of it as buying the million-dollar views and getting the house for free,” quips ian Macdonald, director of sales for Watermark at Bearspaw, the Macdonald Development community that won both the 2012 national and local SAM Awards for best new community.

Villas have been the most sought after multi-family resi-dence in Calgary these past few years, and it isn’t just the

baby boomers that are driving demand. But it isn’t simply the need for villa products that account for the early success of Villas at Watermark.

This has already been one of the most hotly anticipated developments in the Calgary area. Already 30 per cent of the 32-unit first phase is sold, and that’s even before the four show homes open to the general public in September.

“interest for the Villas has been really high, we have nearly 500 names already that have registered for information,” Macdonald points out, adding that there is a good chance that the first phase will be sold out before the year is over. “We’ll probably see a spike in sales when we open the show homes on September 14th.” »


The ridge lots are certainly worth the price simply for the spectacular mountain views, but the Villas at Watermark goes beyond that to offer the best in the lock-and-leave lifestyle that doesn’t compromise on luxury or living space.

The Villas at Watermark sit on a quiet hillside of 12 Mile Coulee Road, just past the northwest city limits. it is this uniquely graded site that has allowed Macdon-ald Development to offer all its villas to have panoramic views of the nearby mountains and the rolling prairie grasslands below.

By building these duplex villas along tiers set in the hillside, each home looks over the top of the home below it and not into its backyard. “These are all southwest fac-ing homes, so everyone gets to benefit from the majestic views, and sightlines are virtually uninterrupted from almost all of the main levels.”

Designed by renowned Canadian architect Ray Letkeman, the villas feature a contemporary prairie-style architecture tweaked to reflect the influence of the Rockies. “it’s the Prairies meet the Rockies with a touch of a resort lifestyle, that fits the needs of snow-birds and empty nesters, who enjoy the feeling of coming home for a vacation from their vacation.”

The maintenance-free aspect perfectly suits their Calgary-to-Phoe-nix (or Palm Springs, or Miami, or some other warm destination) lifestyle. “Our buyers are not necessarily downsizing, rather they are just adjusting their lives to scale back on the size of the home but not on the feeling of luxury and space.”

There are four floor plans available ranging from 1,900 to 2,600 square-feet of total living space. Each one is designed to maximize the enjoyment of the surrounding natural beauty, with large picture windows, 10-foot ceilings in all main floors (the first row of homes will have 10-foot high ceilings in the lower level as well, the rest will have nine-foot ceilings), and all of them will have a 14-foot-long deck with glass rails on the upper level.

“Everything is geared for the owner’s enjoyment of the views, the master bedrooms have these same big, picture windows, and buyers are already starting to argue over who gets to sleep on the view-side of the bed,” Macdonald says with a chuckle.

“It’s the Praries meet the Rockies with a touch of a resort lifestyle...”


| condo ProFile

The feeling of spaciousness is enhanced by the open concept floor-plans. Canadian-made custom-coloured engineered hardwood floors grace a majority of the common areas, European porcelain tile in the bathrooms and foyer give the home an executive feel. Suffice to say, the standard specs offered are already on the upper-end of the scale and exemplify the finer things in life Villas at Watermark’s buyers are accustomed to.

Prices start in the low $700,000s, Macdonald says. “Each lower level has different options as to how it can be developed — from having extra bedrooms for guests, children or grandkids, to a second master bedroom with ensuite, to maximizing storage space — it is entirely up to the buyer.”

Topping it all off is that they will be living in the multi-award-win-ning community of Watermark at Bearspaw. Watermark won the Canadian Home Builders’ Association 2012 National SAM Award as the best community in Canada, and followed it up by winning the Calgary Regional SAM Awards for Community of the Year —Calgary Region and New Community of the Year.

The 287-acre master planned estate community has five kilometres of walking paths, green space and an enviable central park. “We see it as the perfect community where parents who have earned their right to enjoy the finest life has to offer can have a home in

Fa S T Fa c T S

community: watermark at BearspawProject: villas at watermarkdeveloper: macdonald development corporationStyle: semi-detached two-level bungalowsSize: 1,900 to 2,600 sq. ft.Price: starts in the low $700,000saddress: 1 watermark villas, calgary, aBdirections: north on crowchild trail and left on 12 mile

coulee rd. and follow the signshours: By appointment. grand opening september 14th Website: www.villasatwatermark.com

the Villas, while their children and grandkids can live in the same community in our superb single-family homes,” Macdonald says. cL



condo ProFile | By Jim Zang

waterfront condominiums set the standard in eau claireBest IN CLass



You don’t get a proven track record of success like Anthem Properties has by accident. You’ve got to earn it.

And, with literally hundreds of residential, commer-cial and retail projects under their belt across Western

Canada — including approximately 3,500 residential condominium units either in the design development stage or under construction — they certainly have.

The Waterfront project at the riverfront in Eau Claire in downtown Calgary is a perfect example.

Consisting of three separate sites, with more than 1,000 condo-minium homes planned, Waterfront is an ambitious project indeed. in fact, at over 1,000,000 total square-feet, it’s currently the single

largest condo project in Calgary.Tower One and Tower Two are already complete, checking in

at 22 stories and 177 homes and 25 stories and 272 homes respectively. “The available homes in the first two towers

are a cross-section of large, highly functional homes, all with exceptional river and city views.” says

director of marketing Peter Edmonds. Sizes range from 872 to 3,348 square-feet and

| condo ProFile

Fa S T Fa c T Scommunity: eau claire Project: outlook at waterfront developer: anthem PropertiesStyle: apartment-style units and penthousesSize: 409 – 1,426 sq. ft.address: 216 riverfront ave. s.w.hours: monday to sununday

12 to 5 p.m. (closed Fridays)Website: www.waterfrontcalgary.com

prices range from the mid-$400s to over $3 million.Next up on the schedule is the Outlook Tower and Terrace, which are

now selling and about to begin construction this fall. in the first six weeks of sales, more than 115 new homes have been sold at Outlook. “The response has certainly exceeded our expectations, especially considering the flood that happened during our sales launch. The success we’ve seen is a testament not only to the resiliency of Calgary as a whole, but also the strong belief people have in the Waterfront Community.”

The Tower will contain 129 homes in a 16-storey structure — in-cluding 22 different floor plans — while the Terrace, a four-storey building, offers 46 homes and 18 layout options. Home sizes range from 409-square-foot studio suites to 1,426-square-foot penthouse homes. in addition to the 6 studio suites, there’s 40 junior one bed-room condos, 43 one-bedrooms, 19 one bedroom plus den, 64 two bedroom and 2 two bedroom plus den homes. Prices range from a very affordable (okay, unheard of for downtown Calgary!) low $300s to over $1million for penthouse homes. No matter what floor plan you go with, it’s the finishings that truly make the room, be it the wide plank wood laminate flooring, quartz countertops and tile backsplashes. it’s »



In addition to the functionality and luxury or each individual home, residents get full use of more than 6,000 square-feet of amenity space.

nice to know you can count on Anthem to deliver. For example, the premium appliance package includes stainless steel Fulgor Milano gas cook top and electric wall oven, under-counter stainless steel microwave, and cool custom panel concealed refrigerator and dishwasher.

in addition to the functionality and luxury of each inidividual home, residents also get full use of more than 6,000 square-feet of amenity space, including fitness facility with yoga studio, men’s and women’s change, shower, and steam rooms, indoor whirlpool, owners lounge (with pool table and kitchen), 16-seat movie theatre and beautifully landscaped inner courtyards with water features.

Of course the biggest and best water feature is still the near-by Bow River, and plenty of oversized windows make sure the panoramic views take centre stage in these homes. Despite its riverside location, amidst all the flooding in downtown Calgary in June, Waterfront was among the fortunate communities to remain unaffected by the flood.

Factor in the views with the connections to the plus 15, Eau Claire, Chinatown, Prince’s island Park, and all the other entertainment and dining options available in downtown Calgary — it’s all right outside your window, and only a few steps from your front door.

if you’ve been to Waterfront before, come and see the brand new show suite. if you have not been before, come see what all the buzz is about. Open daily from 12-5 p.m.. Closed Fridays. cL

condo ProFile |


condo ProFile | By aaliya essa

Garden Homes redefine townhome living in ZEN in Auburn Bay

ZEN in Auburn Bay is a triumph in townhome design for Ava-lon Master Builder, and the single level living Garden Home models they offer here gives a new look to multi-family living.

ZEN townhomes by Avalon Master Builder are built on the very concept of living life harmoniously, both indoors and out. And here at ZEN in Auburn Bay, townhomes include an abundance of outdoor space, comfortable, functional indoor spaces, and are ac-centuated by the many unique features that set it apart.

“ZEN is a great starting point for a first time home buyer — we have found that specifically females love the garden home. Or it is ideal for a small family or a single parent with one child” says Sherry Dup-erre, sales representative for Avalon Master Builder in Auburn Bay.

ZEN in Auburn Bay is made up of 189 townhomes, including the

single-level Garden Homes with secluded private patios, or two-storey townhomes with private fenced yards.

The Garden Home is a popular option, as they show-case Avalon’s new approach to the townhome layout. A private sunken patio at the entrance gives them their own secluded private outdoor space.

There are two-bedroom and two-bathroom options available, such as the Ellison, which ranges from 1,017 to 1,049 square-feet, and the Liberty, ranging from 1,064 to 1,125 square-feet.

A three-bedroom option is also available in the Lib-erty and Ellison iii layouts. These plans include three-bedrooms-and-two-bathrooms and range from 1,064 to

1,125 square-feet. “Perfect,” says Duperre, “for young families, buyers with roommates, and even downsizers.”

One of ZEN’s satisfied homebuyer is Dionne Williams, who says her Garden Home is not only perfect for her needs, but that Avalon’s way of doing business was a breath of fresh air.

“From the planning stage through to com-pletion, Avalon guided me through the entire process resulting in a beautifully designed Garden Home with its own private courtyard. i love the extra outdoor space and the open flow of the home. This single-level home truly fits my needs.”

The Garden Homes’ layouts are based on an open concept design, ideal for entertaining and allowing everyone to be part of the conver-

ZENLIfe IN


| condo ProFile

Fa S T Fa c T Scommunity: auburn BayProject: Zen in auburn Baydeveloper: avalon master BuilderStyle: Bungalow garden homes, and two-storey

townhomes Size: From 1,027 sq. ft. to 1,273 sq. ftPrice: starts in the $270,000saddress: 82 auburn Bay link s.e.directions: south on deerfoot trail, exit on seton Blvd. and

follow the signshours: monday to thursday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.; weekends

and holidays, noon to 5 p.m.Website: www.zeninbalance.com

sation. The bedrooms are spacious, and with two full bathrooms, the morning rush is no longer a problem. There is also in-floor heating in the Garden Homes, adding comfort to these homes from top to bottom.

ZEN townhomes have been built with quality of life in mind for every member of the family, even the four-legged ones. Buyers here can enjoy a pet friendly environment, complete with a dog wash station too.

Of course, buyers will also be happy to know that their homes are built with a variety of green features, “we are an Energuide certified builder,” says Duperre. “The average home will save about 36 per cent on their energy consumption each and every month.”

Avalon has teamed up with TV personality Mike Holmes, and is offering the Holmes Approved Homes program as an option, which is building homes by using quality products that have been recom-mended by Mr. ‘Make it Right’ himself.

Green features include using 25 per cent recycled content in roofing

material and non-leaded paints, while “our drywall consists of 36 per cent recycled material,” says Duperre.

The location in Auburn Bay is also a great feature. Having the new South Health Campus at your backdoor is a real bonus, and with the future development under way at Seton, ZEN has an enviable spot, where you really don’t have to go too far for anything. And, if you do, Deerfoot Trail is right there.

ZEN residents will be able to enjoy Auburn Bay’s 43-acre freshwater lake with a private beach and park, and with easy access to Deerfoot Trail allows for a swift drive to the city core, or even heading out of the city too.

The Garden Homes start at around $274,500, which includes GST. Traditional two-storey townhomes are from 1,122 to 1,311 square-feet, with two-bedroom and three-bedroom options available, and start at around $297,900. cL

“Perfect for young families, buyers with roommates, and even downsizers.”

dionne williams




community ProFile | By Pepper rodriguez

Riverfront property in Calgary, for a long time, lorded the local real estate market. Homes along the Bow and Elbow Rivers were the top-most of the city’s high-end crowd that commanded multi-million dollar price tags.

Now the historic June 2013 floods have created some doubt about the wisdom of building any kind of home in these areas, and new provincial plans outlining flood areas cast further uncertainty.

But in Riverstone of Cranston, these doubts are quickly put to rest. For one thing, this new Brookfield Residential development in the southeast, on the border of Fish Creek Park — right on the banks of the majestic Bow River — was unaffected by the June flooding.

“Several riverside communities were evacuated, or put on notice, however Riverstone never received such orders,” says Nolan Frese,

Brookfield Residential Project Manager, Land Division. “i was in Riverstone throughout that weekend of the crisis, and the flood pre-cautions we constructed were working as planned.”

Riverstone of Cranston is not on the flood plain, and it was de-signed to take in all the advantages of a riverside lifestyle, and none

RiVERFRONT SERENiTYriverstone oF cranston Brings Back aPPeal to riverside living

of the issues flood water can cause. “We raised Riverstone five metres above the 100-year flood level, and that was key in allowing us to remain virtually untouched by the recent calamity,” Frese tells Condo Living.

“Because of the grading and the height of the community above the river, homes here have no need for sump pumps and we’re not required to have our fuse boxes in the second floor of homes, as they do in other riverside communities,” he adds.

Both Frese and Doug Owens, Brookfield Homes General Manager — Multi-Family, question the accuracy of the re-cently released provincial flood zone maps, which they say don’t take into account the grading done in these areas. “We feel that the provincial flood zone map can be misleading, as it doesn’t include all of the information on grading, berms and other flood precautions that were done in these ar-eas,” Owens says. “We are hopeful that the Province will be updating these maps as part of their planning process.”

Brookfield Residential has been building the grade in Riverstone of Cranston since 2004. Over five million cubic meters of dirt have been hauled down to lift the entire community up. The property lines of the homes that back onto the Bow River/Fish Creek park are approx-imately one metre above the



| community ProFile

floodway and the homes’ basements are set approximately two meters above.

What has been created is a community in the heart of the lush Bow River Valley, on the borders of Fish Creek Park — 360-acre environmental reserve that is North America’s largest urban park.

Riverstone is part of the popular community of Cranston, and is made up exclusively of estate single-family homes and townhomes. it is bound on the east by a natural escarpment and on the west by the Bow River, and the land gently slopes towards the south and features a man-made creek running through the lands as well as two stormwater retaining ponds that add to the aesthetic beauty.

“Riverstone’s distinctive location provides estate owners with a natural sense of calm, inspired by the unique beauty of their surroundings,” Owens says.

“Riverstone of Cranston represents a once-in-a-lifetime oppor-tunity, there’s nowhere else in Calgary that you can see what we offer here in quality of life.”

Their new Mosaic Riverstone townhomes

riverstone is Part oF the PoPular community oF cranston, and is made uP exclusively oF estate single-Family homes and townhomes.

»



community ProFile |

have been generating a lot of positive buzz, and the 64-home de-velopment may be one of the final opportunities to get into a new multi-family home in this unique community.

“They offer a lot of space, ranging from 1,413 to over 1,600 square-feet, so our buyers — many of whom are looking to right-size rather than downsize — don’t have to give up the luxury they’re accus-tomed to, and still enjoy the lock-and-leave lifestyle,” Owens points out.

The models are Slate ii, Olive ii and Hunter. They are two- and three-bedroom stacked townhomes, Owens says you can think of them as hybrid villas that still offer single-level living. The Slate ii and Olive ii are the most popular and will have show homes open early 2014. “Pre-construction prices start in the mid $400,000s, and we’ve sold a couple already.”

Luxury finishes as a standard, include granite, tile, hardwood, tiled showers. They are two-car garage homes with an open concept layout. Copper accents adorn the roof giving them a more unique appearance and street appeal. “imagine coming down into the Riv-erstone valley with the sun glinting off those copper accents and off the waters of the Bow, it will be an amazing sight,” Owens adds.

Riverstone of Cranston is approximately 225 acres in size and will hold approximately 1,100 homes and 3,500 residents. it will be approximately a nine-year project with an estimated completion of 2021.

Riverstone currently consists of four product series: The Wil-low Series with townhomes from the mid $400,000s by Brookfield Homes. The Landing Series is priced from the $600,000s with single-family homes by Cedarglen Homes and Albi Homes, as well as villas by Calbridge Homes. The Preserve Series is from the $800,000s, with Baywest Homes, Landmark Homes, and Albi Homes. And, finally, The Portage Series with homes in the $1.3-mil-

Fa S T Fa c T Scommmunity: riverstone of cranstondeveloper: Brookfield residentialBuilders: the landing series – cedarglen homes, albi homes

the Preserve series – albi homes, Baywest homes, landmark homes the Portage series – albi homes exclusive

the willow series – mosaic riverstone townhomesPrice: the landing series — from $600,000s

the Preserve series – from $800,000s the Portage series – from $1 million up

the willow series – from the mid $400,000shours: monday to thursday 2 to 8 p.m., weekends and holidays

noon to 5 p.m.directions: south on deerfoot trail and exit on cranston avenue

and follow the signs.Website: www.experienceriverstone.ca

hike, Bike, rollerBlade or Jog along year-round Pathways that unwind among acres oF lush Park sPace.

lion-plus mark, where Albi Homes is the exclusive builder.it is a distinctly family-oriented neighbourhood with tons of rec-

reational opportunities within its borders. Hike, bike, rollerblade or jog along year-round pathways that unwind among acres of lush park space. Relax near the Bow River with a picnic or a fishing rod — the Bow River is one of the best trout fishing areas in the world and it’s literally at your doorstep, Frese says.

Riverstone of Cranston is located near two medical facilities: the South East Health Campus in Seton and the South Calgary Health Centre in Sundance. There are also an abundance of beautiful golf courses just minutes away and Kananaskis Country and the Rocky Mountains just 60 minutes west. The future Seton urban centre is yet another terrific feature located within close proximity. cL

mosaic riverstone - Brookfield residential


liFestyles | story by karen durrie | Photos by don molyneaux

4 6 | C O N D O L I V I N G S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 3 S o u R c E M E d i a g R o u P : c E L E B R a T i N g i T S 1 0 T h Y E a RS E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 3 S o u R c E M E d i a g R o u P : c E L E B R a T i N g i T S 1 0 T h Y E a R

PEACEFUL, EASY LiViNG Chaparral Valley’s peace and quiet is

the tonic for this busy grandmother

Tucked away in the river valley at the south end of town is a neighbourhood where one busy empty nester has found an oasis of peace and tranquility.

Karen, who asked that her last name not be used, loves that her community of Chaparral Valley is surrounded on all sides by green

— grass, trees, and winding parks, which she enjoys frequently in the company of her Boston terrier, Jasper.

Purchasing one of Cardel Lifestyles’ Riverside townhomes two years ago was a no-brainer for Karen, whose two children had grown up and moved out of her Millrise home.“i sold and downsized. i got a fl yer in the mail for this, so we came

and looked at these places. They were a really good buy,” Karen says.“And Cardel does very nice work. The other home i had was one of

theirs, too.”The smart, Craftsman-style townhomes are fi nished in classic neutral

olive green and deep red, fi nished with white window casings and porch railings, and accented with river stone.

Chaparral Valley is an ideal location for Karen, whose children and their partners — and her new baby granddaughter — live in the nearby communities of McKenzie Towne and New Brighton.

Karen travels about 15 minutes to her job as a grocery supervisor in a busy, traffi c-heavy retail area.

it’s the quiet and the absence of commercial traffi c in the neighbourhood that really helps Karen to depressurize after a backbreaking day on her feet doing heavy-duty work.

Karen’s townhome is a study in subdued good taste, with neutral putty-hued paint, white trim, dark laminate fl ooring and contemporary furnishings.

At 1,278 square feet, the three-bedroom home is spacious enough to feel like a single-family home, but comes with all the perks of condo living. “i bought it with the intention of living alone, and with

it being maintenance-free so the kids wouldn’t have to worry about taking care of yardwork for me. it gives you the freedom to travel without having to worry about mow-ing and snow removal,” Karen says.

And, she adds, she is thrilled to spend her days off with her granddaughter or doing what she wants to do rather than engaging in yardwork.

The home’s sunny front porch is wide enough for a


| liFestyles

S o u R c E M E d i a g R o u P : c E L E B R a T i N g i T S 1 0 T h Y E a R

sweet sitting area for reading or visiting, and Karen has potscaped it beautifully with containers of colourful blooms.

A small, fenced back yard with a deck is perfect for entertaining and letting Jasper stretch his legs. Karen likes to hang out with her granddaughter on the deck and blow bubbles.

The open-concept main fl oor includes the living room, dining area, and a spacious kitchen with loads of cream-coloured cupboards and drawers, and a large island workspace. A door to the unfi nished base-ment, a pocket half bath, and a fl exible nook near the back door round out the fi rst fl oor.

Upstairs, the home’s three bedrooms include a large master with a big, bright window, walk-in closet, and a corner that comfortably holds an easy chair and lamp. This space is where an ensuite would have been built, but Karen opted for just one main bath off the hallway, not seeing the need for an extra.

Other upgrades Karen chose include hardwood fl oors, stainless appliances and gas hook up for her backyard barbecue.

Karen has set up the other two bedrooms as a guest room and an offi ce, respectively. She spends plenty of time in the airy offi ce, as she recently completed a land administration certifi cate online through SAiT, and is currently upgrading her computer skills. After 15 years at her grocery store job, Karen is ready to change careers.

Chaparral Valley is close to the Bow River, but was spared any fl ood damage last June. The Genstar community features numerous green spaces, pathways, parks, traffi c roundabouts, and a wide array of hous-ing styles, from luxury abodes backing onto the Blue Devil Golf Course to several multi-family structures.

Karen says she is also fortunate to have great neighbours nearby.“There are lots of diff erent types; empty nesters,

single people. i have a single guy in his 30s on one side, and the guy on the other is older and retired. There is a couple with a baby. We’ve got everything in here.

And it’s quite quiet considering the number of kids and the variety of age groups,” Karen says.

Nearby amenities are up the hill in Chaparral and include shops and restaurants, a pet store, nail salon, and Starbucks. The city’s fi rst Save-On Foods grocery store is also being built nearby.

The base price of Karen’s townhouse model was $227,000 plus GST, which sealed the deal on purchas-ing, as it was an excellent value compared to similar developments in other parts of town.

The fact there is no commercial development in Chap-arral Valley means it is mostly residential traffi c in the area, which helps keep it so quiet.“This is as noisy as it gets now that construction

is winding down,” Karen laughs, as a lawnmower starts up. cL

the fact there is no commercial development in chaparral valley means it is mostly residential traffi c in the area, which helps keep it so quiet.



it’s the fi rst and last space you see in a condo, your foyer. And, this month, it deserves some attention.

Foyers are often overlooked, says Colleen Reid of Reide-sign Home Staging, in Calgary.

“Think about it, you have six to seven seconds to make that lasting fi rst impression,” she says. “The key function of the foyer is to provide an inviting space that welcome guests into your house and to provide that fi rst glimpse of the rest of your home.”

Condo foyers often need to have separate identities from living room or kitchen, or whatever area the front door opens to. The foyer is the fi rst thing that greets guests and condo owners alike, and thus needs to be inviting, calm and warm, as an extension of the living space.

Start with the light. Add visual interest to the small space by adding a light fi xture that has some sparkle, or casts fractured light onto the surrounding walls, Reid suggests.

“After a days work, when you come home, nothing says ‘welcome home’ more than turning on a light with a low-wattage bulb or energy saving bulb,” she says. “Leave all the stress of the day behind with this soft lighting eff ect. Drop those keys, bags and enter your oasis.”

A mirror over an adjacent wall or small table is another way to make the entrance feel larger, and bounce light, Reid says. “A mirror provides the opportuni-ty to check hair and clothing before leaving for the day, or adding that last bit of colour to your lips before answering the door,” she says.

Dressing up that foyer is a matter of layering, the interior designer says. And depending on the time of year, you can scale back the elements to warm or cool the space.

“Another way of dressing up your entrance way or foyer is adding a carpet to the sometimes cold, sterile look of tile,” she says. “This adds another element of warmth to a poten-tially drab space.”

on trend | By Jessica Patterson

MAKING A GRAND ENTRANCETips on creating a welcoming entry way

colleen reid

Photo courtesy trico homes


| on trend

when you’re coming into a home, the entryway is the introduction to the home and to the person who lives there...

Foyers can be functional spaces, too, with storage and closets or even built-in benches that doubles as a trunk with lift-tops for additional storage.

When you’re coming into a home, the entryway is the introduction to the home and to the person who lives there, says interior designer Carrie Lightfoot, of Carrie L Designs in Calgary.

“Every condo is a little diff erent,” she says. “You might get a tiny foyer, or a gigantic, open foyer. Regardless of what you walk into, you want to see something of interest when you walk in, because that is the fi rst impression.”

in a lot of cases, front doors open to walls, which can be a canvas for something that refl ects the personality of the person or family living there.

“if there’s a wall, i’m going to put something interesting on the wall, like a piece of beautiful art or sculpture to say, ‘come on in.’” Lightfoot says. ”That represents the family or the individual who lives there, and says a lot about who they are.”

in other cases, and especially with new condos, foyer space is larg-er with nine-foot ceilings or vaulted ceilings. The foyer becomes a peripheral to everything else at that point, the interior designer says.

“When the front door opens up into the entire fl oor, back to the kitchen, your foyer becomes almost secondary, because the fi rst thing people see is everything else,” she says. “We make that space as inviting as possible, anchor it with a lighting fi xture, which can be a personalized thing, to say this is who i am.”

There’s nothing worse than walking into a foyer and it being dark. Condo owners have size restrictions, and though they might not be able to hang a chandelier or larger lighting fi xture to brighten up their foyer, Lightfoot suggests investing in a wide lighting fi xture that is fl ush-mounted on the ceiling.

“The space looks more impressive with something like that, making a statement when i walk in,” she explains. “if i do add something with a bit of crystal, it adds that shimmer and shadowing eff ect on the walls.”

Personalizing the space, whether it’s large or small, speaks to the character of the people who live there, Lightfoot says. Perhaps it’s a crystal lighting fi xture that makes a grand statement, or a photo of the family that makes one immediately feel at ease.

Trends in colour for this year include shades of grey and pops of colour.

“Wallpaper is getting really big, if not exploded already,” Lightfoot says. “if you have a confi ned foyer space, you may want to do something like wallpaper.”

“When you walk in, you’re basically in a small alcove and then you walk into the rest of a condo,” Lightfoot says. “That is the perfect area to do a bold paint colour, or put in some amazing wallpaper. That’s your focal point, because you have no space to do much else.”

Condos are a great place to experiment with your taste in interior design, because they’re small spaces. “When you’re trying something, you don’t have to carry it through the whole space,” Lightfoot says. “You can experiment and transition into another area.”

Finishing off the area, it’s always nice to consider adding a table or cabinet for added function and storage. Small on space, condos can use all of the storage they can get. cL

Photo courtesy trico homes

Photo courtesy innovations by Jayman



They’ve got curves and trendy colours. They make a fashion statement in your new home — but they’re not as sexy as gleaming granite countertops or

rich hardwood floors.it’s a given, though, that this is one of the

most important buys you will make when you move into your new home.

Vacuum cleaners are essential to keep those counters and floors clean and beautiful — and to keep your family healthy and comfortable.

Today’s models are extensive, offering a va-riety of features and many different styles with varying positives (as well as some negatives).

The vacuum cleaner you choose is one item that is best bought in a store, not online, says Consumer Report, a valuable consumer resource company that rates a whole variety of products, including vacuums. (www.comsumerreports,org ).

Shop to find the vacuum that best suits your needs and wants, says the consumer resource company — and one that is right for not only your budget, but yourself since you will be the one who will be hauling it around the house frequently. Push the different models, pull them, turn them, lift them; check the suction power and noise level; find out the features; and test the controls. Check for quality and warranty.

And beauty isn’t just skin deep. These sleek new models can very competently do the

job — and price isn’t always the factor that determines the best one, says Consumer Report.

But where to start? Today’s choices

Cleaning poWerAs far as vacuums go, the better it sucks the better it gets

shoPPing | By kathy mccormick

are endless, from canister, to upright, ‘bag-less’, to ‘broom-like’ models, built-in vacuum systems, to robots that do the work for you.

“The first thing to determine when vacuum shopping is what you are using the vacuum for,” says John Hooke, category business manager, home cleaning and essentials for Canadian Tire nationally. “if it’s quick every-day clean-ups that you’re doing, a stick vac may be best. if it’s regular weekly cleaning (or you only want one vacuum to take on all cleaning tasks), then an upright or canister vac is best. The decision then comes down to upright or canister.“

Historically the distinction has been that canisters were better for bare floor environ-ments (hardwood, laminate, linoleum, and tile) and uprights were better for carpets and rugs — but that has changed, Hooke says.

“Today’s technology and design have made both uprights and canisters largely equally-effective on all floor types, so the choice now really comes down to personal preference. “

He points out some PROs and CONs to the various types of models available today:

caNiSTERPRo: Easy to push/pull because the bulk of the weight of the unit is sitting on the floor behind you.CoN: Some people don’t like dragging the main unit behind them as they go — can be difficult around corners, etc.

Shark’s Navigator Pro Lift away.


| shoPPing

uPRighTSPRo: No unit dragging behind you; smaller footprint for storing the vacuum (no awk-ward hose to manage). CoN: May not be as good on bare floors as a canister that comes with a specialized bare floor tool (can be overcome if the upright has a similar tool included).

cENTRaL VacS/BuiLT-iNPRo: There is no actual vacuum unit to carry around while you clean, just the hose. Can be roughed in when you are building a new house.CoN: in some cases, the hose can end up being as cumbersome and/or heavy as using an upright or canister.

BagLESSPRo: Can visually see when the dust cup is full and needs emptying. CoN: if using a paper filter to clean the air, it may not provide any more suction power/stamina than a bagged unit (but not true in the case of true ‘no loss of suction” ma-chines’. A smaller number of today’s ‘bagless’ units, there is no paper bag/filter used at all. instead the air is spun around in a cir-cular motion that allows dirt/debris to be separated to the edges of the dust cup and collected while clean air is pumped back into the room. Since there is no bag/filter to clog up with debris, and there is no loss to the suction power of the machine over time.

“If it’s quick everyday clean-ups that you’re doing, a stick vac may be best. If it’s regular weekly cleaning, then an upright or canister vac is best.“

dyson cannister vacuums have

powerful constant

suction.

intelligent steam pocket mop.

His recommendation to help pick out the right vacuum for you: ask yourself these three key questions:• Primary floor type, carpet/bare/both

– do i need a power head?• Weight – how important is weight of

the unit to me?• Bells and Whistles – which are the key

‘extras’ that i need? if you have pets, then a ‘pet hair turbo brush’ is essential. This is basically a smaller version of an air turbine head that has a small rotating brush roll that allows for easy pickup of pet hair from upholstery and stairs.

Some of the other choices you will need to make include the features such as the power head. Says Hooke: “The starting point for the decision should start with primary floor type. if you have predominantly car-pets in your home, you should look for a vacuum (be it upright or canister) that has a power head. This means that the brush roll is motorized and spins when turned on, allowing the bristles to disturb the carpet fibres and to loosen dirt which is then sucked up by the vacuum.

“Some models (particularly canister vacs) offer an ‘air turbine head’ instead. This does essentially the same thing in terms of rotating the brush roll but is powered by the suction of the machine itself, not an isolated motor.

“if you have predominantly hardwood or bare floor (i.e. non-carpeted), then a mo-torized power head is of less importance. Rather, a lighter weight unit may be more important to you.

“One last consideration is ‘bagged’ ver-sus ‘bagless’. Traditionally, vacuums have used paper bags to catch all of the dirt and debris sucked up by the nozzle. in recent years, the industry has developed ‘bagless’ technology that, instead of using a bag to separate dirty air from clean air, uses a cyclonic movement of the air to separate dirt particles from clean air. it means no dirty vacuum bags to replace and can mean better suction power over time. The over-whelming majority of upright vacs today are ‘bagless,’ whereas canister vacs are still

split between traditional ‘bagged’ units and ‘bagless’.”

From here, it’s a matter of picking the right make and model at the right price. Some of the leading manufacturers are Dyson, Miele, Electrolux, Dirt Devil, Hoover, Bissel, Eureka, and Shark.

The top seller at Canadian Tire is the Shark Navigator Professional Lift-Away Vacuum, which is “a truly universal vacuum that can cover the entire needs of a household. The upright vacuum with a powerful motorized head is great for deep cleaning carpets — and has a specialized ‘dust-away’ bare floor tool for excellent results on hardwood, ceramic, and so on. This upright also features ‘com-plete seal anti-allergen’ technology — great for allergy and asthma sufferers.”

For more, go to www.canadiantire.ca cL


news | By Pepper rodriguez

above: Property Brothers, Jonathan (left) and drew scott.

ALL IN THe fAMIly

ProPerty Brothers headline 30th year oF calgary home + design show

The stars are aligning for fall’s biggest design show, as a multitude of popular home design celebrities descend on the Stampede grounds for the 30th Calgary Home + Design Show, including the twin hosts of the popular Property Brothers show.

it’ll be a homecoming of sorts for Jonathan and Drew Scott of the hit Property Brothers home design show, as the Las Vegas-based identical twins do have Calgary roots.

“We were born in Vancouver and grew up in a small B.C. town, Maple Ridge,” says Jonathan. “Af-ter high school, we moved to Calgary and spent the majority of the next 10 years there growing our company.”

Drew adds that although Las Vegas may be home now, “we spend up to 50 weeks a year on the road filming and doing lectures around North America. So i suppose i should call home my suitcase.”

This will be the first time the pair will be bringing their brand of high-energy, trend-setting design program to Calgary. They are part of the star-studded Trail Appliances Main Stage line-up at the BMO Centre for the show that’s running from September 19 to 22, 2013.


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“This WiLL be our first lecture in Calgary! We are excited to come back to where it all began for us and share some stories and tips about what we’ve experienced in real estate,” Drew tells Condo Living.

The Property Brothers is a real estate/home-renovation show airing on the W Net-work, Drew’s a real estate agent and Jonathan’s a contractor — together, they find down-and-out fixer-uppers and turn them into perfect homes for their clients, all without breaking their budget. it is a job that their talents seem to be well suited for, and they were talents that manifested early.

“As high school kids, we were big into act-ing,” Drew says. “We decided that we didn’t want to be struggling artists and had heard real estate was a great way to make money…so upon graduating we decided to make the move from Vancouver to the booming real estate opportunities in Calgary.”

“After the growth of our real estate company, we began pursuing opportunities in film and TV again,” Jonathan continues. “Production companies began using us as hosts to pitch real estate-based shows since we had the real life property and ‘on camera’ experience they were looking for. Drew was even used to pitch a show ‘Realtor idol’…aren’t we glad that

didn’t pan out!? Eventually Cine-flix, the production company for Property Brothers, approached us about the idea for Property Brothers. They saw that this was the way we were working with clients and decided to develop a show around us. i’m glad it worked out,” Jonathan says with a smile.

On Property Brothers, Jonathan and Drew apply their “eclectic” design expe-rience that they absorbed in all their travels — and deliver this with their considerable charms. This is exactly what

they will be bringing to the Home + Design Show.“We are going to talk about how to get those Champagne

dreams on a beer budget. And i may even dish a little dirt on Jonathan too. See you there!” Drew says gleefully.

The Property Brothers aren’t the only well-known designers gracing the Home + Design Show this year. Returning to the Main Stage is design darling, Jillian Harris, this year joined by real estate guru Todd Talbot, her co-host on W Network’s Love it or List it Vancouver. “Being an Alberta girl, Calgary is one of my favourite

places for work and play! i’m so excited to be back this fall — this time, with

my co-host, Todd Talbot! We’re going to have a blast.”

“we are going to talk aBout how to get those chamPagne dreams on a Beer Budget. and i may even dish a little dirt on Jonathan too.”

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todd talbot and Jillian harris.


Another hotly anticipated event will be at the Trail Appliances Cooking Stage where a collection of Calgary’s top chefs will dish on their must-have tools, techniques and ingredients. Fan favourites and fresh faces like noted foodie Dan Clapson, dietician and blogger Vincci Tsui, and

House of Q head pitmaster Brian Misko will join forces to share their personal recipe collections, tales of culinary mastery and tips for achieving professional results in any home kitchen.

it’s not just the Property Broth-ers making their debut in Calgary, as everyone is also looking for-ward to the introduction of the ultra-modern CasaBubble. The latest design trend taking Europe by storm, CasaBubble offers all

the beauty of the outdoors, without the bad weather or annoying mosquitoes that we’re all too familiar with in Calgary.

The Calgary Home + Design Show has been a staple in consumers’ calendars since 1983, attracting more than 30,000 qualified visitors every fall. Produced by Market-place Events, the show features high-interest exhibits, high-profile industry personalities and the latest home and lifestyle trends. Marketplace Events produces 33 home shows in 20 markets that collectively attract 1.1 million attendees and another 1.5 million unique web visitors annually. Visit www.calgaryhomeshow.com for tickets and more information. cL

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trail appliances samsung rF31 fridge — sparkling water dispenser Flex duo range — cook with 2 temps

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the Finer things here’s the top 10 products and services that can be found at this year’s calgary home + design show

vincci tsui

the latest design trend taking euroPe By storm, casaBuBBle oFFers all the Beauty oF the outdoors, without the Bad weather or annoying mosquitoes…

news |

To some, using public art to make urban communities more livable may seem a relatively new idea, it has in fact it has been happening in Calgary for over 25 years.

The Uptown BRZ initiated a public mural program in the mid ‘80s that saw murals by notable Calgary artists

placed on the sides of buildings along 17th Avenue SW. This was a time when 17th Avenue was struggling to establish itself as the “chic urban uptown” place for people in Mount Royal, Scarboro and Belt-line to hang out. The BRZ commissioned the “who’s who” of Calgary artists — Barbara Ballachey, Maureen Enns, Alexandra Haeseker, Bill Laing, Barbara Milne, Carroll Moppett, Gary Olson, Glenn Semple and Joan Cardinal Shubert — to create big, bold and colourful murals.

By richard white | Feature

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art IN the CItyhow PuBlic art alters the

PercePtion oF urBan livaBility

“conversation” bronze sculpture by william mcelcheran – 8 ave. sw.Photo courtesy mark, photo by rob moroto.

Editor’s note: This is the fi rst of Richard White’s two-part series on how public art has a� ected livability — or at least the perception of it — in Calgary’s inner-city.


Alexandra Haeseker whose “Big Catch” wrapped around the upper corner of the then new Mount Royal Village shopping complex recalls “it created an instant public response as it was located in the epicenter of the commer-cial zone but had no association with selling anything. i loved the fact that art could be appreciated and debated right on the street. This was new for Calgary!” Unfortunately, the murals didn’t stand up to the elements and no longer exist, but 17th Avenue has become the playground for one of North America’s most vibrant urban communities — Beltline.

Not to be outdone, the 4th Street BRZ followed with its sculpture program, commissioning Fer-inando Spina’s piece “Welcoming the Sentinels of Time” in 1986. The piece consists of three, totem-like figures that have a colourful, cartoon folk art synergy that creates a playful southern gateway to the district at 24th Avenue. Over the next 10 years, the BRZ commissioned one sculpture per block by various Calgary artists. While some have not withstood the test of time and have been removed, others like Franklyn Heisler’s “Dream Fragments” continue to enrich the pedestrian experience for people living in the Mission district, arguably Calgary’s most livable urban community today.

Feature |

Perhaps one of the most successful public art projects in Calgary’s history was the “Utterly Art: Colourful Cows For Calgary” in the year 2000. in the summer of 2000, Downtown Calgary became a huge pasture for 125 fiberglass cows designed by Calgary sculptor Brian Cooley and painted/decorated by various artists and sponsored by cor-porations and individuals. Bonnie Laycock brought the idea to Calgary after visiting Chicago’s CowParade and thought this would be a great idea for Calgary.

The cows were scattered across the downtown from the middle of the Prince’s island lagoon to Olympic Plaza. Everyday including weekends hundreds, sometimes thousands of Calgarians and visiting family and friends wandered the downtown looking and laughing at the colourful cows. Each cow had a name that added to the fun and enjoyment, names like — Automoobile, Bo-vine with a Cause, CHEW CHOO, CowGary, Cowabunga and Haute Cowture. At the end of the summer the Cows were auction off with the money going to various charities. Over 1 million dollars were raised.

“i loved the Fact that art could Be aPPreciated and deBated right on the street. this was new For calgary!”

Franklyn heisler’s “dream Fragments” – 4 st. sw

alexandra haeseker’s “Big catch” – mount royal village shopping complex circa 1980s

| Feature

The herd was then dispersed, some left the city en-tirely, but many are still in the city from the Children’s Hospital to the Airport. A small herd it located at the Utterly Art Legacy collection in the +15 of the Centen-nial Parkade just above 9th Avenue between 6th and 5th Street SW.

i think one of the lessons learned from the Utterly Art project was the importance of public art in creating a more human urban environment where people of all ages and backgrounds will want to live, work and play.

Since then we have seen numerous public art projects in our City Centre all aimed at trying to create a unique sense of place that will make Calgary’s urban villages more attractive. The biggest and most controversial is the Peace Bridge designed by the world-renowned artist and bridge designer Santiago Calatrava. Since being completed the bold bright red helical steel bridge has won several awards including Azure Magazine’s top 10 architectural projects for 2012 and Design Bloom’s top 10 public spaces. Public art is often controversial when it is first announced, but with time it can become a city icon i.e. Eiffel Tower. Public art can also be a catalyst for other development. it is interesting to note that as the controversy was brewing over the cost, location

and need for the Peace Bridge, several condo developers applied to build new mid-rise condos (the first in over 15 years) in Kensington — PixEL, St. John’s and Ven. it will be interesting to what role the Peace Bridge plays in the evolution of Hillhurst, Sunnyside and Eau Claire over the next 10 years.

Next month we will look at how Calgary Municipal Land Corporation decided use public art as a key marketing strategy to change the public’s image of East Village from negative to positive. cL

serenity

Peace Bridge, photo courtesy tourism calgary

in the cybernetic metalmoolenium

chew choo





the CIty’s GuarDIaN

Richard White is the urban strategist at Ground3 Landscape architects. he has written about urban living, urban development and urban design for 25 years. he can be followed @everydaytourist or you can view more of his blogs, rants and essays at www.everydaytourist.ca

CONDOSCAPESBy richard white

hon towers revives victoria Park district

Out of the ashes of the Arriva project will rise two new twin towers that promise not only

to be the tallest purely residential buildings in Calgary, but a trendsetter in architectural design as well.

The original Arriva plans called for three condo towers with retail at street level and restoration of the old Victoria Park school, but bankruptcy halted those plans. Hon Towers, however, saw the potential in Arriva’s site at the corner of 11th Avenue and 3rd Street S.E., and bought it out of receivership in 2010.

The twin, 44-floor Guardian condo project in the old Victoria Park, now east Beltline district, will be Hon Towers’ first project in Calgary, but they are not entirely new to the city, as they are part of Jager Homes and El Condo Lands.

The original Arriva design had many very large units, which didn’t and don’t work in today’s market. So Hon Towers promptly engaged architect Jim Hancock at iBi Group (Vancouver) to redesign the two remaining condo towers from the inside out and from top to bottom based on new research showing there was a market in Calgary for smaller units with very high-end finishings.

The Guardian’s overall design is classic Chicago School of Architecture, with its podium base, middle tower and decorative top. in this case, the podium is designed to look like townhouses but in fact is an above-grade parkade, needed when the redesign resulted in more smaller units which in turn required more parking than the original parkade could accommodate. The new design also allowed for two, grand two-floor entrances for each of the towers off 3rd Street S.E., designed to enhance the streetscape.

Hancock likes to play with the three essential elements of architecture — form, composition

and expression — when designing a building. The penthouse is designed as the “cap” to the building with its more horizontal lines, contrasting with the vertical lines of the main tower. Though the building is 50 per cent clear glass, it looks almost like a “glass house” with the use of glass balconies and light grey metal panels. To accentuate the height and elegance, the towers’ façades will be glass with smooth metal paneling and back lit curtain wall glazing designed to create an almost “ghost-like,” contemporary cool design that would be right at home in Miami’s hip South Beach district.

At 44 floors the Guardian condos will be the tallest pure condo building in Calgary. Yes, Telus Sky, at 55 floors, will be taller when complet-ed in 2017, but it is both an office and condo building.

Hon Towers wanted to take advantage of its prominent site on the southeast edge of the city’s growing skyline. inspired by the project’s height (will be the tallest building south of the railway tracks) and location (will overlook the entire city center from its edge location) the name “Guardian” seemed appropriate as the building is symbolically or figuratively a guardian of the city center.

in case you are wondering, Hon Towers was fortunate not only that the underground parkade was complete at the time of Calgary’s June flood, but it is located on one of the highest spots in the area. The site experienced minimal damage in the flood, with construction continuing on schedule for completion of the first tower in early 2015. cL

condo name: the guardianarchitect: Jim hancock


ASK MARiABy maria Bartolotti

Our condo board is talking about hiring a management company. What exactly would

be their role?i can tell you from experience that the role of

the condo manager is not routine. No two days are the same in our world of property manage-ment. One day we’re dealing with dogs barking, the next it’s owners partying, no heat inside the unit, missing mats, keys down the elevator shaft, nightly board meetings, negotiating contracts — these are just a few of the challenges that a condo manager must respond to and be willing to find a solution for.

A professional condo management company is able to handle these critical tasks with their skilled staff, allowing the condo board of directors to concentrate their efforts on decisions that are in the best interest of the whole condo complex.

Choosing a good condominium management company can add significant value to your investment and can be one of the most import-ant tasks a condo board undertakes.

The role of the condo manager is to provide advice to the board when requested, to carry out the day-to-day administrative functions specified in the management agreement, and to carry out the board’s instructions. When interviewing a condo management company, look at a few key aspects to help you make an informed decision.• Does the company provide services tailored

to your condo and how? Avoid any management contract that transfers the decision-making authority from the board to the management company.

• How does your condo management company communicate with the board and the owners? Do they have well defined process and procedures that will help make communication easier?

Maria Bartolotti is the owner-manager of New Concept Management Inc. she has developed a strong reputation for rendering timely and effi cient services to the condominium industry. Maria believes that her company’s success hinges on her hands-on approach to condominium management as well as maintaining open lines of communications with her clientele. Maria is actively involved in her industry. For more information, visit www.newconceptmanagement.com

• The one thing i hear too often from new clients are, “my manager rarely communi-cates with us,” or “we can never get a hold of them when we need to.” With today’s technology there is no excuse for not being able to get a hold of your manager or their representatives. How reachable are they?

• Does the company have reliable contrac-tors that can tend to call outs in a timely and proficient manner?

• Are management services clearly outlined in the management agreement? is there room for flexibility? is there a termination clause and what does it contain? No one wants to be put into a position that is diffi-cult to get out of.

These are just a few of the functions that a good condominium management company performs.

Until next time… cL

choosing the right condo management companythe rIGht FIt

Editor’s note: Readers are encouraged to ask their most confounding condo questions to our resident condo specialist: Maria Bartolotti.


settING the tONe

Marty hope. For more than two decades Marty hope has been reporting on the housing and development industry in Calgary, throughout alberta, and across Canada. In March, he was presented with the Maple Leaf award from the Canadian home Builders’ association which is given annually to a non-builder member in Canada for contributions to the industry.

HOPE AT LARGEBy marty hope

HOPE AT LARGEBy marty hope

keynote hits the high notes in calgary’s multi-family scene

keynote Urban Village may have sold the last of its 430 condo apartments, but the impact it

has had on Calgary’s multi-family market will re-sound for a long time for its pioneering approach to mixed-use development.

“When it came to the market in 2006, it was ahead of the curve in terms of being a mixed-use development,” says Jeannie Elrafie, project sales manager for Keynote Development Corporation. “And it was also one of the most comprehensive of its kind in the city.”

Taking up much of a city block from 1st Street and Macleod Trail between 11th and 12th Ave-nues S.E., Keynote is home to a pair of residen-tial towers standing 26 and 29 storeys high, a 14-floor office tower, and a retail podium that is dominated by a 32,000-square-foot Sunterra Market that provides the upscale necessities for the towers’ residents as well as others living or working close by.

And Elrafie has been involved since the beginning.

“it was a crazy time when we came to the marketplace in 2006. People were camping out overnight and there were lineups around the block to get in on the first phase,” she recalls. “We sold more than 75 per cent of the first tower in less than a month.”

Looking back, Elrafie says the reason for the success of the first tower was that it was affordable. Then as the village continued to grow location and onsite amenities also became key factors to Keynote’s appeal.

But this being Calgary, there were economic bumps in the road that had to be dealt with and overcome.

The biggest bump was the 2008 recession/depression that rapidly took on international proportions, pushing home shoppers to the side-lines. At Keynote, the downturn shelved plans

to bring the second tower to the market that year. it would be September 2011 before that happened.

“But we made good use of the quieter times,” says Elrafie. “We redesigned the condos in the second tower, making them smaller and more affordable to match the more financially caution attitude of potential buyers. And the changes worked.”

The last of the con-dos was sold early this summer.

Matthew Boukall, Calgary-based di-rector of residential research and valuation for Altus Group, says Keynote has helped shape the eastern portion of the Beltline into one of the more desirable urban residential areas of the city.

“When Keynote was first launched in 2006, the marketplace was a bit skeptical about what mixed-use development could mean from a lifestyle and convenience perspective, since we had so few examples at the same scale proposed at Keynote,” he says.

As it has turned out, Boukall adds, it’s likely the pioneering village design will have a lasting impact as the city continues to grow.

“i expect over time, Keynote will prove to be an important evolutionary step in the development of mixed use projects in the downtown region,” he says. cL



AROUND TOWNBy Pepper rodriguez

AROUND TOWNBy Pepper rodriguez

more attainaBle homes ready For PossessionAttainable Homes Calgary

Corporation (AHCC) announces that it has acquired 42 units available for quick possession from Truman Homes, expanding its ability to help more Calgarians enter the property ladder.

AHCC President and CEO David Watson said the units were a timely addition as Calgary’s housing market continued to tighten.

edison’s First ownerAfter much

anticipation, Avi Urban has broken ground at their south Cal-gary townhome development, Ed-ison at Walden. Charron Ungar, president of Avi Urban and Victor Mutambo, general manager of Avi Urban, recently broke ground with first-time homeowner Muzzamil Hussain. Hussain, 21, is a University of Calgary student and entre-preneur who purchased a 1,381 square-foot Carmine corner townhome.

“i chose Edison because of its modern and fresh design,” shares Hussain. “The strategic location of Edison and well renowned builder like Avi Urban convinced me to purchase my first home. With five major financial institutions, national grocery stores, restaurants and parks at your door step, it makes Edison at Walden a very attractive community overall.”

Townhomes in Edison at Walden range from 1,130 to 1,400 square feet and feature nine foot ceilings, two car attached garages, contemporary exteriors and incredible interior finishes. With pricing starting in the $760,000’s, over 30 new homeowners have already chosen to call Edison home. cL

charron ungar, muzzamil hussain and victor mutambo

multi-Families raise calgary July startsHousing starts in the Calgary Census

Metropolitan Area (CMA) were trend-ing at 12,116 units in July compared to 11,258 in June, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). The trend is a six month moving average of the monthly seasonally adjusted annual rates (SAAR)1 of total housing starts.

“The trend in total housing starts increased in July, as rising multi-family construction countered a moderation in single-detached starts,” said Richard Cho, CMHC’s Senior Market Analyst for Calgary.

Visual artists in the Calgary area are banding together to help flood relief in

with The Alberta Flood Rose Project. Each artist is painting (or other visual art) creat-ing a 4 x 4-inch work depicting the Alberta wild rose, which will be sold auctioned in support of flood relief efforts.

“We have more than 400 artists already involved,” says organizer Terri Heinrichs.

These final original art collection pieces went on display August 1st at various public locations. See website for locations.

The pieces will then be put have been arranged in groups of 81 in large frames of

stoPPing to smell the roses

“We’ve recently experienced a spike in the number of people coming to us because of elevated rent and a shortage of rental units, so we are particularly pleased to offer more units that are available quickly and with no waitlist,” said Watson.

Starting at $170,000, the one- and two-bedroom units are located in SkyView Ranch directly adjacent to the 56-unit building the organization was already offering through its Attainable Home Ownership Program. When combined, there are nearly 100 attainable homes within the Truman Homes develop-ment in northeast Calgary.

“Apartment construction was the main contributor to the increase in multi-family starts last month, with both apartment condominium and rental units breaking ground.”

CMHC uses the trend measure as a complement to the monthly SAAR of housing starts to account for considerable swings in monthly estimates and obtain a more complete picture of the state of the housing market.

The standalone monthly SAAR was 15,446 units in July, up from 10,420 in June.

groups of 81 and will be put up for auction (possibly on eBay, possibly a Wine & Cheese Function) at the end of the month. Please visit the website for ways you can be involved in this exciting project.100 per cent of the proceeds of the sales will go to the Red Cross for flood relief.

For more information, visitwww.thealbertafloodroseproject.com

truman skywest

art by heather Plimmer




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advertisers index 1912 CrossM2ipage 57

Arrive at RedstonePartners Development inc.page 21

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Bridgeland CrossingsApex City Homespage 2

BrownstonesGenesis Builders Grouppage 48

Carlisle Grouppage 40-41

ChaletSabal Homespage 70

ChampagneRemington Development Corp.page 76

Copperfield Park IIBrad Remington Homespages 83 & 88

districtBoulevard investments Corp.Centre spread insert

The EdgeStreetside DevelopmentsFC, pages 12-15

Edison at WaldenAvi Urbanpages 69 & 85

Eighty5nineVertical Propertiespage 59

EinsteinThe Providence Grouppage 16

Evanston SquareStreetside Developmentspage 56

EvolutionEmbassy/Bosapage 6

Estates of Varsity RidgeCove Propertiespage 53

The GatesRemington Development Corp.page 68

The Groves of VarsityStatesmanpage 64

Kincora SummitCove Propertiespage 2

KintallaStreetside Developmentspage 53 The Landings at Cougar RidgeStatesmanpage 72

MahoganySabal Homespage 4

MARK Qualex-Landmarkpage 74

Market Place Eventspage 45

Muskoka Auburn BayBrookfield Homespage 9

Outlook at Waterfront Anthem Properties page 3

PIXELBattistella Development page 78

RedhausStreetside Developmentspage 79

Riverfront PointeCarlisle Grouppage 41

Sawyer SilveradoAvi Urbanpages 69 & 85

Sonoma-Sage Hill Vertical Propertiespage 52

Steps BridgelandGiustini Bridges inc.page 49

Stonecroft Copperfieldpage 22

Stonecroft Auburn Baypage 23

Stonecroft Highland Parkpage 23

Sunset Ridgeinnovations by Jaymanpage 58

TEn Maple Developmentspage 84

The ParkLake Placid Development Corp.page 32

The PostAvi Urbanpages 69 & 85

VantageCalbridgepage 78

VEnBuccipage 17

VerveFram/Slokker Developmentspage 33

Victoria Cross Avi Urbanpages 69 & 85

Villas at WatermarkMacdonald Development Corp.page 28

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Zen, Auburn Bay Avalon Master Builder page 37

i must admit, i’ve got a soft spot for condominiums. And it’s not just because i work for a company that publishes magazines

featuring new condominiums.Nope, lots of good things have happened to me in condominiums. Some

that i can actually talk about.For instance, i met my wife in a condominium. My brother and i lived in a place

owned by my Mom and Dad while we went to university. Two teenagers with their own place and no rent bills. Needless to say, a good time was had by all. Frequently. Both my brother and i ended up getting our degrees, however, so it wasn’t like we didn’t do our homework or anything.

My wife, at that time just plain old Karla, her cousin, and her sister (and some-times her other sister), lived in the suite upstairs from ours. We lived in a base-ment suite and they were on the ground level, so we could see them coming and going from the building.

And watch them we did. Oh we thought we were being subtle, as boys do. But, thinking back, i’m sure they were well aware they had an audience, as girls are.

Hello in the parking lot and in the hallway soon turned into an invite to a party at their place, turned into a five year upstairs-downstairs relationship — complete with many ‘secret’ midnight rendezvous in the stairwell — turned into a marriage proposal, two kids, three houses and twenty-five-plus years of wedded bliss. Our 26th anniversary was last month.

We’re in a house now, have been since we got married and had a family. But the kids are in their 20s, are finishing up their post secondary schooling and getting ready to move on.

Probably into condos of their own.in the meantime, my soul mate and

i will likely continue living in our small bungalow in the suburbs until we’re ready to retire and downsize. At which time we’ll complete the circle and look for a condo again.

i’m looking forward to it already. cL

TALES FROM THE CONDO ZONE

Feature | By Jim Zang

A condo love story

illustration by lama azhari


Documents

Calgary Condo Living September 2013