Edmonton Home & Condo Living January 2013

JANUARY 2013

J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 3 E D M O N T O N H O M E & C O N D O L I V I N G • 7

COVER FEATURE

10 Paradisefound Walton’s Hawks Ridge features

Mother Nature at her finest

FEATURE

13 Hangingwiththe‘in’crowd

Just what is an infill? And where are they building them?

ShOw hOmE pROFilE

16 Thoroughlymodern Birkholz Homes offers custom

urban living in Larch Park

DESigN & DÉCOR

19 Minimakeover Some tips on making a high

impact at a low cost

J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 3 n V O l U m E 5 i S S U E 3 5

CONTENTs

CONDO pROFilE

20 Affordableluxury,thynameisAviva!

Carrington Communities gives condo buyers more of what they want

iNTERiORS

25 Energyefficiency Some weapons to battle

winter’s chill

mARkET ViEw

30 Edmontonstillagreatplacetobuy!

iTEmS

6 Editor’sMessage23 AroundTown26 Maps27 AdIndex

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8 • E D M O N T O N H O M E & C O N D O L I V I N G J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 3

If you’re reading this, then the Mayans were wrong and the world didn’t end on December 21, 2012.

In fact, in this neck of the woods, the world is looking pretty good. Pretty good indeed.The local and provincial economies are still doing quite well, thank you. More people

move into town than move out of town each year, still. And the home building industry, with all its offshoots, continues to hum along at a steady pace, both feeding off of and contributing to the ripple effects of a healthy economy.

The folks who are featured in this edition of the magazine must have doubted the Mayans too, as they’ve shown no signs of slowing down in their ongoing pursuit of excellence.

Take our cover feature on Walton Developments’ new community of Hawks Ridge. Walton hasn’t taken all this trouble to design such a great new neighbourhood without planning years into the future. Yes, the future. And Hawks Ridge is a perfect example of how new community development can embrace nature to turn a good master plan into a great one.

Speaking of great master plans, a real New Year’s treat from us to you is the profile on Birkholz Homes’ custom design in the community of Larch Park. This is the kind of feature layout our graphic designers live for. A beautiful home with fantastic finishings captured in perfectly staged photos. Makes an editor’s job pretty easy.

Meanwhile, still on the trail of custom homes, Pamela Roth delivers the inside story on, well, infills. And, just to set the record straight, an infill doesn’t have to be a tall, skinny home. Any home put up where a previous home once stood is technically an infill. Find out who’s building what, and where, on this inner-city house-hunting adventure.

Moving in an entirely different direction, regular contributor Cynthia Dusseault toured Carrington’s Aviva condos in the NW community of Albany. What she found iss that the low-maintenance lifestyle and convenient location is actually available at an affordable price point across a wide range of floor plans, sizes and prices.

Rosalyn Lazaruk is back for another year of providing us with some choice design tips, while market guru Wes Gunderson is on board with his own brand of sage advice for would-be homeowners.

So party on, Edmonton, you’ve earned it! And cheers to another great year in 2013!

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E D i T O R i A l A S S i S T A N T

Aaliya Essa [email protected]

E D i T O R i A l Cynthia Dusseault, Wesley Gunderson,

Rosalyn Lazaruk, Pamela Roth

p h O T O g R A p h Y Pamela Roth

D i R E C T O R O F S A l E S

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EDITOR’s MEssAGE

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Paradise found | Advertising COver FeAture |

Walton’s Hawks Ridge features Mother Nature at her finest

The sweet sounds of songbirds singing, their message of greeting to the new dawn floating through the fresh morning air, comes standard at homes in Hawks Ridge at Big Lake, Edmonton’s newest community from

Walton Development and Management L.P.In fact, a lot of benefits come naturally to residents of this

peaceful northwest neighbourhood, bound by wilderness with Big Lake and Lois Hole Provincial Park on its doorstep. Just driving to the community on the tree-lined Winterburn Road (215th Street) feels like a picturesque Sunday drive through the countryside.

For nature lovers, Hawks Ridge is paradise. “Hawks Ridge offers a great opportunity for families to

connect with nature while being close to transportation, amenities and shopping,” says Jill Curtis, marketing co-ordina-tor at Walton . “If you’re active, if you love to be in nature, and if you are looking for a new home, this is a great place to live.”

According to Curtis, planning Hawks Ridge was different than other community due to the extensive protected natural areas; while still following the development strategies that have been proven successful in other Walton communities.

Working with community and conservation groups, Walton designed the community with environmental conditions in mind, incorporating sustainable development and best practices to ensure the natural areas remain the same for years to come.

As a result, Hawks Ridge is extremely walkable, with a network of pathways that invites residents to leave their cars behind, incorporates sustainable development principles including bio-swales to naturally filter and manage stormwater, and architectural guidelines that ensure a consistent and natural appeal to the exterior of each home.

With so much nature on your doorstep, it’s hard to believe you’re living in a city…


| Advertising COver FeAture |

The large amount of environmental reserve space is what truly makes Hawks Ridge unique. The 105-acre central area is a key component of the community and features a 23.7 acre environ-mental reserve with pathways, a boardwalk and viewing deck for observing native plants and animals.

With so much nature on your doorstep, it’s hard to believe you’re living in a city with amenities such as West Edmonton Mall only 15 minutes away.

“We integrated the area’s natural reserve with the overall community plan to deliver a community that’s natural and sustainable for families,” says Curtis, noting a large park and school site is slated for future phases.

Being able to get in touch with nature is definitely a bonus, but Curtis says one of the best features about Hawks Ridge is its attainable price points.

Single-family homes start from the $399,000’s and semi-de-tached homes start from the $320,000’s — a steal of a deal for such prime real estate. At these prices, Curtis says Hawks Ridge is ideal for families looking for a larger homes, as well as first-time homebuyers looking at home ownership in today’s strong market. Hawks Ridge at Big Lake will be home to more than 534 single-family homes, two multi-family sites, and one mixed-use site.

“Upon completion, the community will offer a variety of housing types, an opportunity for everyone to be a part of the community,”,” says Curtis, noting visitors to Hawks Ridge are in awe when they reach the top of the hill and see the entire community sloping down towards Big Lake.

“There are really nice views of the natural environment. You can really envision your future here.”

Much of the area has yet to be developed, but home builders are currently pre-selling in to the first phase of lots and the first residents of Hawks Ridge are slated to move in next spring. Hawks Ridge is located on 215th Street, just north of Yellowhead Trail and west of the Anthony Henday freeway.

There are five show homes in Hawks Ridge — three with front-attached garage by Morrison Homes, ReidBuilt Homes and Montorio Homes; and two semi-detached homes by Sabal Homes. Showhomes are open Monday to Thursday from 2 to 8 p.m., as well as weekends and holidays from 12 to 5 p.m. n

RIBBON CUTTING walton celebrated the grand Opening of hawks Ridge at Big lake, Saturday November 3, 2012. There will be free food supplied by one of Edmonton’s most popular food trucks, prizes, giveaways, family activities and the unveiling of five brand new show homes.

For more information visit www.hawksridge.ca

From left to right: Dave gladney, CEO, morrison homes; Richard Drader, Senior manager Sales & marketing, Sabal homes; Steve Curtis, Sales & marketing manager, montorio homes; Jeremy main, Sales & marketing manager, ReidBuilt homes; and, Craig Dickie, president, walton Development and management Alberta.

Montorio Homes

Sabal Homes

1 2 • E D M O N T O N H O M E & C O N D O L I V I N G J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 3

J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 3 E D M O N T O N H O M E & C O N D O L I V I N G • 1 3

FEATURE

Drive down the tree-lined streets in some of Edmon-ton’s oldest neighbourhoods near downtown, and you’re likely to find the birth of a brand new home, breathing fresh life into an aging community. It’s

called an ‘infill’ and the term applies to any new home con-struction where the old home has been torn down.

During the last few decades, Edmonton has seen a steady demand for infill home developments in mature neighbour-hoods. A short commute to downtown or the university, being close to a smorgasborg of amenities, and living in a neighbour-hood with sprawling trees has coaxed many homeowners to

Story and photos by Pamela Roth

tear down their old home and build a new one in its place.Michael Thibert of Michael Homes Inc. is among a

handful of builders in Edmonton that has been giving mature neighbourhoods a face-lift with dazzling new homes. Anticipating a demand for vacant land in mature neighbourhoods close to the city centre, Thibert has been developing properties by knocking down old worn out homes and building new modern energy efficient homes in their place since the mid 1980s.

Twenty years ago, the bulk of Thibert’s developments were in areas surrounding the University of Alberta. Now, he »

Hanging with the ‘in’ crowd Just what is an infill? And

where are they building them?


FEATURE

says his work has spread north, west and east into neigh-bourhoods lining the river valley and Mill Creek Ravine, such as Hazeldean, Ritchie and Crestview. In the last year, the company put up about 12 infill homes in the Ritchie neighbourhood alone.

“A lot of the third and fourth time homebuyers are the ones who are gravitating to these locations,” says Thibert. “A lot of the homes are very old and they are just not conducive to what our utilities are now. People need more energy efficient homes and everybody wants bigger houses too.”

Due to the size of the lots, the single-family homes

Thibert builds are usually more than 2,000 square-feet while duplexes range anywhere from 1,500 to 1,800 square-feet.

Since the value of the land is higher than in the suburbs, the homes often come with a hefty price tag. A duplex sells from the low $400,000s to mid $500,000s, while single-family homes start around the mid $600,000s and up. Just a lot facing the Mill Creek ravine can sell for close to $500,000, Thibert notes.

According to Scott Mackie, branch manager for current planning with the City of Edmonton, the demand for infill housing has been steady in neighbourhoods throughout the city that have homes built in the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s.

He says the city has been working to increase more opportu-nities for such developments. The target is to ensure that 25 per cent of all new residential units are in mature areas.

In order to do this, the City has certain zones that allow a landowner to replace a single-family home with a semi-detached or a side-by-side unit, meaning they can knock down one unit and put up two. Each year, the city receives about 20 to 30 requests from landowners to rezone a piece of land to allow the construction of two units.

This, says Mackie, increases market opportunities since homeowners often want a single-family home rather than one that’s attached to another.

Still, less than 10 per cent of all single-family homes built each year in the city are infill homes. That amounts to about 300 out of the 3,000 to 4,000 new homes built each year.

Mackie hopes that number will increase as the city continues to try and create more opportunities for infill developments and breath new life into older communities.

“At the end of the day, it’s up to the individual land owners to decide what they want to do with their land,” says Mackie, noting many homeowners often choose to do major renova-tions by adding on to their existing home.

Homeowners that decide to head down the infill road often

“People need more energy efficient homes and everybody wants bigger houses too.”

BA

E


FEATURE

have visions of building their dream home. That’s where Trevor Hoover with Habitat Studio & Workshop Ltd. comes into the picture.

As a senior designer, Hoover’s goal is to make homeowners’ dreams come true. About 90 per cent of the company’s work involves tearing down a house and building a new one. But many of the 10 to 15 homes the company builds every year are far from ordinary.

Everything Hoover designs is from scratch, so it has to fit a lot of the owner’s needs, which often makes the homes “pretty cool.”

A home the company recently built and designed has an all-glass floor with a bridge. Another home has a basement

under the garage with an elevator that lowers cars down into the basement. And this is just the tip of the iceberg.

“This is their dream home. They want something a little more creative that suits their lifestyle,” says Hoover, noting a number of the homes come with a price tag of more than a million dollars — a trend that’s becoming more common these days.

The bulk of his clients are professionals who typically work in the downtown or university area. They’ve often had a rental property for a number of years and are ready to knock it down and transform the land into their dream home.

“They like the quicker commutes and things like that so they are willing to pay a little bit more so they don’t have to drive so far,” says Hoover. “You get a mature neighbourhood, there’s no dust for the next 15 years while they are building your community, the trees are developed, you have back lanes. You have amenities really close. The list just goes on and on.”

The latest hot spots for Habitat Studio & Workshop Ltd. infill developments have been in Windsor Park, Belgravia, Crestwood, and Valleyview. Past projects have included Bonnie Doon, Riverdale and Cloverdale — areas that builders say continue to be a hotbed for infill developments. n

“This is their dream home. They want something a little more creative that suits their lifestyle.”

F Trevor Hoover with Habitat studio and Workshop Ltd. stands outside an award-winning home his company constructed on saskatchewan Drive.

A-D Examples of infill homes in the Bonnie Doon neighbourhood in southeast Edmonton.

E Michael Thibert with Michael Homes Inc. shows off one of the infill homes his company built in the Ritchie neighbourhood.

C D

F

show home profile


THorougHly modernBy Cynthia Dusseault

Birkholz Homes offers custom urban living in Larch Park

“We’ve incorporated lots of glass and windows to give a really open feeling.”

show home profile


THorougHly modernIn what has been dubbed the “Show Home Parade”

in Edmonton’s southeast neighbourhood of Larch Park, the ultra-modern, flat-roofed, custom-built Birkholz show home stands out. It’s a departure

from the gabled, Craftsman-style dwellings that dominate the landscape, and in true Capital Modern style, maximizes the use of natural light and gives the sense of uniting indoor and outdoor spaces.

The exterior features a solid ash front door, stained cedar accents, and two large stacked windows that offer a glimpse inside, of the impressive glass-panelled open-riser staircase that connects the main and upper floors of this 3,120-square-foot two-storey home. “There’s nothing ornate or heavy in this home, and no dark walls,” says Nadine Halliday, sales consultant with Birkholz Homes. “We’ve incorporated lots of glass and windows to give a really open feeling.”

A ten-foot main floor ceiling and wide-width, long-length, quarter sawn white oak flooring work together to make the main floor a grand space that flows from the front door, past the staircase, and into the great room — bright and welcoming with a wall of windows overlooking a cedar deck. The living area features a contemporary wall-inset linear gas fireplace, and the dining area boasts a conversation-piece lighting fixture, but the kitchen is the real attention-grabber, with its two islands.

“A lot of clients are intrigued by this dual-island design,” says Halliday, explaining that one island, complete with sink, serves as a prep or working space, while the other island, with its flush eating bar, is for socializing. “People do tend to gather in the kitchen during parties.”

The kitchen also features a large induction cooktop, textured tile backsplash, rift-cut custom cabinetry in ash, and a walk-in pantry. A custom swinging door, also in

ash, connects the kitchen to the mud room, adjacent to which is the self-contained laundry room, both featuring built-in cabinetry.

The main floor powder room has a glass-tiled feature wall, which contrasts beautifully with an understated free-standing basin by Blu Bathworks, and modern Riobel fixtures. Completing the main floor is a bedroom with ensuite, ideal as a guestroom or den, but also, as Halliday points out, offering aging owners the option of making this their bedroom, should they want to reduce their use of stairs. »

show home profile


Fast FactsBuilder: Birkholz HomesArea: Larch Park, EdmontonStyle: Capital Modern custom-built two-storeyPrice: $1,395,000 (includes lot)Address: 4509 Mead CourtHours: Monday to Thursday, 3 to 8 p.m.; Saturday and

Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.; closed FridayWeb: www.birkholzhomes.com

On the upper floor, a spacious bonus room, literally flooded with natural light, offers more living space. There’s also a functional main bathroom, two sizeable bedrooms — each with custom built-in cabinetry — and of course the master bedroom. The latter is a haven of its own, with more than enough space to create a cozy lounging or reading area. An oversized cedar deck runs the entire length of the bedroom’s window wall, making the room feel even more spacious. The ensuite features a freestanding soaker tub, a glass-door shower stall with rain shower head, and a double-sink vanity that goes on forever. A walk-in closet completes the master bedroom, offering an array of built-in storage options.

A 1,450-square-foot fully finished basement bumps the home’s living space to just over 4,500 square-feet, adding two extra bedrooms — for a grand total of six — and an open living recreation space that owners can let their imaginations run wild with. In one corner, a wet bar area features a custom-built wine rack, a dishwasher, and a two-drawer refrigerator, making the basement a space for some serious entertaining.

“As a builder, we embrace the opportunity to build homes like this — that are more modern in style,” says Halliday, adding that this is one of the most modern show homes in the Birkholz portfolio. And there’s no doubt its lightness and airiness will appeal to many. It exudes an elegantly modern simplicity, both inside and out.

Birkholz specializes in custom-built homes, so you can have this exact design built on the lot of your choice, or you can take the features you love, add others that you fancy, and have the home you’ve been looking for. n

“As a builder, we embrace the opportunity to build homes like this — that are more modern in style.”


By Rosalyn Lazaruk

It had been seven years since I had painted our bedroom and I was starting to get that itch — it

needed an update! I didn’t want to spend too much time or money on the project so my choices had to be high impact at a low cost!

I started with new bedding and fell in love with a simple yellow and white stripe from West Elm! The new bedding presented the first design dilemma as it really didn’t work with my upholstered headboard. So off I went in hopes of finding a new fabric to tie it all together. I was ready for a change from the graphic print I had before and ended up choosing a cable knit wool throw blanket as the new upholstery. It really added the needed pattern and texture to the space.

I ‘shopped’ the rest of my house for pieces that might work to update my new space and ended up stealing the toss cushions from my sofa. The grey stitching was the perfect charcoal accent for behind my bed (Charcoal – Rona Collection) and I chose to use a softer blue grey (Unusual Grey – Sherwin Williams) on the remainder of the walls. I also pulled in a floor mirror from my front entry and an accent chair from my living room to create a dressing corner.

A completely new space for the cost of paint, a throw blanket and a duvet cover! Now on to the living room!

miNi mAkEOVER BUDgET TipS1. Wallpapering a whole room can be costly but doing

just one wall can have the same effect and save some pennies.

2. Art is a must in any space but original pieces are not always budget friendly. Try creating your own artwork starting with a large canvas and left over paint. Look up images on-line that you love for inspiration.

3. Painting the wall behind your bed an accent or feature colour gives you a pop of colour without overwhelming the room.

4. New bedding is one of the quickest ways to update a space. Mix and match your pieces to add pattern and texture. Staying with white sheets will allow you to change up your duvet cover for an instant update.

5. Think about trading furniture pieces from other spaces, the side tables in your living room may be the perfect night stands!

6. Change up the light fixture in your bedroom with something that works with your new look.

7. A fresh coat of paint on your walls and trim can change the look of your space entirely for less than $100.

8. If you have mismatched accessories or lamps, try spray painting them a unified colour to give them a more cohesive look. This is a great way to update second hand finds. n

DEsIGN & DÉCOR

Some tips on making a high impact at a low cost

mini makeover

Designer Rosalyn Lazaruk has been working in design and décor for seven years, and established her own business, Wicket Blue Interiors, in 2004. She has a broad repertoire in designing personal spaces within the home, as well as in implementing intriguing space and design concepts within the commercial setting. Rosalyn is devoted to developing and implementing unique design ideas that reflect the vision and individuality of her clients. To see more of Rosalyn’s design ideas visit www.wicketblue.com.

BEFORE AFTER

condo profile


AffordAble luxury, THy nAme is AvivA!By Cynthia Dusseault

Carrington Communities gives condo buyers more of what they want

condo profile


AffordAble luxury, THy nAme is AvivA!

»

Just inside the city’s northwestern boundary, practically a stone’s throw from the Anthony Henday ring road, a delightfully small convenient little neighbourhood is taking

shape. Bounded on the north, east, and west by wetlands and parks, and on the south by burgeoning 167 Avenue, Albany will be home to just under 2,000 residents when completed. Here, Carrington Communities is pre-selling Aviva, affordable luxury condos that offer a relaxed, carefree way of living.

Construction has just begun on Aviva One, a four-storey building with 58 one- and two-bedroom suites in nine different floor plans, ranging in price from $229,000 to the low $300,000s, and ranging in size from 644 square feet to 1,144 square-feet. The projected move-in date is the spring of 2014. Aviva Two, a similarly designed but slightly larger building, offering another 80 suites, will follow right behind.

Each building will feature a contemporary stucco exterior with modern accents, as well as a bright, ultra-modern two-level lobby. Trees will surround the Aviva development, blending in with the treed boulevards and walkways of the neighbourhood of Albany itself, the focal point of which is a man-made pond.

“This is one of our higher end developments,” says Eva Fekete, project sales manager with Carrington. She points out several included upgrades in the suites themselves: laminate flooring that looks and feels very much like hardwood, designer lighting, Energy Star stainless steel appliances, oversized balconies with natural gas outlets, Hunter Douglas blinds… and that’s just a sampling. Buyers can certainly inject a little of

Each building will feature a contemporary stucco exterior with modern accents, as well as a bright, ultra-modern two-level lobby.

»

Artwork by Hartwig Architecture Inc.

condo profile


Fast FactsDeveloper: Carrington CommunitiesArea: Albany, EdmontonProject: AvivaStyle: Apartment-style CondoSize: 664 to 1,144 sq. ftPrice: $229,900 to the low $300,000sAddress: Albany Way and 167 AvenueHours: Monday to Thursday, 3 to 8 p.m.;

Saturday, Sunday and holidays, noon to 5 p.m.; closed Friday

Web: www.carrington.ca/condos/ commnities/aviva

their own pizzazz into their living spaces, Fekete points out. They can take advantage of a complimentary visit to Carrington’s design centre, where they can price out and select additional upgrades.

Each suite has a built-in “tech centre” — a convenient pre-wired computer nook with cabinets — that eliminates the need for taking up bedroom space to create an office area. Kitchens all feature pantries — many of them walk-in — as well as full-height ceramic tile backsplash, extended upper cabinets (possible because all suites have nine-foot ceilings), and Ceran (smooth top) ranges. “And the kitchen islands will be lovely, with flush eating bars,” says Fekete. “The days of raised eating bars are over,” she adds, explaining that was a trend that faded as buyers realized flush was much more practical.

“Carrington has been in business for almost 40 years, has built over 7,000 condos, and is aware of what buyers want,” says Fekete. “So, we make changes and improvements with each new building.” She points out how all appliances are vented to the outside, to minimize noises and aromas or odors travelling between suites. And the walls between suites are designed to maximize sound reduction, through the incorporation of a space between the wall of one suite

and the wall of the adjacent one. So, each suite really does have its own walls.

A heated underground parking stall with a storage cage is included with each unit, and owners may purchase additional surface-level stalls. Aviva One and Two will each be equipped with a fitness centre and a social room, the latter complete with a billiard table and wet bar, and available to owners for private bookings.

For downsizers, empty nesters, and young professionals — Aviva’s key clientele — everything is right here in Albany, from access to natural areas to the conveniences of city living, with Albany Market Square just minutes away.

Why should buyers take heed of this new development? “Carrington is an exceptional builder, so you know you’re getting quality. And this is a beautiful subdivision in an excellent location,” says Fekete. n

...everything is right here in Albany, from access to natural areas to the conveniences of city living...


By Jim Zang

AROUND TOWN

Malmo plains re-zoningIT APPEARS AS though a compromise of sorts has been reached with regard to the Westcorp/Golflands development. Two main points of contention had been the proposed 3.5 instead of 2.5-storey units immediately adjacent to existing single-family dwellings on the south and east sides. Also, according to the Malmo Golflands Working Group News-letter, the total number of units proposed exceeded the existing zoning limitations.

Westcorp’s Malmo site is a 6.13-acre prop-erty located at 51st Ave NW and 116th Street S.W. The vacant land was acquired through a long-term land lease from the University of Alberta in 2005, and is often referred to by local residents as the ‘golflands’ because

SECORD CORNERS WILL be one of west Edmonton’s finest townhome communities. With two levels of premium living space, including three bedrooms, a generous country kitchen layout, comfortable great room, and a lower level that includes smart stor-age and a laundry plus a double attached garage that has a 25-foot depth, Secord Corners will offer both luxury and affordability.

Footprint Developers has commenced construction in Secord Corners, located in west Edmonton at 215th St & 96 Ave NW, where they are starting to build their phase one of townhomes. Sales are doing very good “with are already 58 per cent sold,” says area sales manager Chris Heward.

There are going to be 116 townhomes in total, and 62 of those townhomes are going to built in phase one of this project. These homes are attracting first time homebuyers, says Heward, with prices ranging from $279,900 to $309,900, and sizes ranging from just under 1,492 square-feet to 1,584 square-feet, it’s the perfect fit.

Buyers have the choice of two layouts to choose from. Each townhome is equipped with a double attached garage, a lower level laundry, and with a smart storage area. There are three bed-rooms, a generous country kitchen layout, and a comfortable great room. This is a new kind of project for Footprint Developments.

Live the high life in Secord Corners

of the golf swing practice that takes place on the property on a regular basis.

In January, 2006, the City of Edmon-ton approved a development plan for the Malmo site which, due to unfavourable market conditions over the ensuing years, did not proceed to construction. In 2011, Westcorp opened discussions with the City of Edmonton and the Malmo community about the need to make changes to redevel-opment plans to better suit current market conditions. As per the City of Edmonton’s rezoning process requirements, a notice of intent to submit a Preliminary-Applica-tion was delivered to the neighbourhood surrounding the development site in early

April and, over the course of 2012, Westcorp has participated in a city-led planning and consultation process to rezone the property.

As a result, the new plan features a com-bination of mixed use stacked row housing as well as apartments, says Cathy Raftis, Director of City Wide Planning Services for the City of Edmonton. The new proposal includes plans for and eight-storey and six-storey apartment tower on the north and West, as opposed to the 16-storey tower of the original plan. A minimum of 508 dwell-ings will be created.

The next step for the proposal was to go before City Council in December for a decision.

In addition to the bigger garages, explains Heward, they are also showcasing their improved floor plans, which are receiving a lot of positive feedback — based on sales.

First possession dates have been estimated for spring 2013, with the completion of this project estimated to be around the spring of 2014, says Heward. For more information and show suite hours visit www.secordcorners.com. »


AROUND TOWN

THE ATWOOD IS a newly designed Mountain Retreat style show home built by Sabal Homes in Hawks Ridge community. This home has three bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms, the standards include nine foot ceilings on the main floor, Hunter Douglas window blinds package, fusion cab-inetry, Whirlpool E-Star Appliances, and a full height ceramic tile backsplash in kitch-en — perfect for splatter messess. And, for those of you who enjoy barbecuing, the rear deck in this home is included. This home ranges in size from 1,364 – 1,464 square-feet,

Housing start statsHOUSING STARTS IN the Edmonton Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) came in at 13,690 units in October, reports Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). This is a great indicator that buyers are taking advantage of lower interest rates that, in turn, will benefit the market as a whole, and will help maintain a good balance.

“Employment growth and low mortgage rates contributed to higher demand for new homes in Edmonton. Some prospective buyers looked at the new home market to meet their needs as the selection of homes in the resale market has moderated,” says David Lan, CMHC’s Senior Market Analyst for Edmonton.

Single-detached starts increased by three per cent in October

Introducing the Atwood

to 478 units, this is up from 464 units last year. And after ten months, single- detached starts have reached 4,741 units, which is a significant increase by 12 per cent from a year earlier.

Multi-family starts, this also in-cludes semi-detached units, townhomes, condos, and apartments, totaled 709 units in October 2012. This is actually down 10 per cent from last year, where the totaled starts were 786 units. As of the end of October, there have been 5,573 multi-family units that broke ground, in 2011 there had been 3,735 year-to-date.

and has been priced in the low $300,000s. The community of Hawks Ridge is a perfect

fit for this show home, with a back drop dis-playing the area’s unspoiled natural reserve, this community is committed to delivering a natural and sustainable environment. Even the interior design in this show home is made with a palette that includes autumn colours like brown, burnt orange, evergreen, and deep reds. The use of rugged materials such as natural slate stone, tweed, distressed wood and leather have all been included to create a more casual feel to this home.

The Atwood is designed with consider-ation for the “versatility and functionality of the home, which is achieved through an intelligent and an innovative floor plan that you may not see with other homes of this style,” says Cody Price, marking co-ordinator at Sabal Homes. Located in northwest Edmonton on 215th Street, just north of the Yellowhead Trail and west of the Anthony Henday, show home hours are Monday-Thursday 2-8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. n


INTERIORs

energy efficiency

With the winter chill setting in, many homeowners are busy preparing their homes for the sea-son. According to a recent Angus Reid survey, 96

per cent of Albertans say that energy efficiency is important to them and, with winter here, there are many simple steps that homeowners can take to ensure they keep warm.

Direct Energy’s Director of Home Ideas, Dave Walton has offered some easy maintenance and energy-saving tips to help homeowners avoid cold-home syndrome, be energy efficient and save money.

As temperatures begin to fall across the province, Direct Energy wants to ensure that homeowners are prepared with the right information to get their home in top shape for the winter season.

“Energy efficiency upgrades and improvements do not have to be daunting tasks. In fact, homeowners can take control of their energy bills and potentially save money by following simple steps and making small changes around the home”, says Walton. “Sealing up air leaks around windows and baseboards, and regularly maintaining your furnace and replacing filters are easy — and low cost — ways to save on monthly heating bills.”

While the majority of homeowners say that an energy efficient home is important to them, the survey also showed that a significant percentage of Alberta homeowners are not taking the right steps to achieve that goal. For example, only twenty-seven per cent of Alberta homeowners lower the temperature when the house is empty, and less than half lower the temperature overnight. Simply knocking down the temperature by two degrees when no one is home or when you are sleeping can make a significant impact on annual energy costs.

“Programmable thermostats are a great way to control the temperature inside the home and they are not expensive to buy and install,” adds Walton. “Installing a programmable thermostat and setting it based on your living patterns to reduce your energy usage is one of the easiest ways to regulate your heat and ensure energy efficiency.”

Additional findings from the Direct Energy survey reveal that forty per cent of Albertans do not have a high efficiency furnace installed in their home, which is one of the most significant ways to maintain energy efficiency around the home. The survey also showed that when it comes to regular home maintenance, only fifty per cent of homeowners have

their air ducts cleaned, and much less than that (six per cent) have energy audits completed on their homes.

What’s more interesting is that the survey also found a somewhat surprising pattern among younger homeowners. Overall, results revealed that they are less likely to include energy efficient steps in their home maintenance:

Only thirty-five per cent of homeowners between the ages of 18-34 lower their temperature overnight.

When it comes to furnace maintenance, just half of younger homeowners change their furnace filters every three to six months as recommended.

Only thirty-six per cent have their air ducts cleaned. “It’s important for new or first-time homeowners to be

educated about keeping their home energy efficient, as this may be the first time they are responsible for a home’s upkeep,” stresses Walton. “Many new homeowners may not even be aware of the potential savings on their energy bills by following simple home maintenance steps.” n

Some weapons to battle winter’s chill

“sealing up air leaks around windows and baseboards, and regularly maintaining your furnace and replacing filters are easy — and low cost — ways to save on monthly heating bills.”

Dave Walton

CITY OF EDMONTON MAP

INNER CITY

CONDO PROPERTIES1. Aurora2. serenity3. Axio Parkland4. Mosaic Meadows Parkland5. Windermere Village6. Macewan Gardens7. sandstone at Walkers Lake station8. Aspen Meadows9. Meridian Plaza10. Holland Gardens11. Griesbach Wood II12. Griesbach Wood III13. Carlton Villas on the Lake14. Trails of Millcreek15. The University Brownstones16. Century Park17. Hollick Kenyon Pointe18. Evergreen Community19. Maple/Oak Ridge Community20. The Esates of Upper Windermere21. The Ion22. Grand soala23. Heritage Landing24. 12th street station25. Mosaic Town square26. Mosaic summerside27. Axio in Parkland28. stone Pointe29. Aspen Meadows30. Walker Lake Landing31. Rutherford Landing 32. Fox One

NEW HOME LISTINGS1. Walker Lake Estates2. Lewis Estates3. secord4. Parkland5 The Hamptons6 Copperwood7 south Hamptons8. The Properties of Donsdale9. Cameron Heights10. Terwillegar Towne11. south Terwillegar12. Palisades13. Upper Windermere14. Windermere Ridge15. Ambleside in Windermere16 Rutherford17. Callaghan18. Walker Lakes station19. Lake summerside20. Ellerslie Heights21. Tamarack22. Griesbach23. Fields of summerside24. Allard in Heritage Valley25. Tuscany Hills26. McConachie Landing27. McConachie28. Laurel29. Ravines of Richford30. Trumpeter at Big Lake31. Axio summerside32. Touchmark33. Hawks Ridge at Big Lake34. Woodhaven – Edgemont

LEGEND

29

shopping Centre

Points ofInterest

Hospitals Colleges/Universities



ADVERTISERS INDEXCarlisle Group Page 9

www.elementscondos.ca

Cameron Homes Page 6

www.cameronhomes.ca

Lincolnberg Homes Page 4-5

www.lincolnberg.com

Procura Page 32

Century Park

www.centurypark.ca

Tamani Communities Page 2

Southfork

www.southforkleduc.ca

Walton Development Page 3

McConachie

www.mcconachie.ca


Hawksridge

www.hawksridge.ca


Woodhaven

www.woodhavenedgemont.com

EDMONTON AND AREA MAP

CONDOS1. Lakeview Estates2. sierras of Inglewood3. Grande- Mission Hill4. Tenor

NEW HOMES1. Northern Lights Estates2. Erin Ridge3. North Ridge4. Tuscany Hills5. The Crossing at River’s Edge6. The Manors of Oakmont7. Regency Heights Estates8. Kingswood9. Greystone Manor10. Pinnacle Ridge Estates11. Riverstone Pointe12. The Banks of sturgeon Valley

CONDOS1. Laredo On The Park2. station 333. stony Village4. Graywood Terrace5. Cedar Brae6. Urbia Place

NEW HOMES1. stony Village2. Brookview3. Graybriar4. The Fairways5. Willow Park6. Lake Westerra7. stellar Homes

CONDOS1. Parkland Village2. Fairway Eight3. Harvest Ridge4. Nova Ridge Villas5. spruce Ridge Manor6. The Pointe7. Kingstreet on Park

NEW HOMES1. Jesperdale2. stoneshire3. Harvest Ridge4. Deer Park Estates5. Hilldowns6. spruce Village7. spruce Ridge8. Hawthorne at Heatherglen9. springate at spruce Ridge10. Legacy Park11. Lakewood


NEW HOMES1. Deer Valley2. West Haven3. Bridgeport4. Aspen Creek5. suntree6. Windrose7. southfork8. Tribute9. Meadowiew Park

CONDOS1. Brooklands at Bridgeport2. Ravine Villas3. Urbia Manor4. Urbia Green5. The springs at Bridgeport

CONDOS1. Village Champlain2. Maple Brooks Villas3. La Rose

NEW HOMES1. Village Champlain2. La Rose3. Grandin Park Close4. Notre Dame Estates5. The Lakes

CONDOS1. Riverview Estates2. Fort Gardens3. Walnut Grove

NEW HOMES1. Valley Pointe Estates2. Forest Ridge in West Park3. Westwood Trails4. West Woodlands5. southfort6. southpointe7. sienna

CONDOS1. Pallisades on the Ravine2. strathcona Village3. Crystal Estates4. Axxess5. summerwood Greens6. Maple Ridge & Oak Ridge

NEW HOMES1. strathcona Village2. Aspen Trail3. summerwood4. Lakeland Ridge5. Clarkdale Park6. Foxboro7. Willow Ridge/The Ridge8. sherwood Hill Estates9. Balmoral Heights10. Fountain Creek Estates11. sherwood Golf & Country

Club Estates

CONDOS1. Coventry Homes2. The Village at Beaumont3. Beausjour4. Montrose View5. Giselle Valley Manor

NEW HOMES1. Coloniale Estates2. Montalet3. Citadel Ridge4. Eaglemont Heights5. Montrose Estates6. Westbrook7. Four seasons Estates8. Goudreau Terrace9. Triomphe Estates10. Beaumont Lakes11. Place Chaleureuse12. Beau Val



LAST YEAR OUR column started with the proclama-tion that “NOW is a great time to buy a new home in Edmonton!” This remains true this year. Why? Because Edmonton has Canada’s best economy, most affordable homes, lowest unemployment rate and has a quality of life that is rated one of the best in the world.

Most Affordable Homes in CanadaAccording to RBC Economics latest Housing Trends and Affordability Report Edmonton’s housing affordability is even better than last year. Even though house prices went up modestly in 2012, this was offset by full employment, low interest rates and wage growth outpacing price increases.

In fact, Edmonton’s housing affordability led all major markets covered, in all categories covered — detached bungalow, standard two-storey and standard condominium — beating every other major Canadian centre.

Lowest Unemployment in CanadaStatistics Canada’s latest numbers put Edmonton’s unemployment rate at 4.1 per cent. In economic terms, this is full employment. This is the lowest unemployment rate of Canada’s major cities; the national average is 7.2 per cent.

In fact, the labour market in Edmonton and Alberta is strained. One indicator that doesn’t get a lot of attention is the job vacancy rate — that is jobs without workers to fill them. Alberta has the highest job vacancy rate in the country at 3.3 per cent.

There is hope, as the federal Government introduces the Federal Skilled Trades Program on

Edmonton still a great place to buy!

January 2, 2013. This is a fast track program that will speed up the immigration process for in-demand skilled workers. Unfortunately, the program will be limited to 3,000 applications in the first year, but it is a step in the right direction.

World Leading Quality of LifeMladen Adamovic, a former Google software engineer in Ireland, started a new website numbeo.com in 2009, to collect data from people living all over the world. The Quality of Life Index uses purchasing power, safe-ty, health care, consumer price index, the home price to income ratio, commute times and pollution data. The current report places Edmonton at #3 in the world, behind Berlin and Zurich.

ConclusionEdmonton’s solid economic foundation, with Canada’s lowest unemployment rate and most affordable housing are part of what makes Edmonton a world leader in quality of life. Now is a great time to buy a new home in Edmonton. n

MARkET VIEWby Wesley Gunderson

Wesley Gunderson is Vice President of Finance for Growth Marketing an Edmonton based real estate consultancy firm providing integrated marketing services to its valued clients. Mr. Gunderson has been with the firm since 1997 and actively involved in economic and market research, marketing and product strategy as well as advertising and sales promotion.

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Edmonton Home & Condo Living January 2013

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