The continuing boom of Southeast Calgary

The Big Bang of Southeast Calgary’s growth started more than a decade ago, but the reverberations can still be felt, and the blast radius continues to expand.

Southeast Calgary in the early 2010s still had a lot of the southern Alberta prairie feel. But with the advent of such communities like Mahogany, Copperfield, New Brighton, Auburn Bay, Cranston, and Walden - and then Seton and Legacy a little bit later - it has become an epicentre of residential growth in the city. And that growth continues today with the introduction of even more new communities.

As many of those earlier neighbourhoods are completely built out and buying new homes become limited, developers have introduced a bevy of new communities here that brings new opportunities for choice, affordability and an enviable lifestyle.
“People have come to love the southeast and the easy lifestyle found here,” says Kelly Westblom, Senior Development Manager at Genstar Development, one of Calgary’s leading developers who have played a key role in the southeast’s boom.

“I live in the southwest, but I still find myself coming to the southeast because of all the wonderful amenities here, not the least of which is the new South Health Campus hospital,” she tells Calgary New Home + Condo Guide.

Southern pride

Genstar is the developer of Walden, which is now down to its final few phases, and the renowned developer is embarking on its latest southeast community: Rangeview. Sales have started in this new community along 52nd Street and 202 Avenue SE, and showhomes have opened on November 5.

“With Genstar’s 70 years of experience, we’re bringing something new to Rangeview, focusing on the increased need for safe streets in our communities – taking pedestrian connectivity to the next level by separating pedestrian movements from vehicular movements through tree lined boulevards separated from the roadway” she says. “We built the community foster a sense of calm and safety, we want you to be able to leave your home, with your kids in tow and enjoy an evening bike ride without dodging cars whizzing by” she adds.

Rangeview by Genstar is just one of the many new communities launched in the last few years, among them are Rangeview by Section23, Wolf Willow by WestCreek Developments, and Hotchkiss developed jointly by Hopewell Residenital and Qualico Communities. And even more are coming.

Copperstone by Vesta Properties is a popular enclave within the greater Copperfield area, and Cranston’s Riverstone by Brookfield Residential is the same in the greater Cranston community. Both take advantage of their location within well-established communities and give their buyers the opportunity to buy a new home with all amenities already in place and ready to enjoy.

Lifestyle design

Innovative community designs can in fact be seen in all the new neighbourhoods in the southeast. Section23’s Rangeview builds on the historic farming tradition of the area with its garden-to-table concept, Hotchkiss enhances its closeness to nature with its wetlands, while Wolf Willow by WestCreek Developments leans on its scenic riverside location to bring in wholesome parks and pathways.

Urban appeal is not too far away either, as Brookfield Residentials Seton remains a beacon for achieving world-class, work-life balance lifestyle with its blend of residential and commercial nodes. Its vision was to create a new downtown in the south and it has largely succeeded, enhanced by its twin gems: the South Health Campus hospital, and the massive Brookfield Residential YMCA.

Rangeview

The new communities along Calgary’s southern borders have diversity, density and delight in equal measure. Every type of housing option in every budget is readily available here. Rangeview by Genstar spans the entire range of the most popular homes, from townhomes, laned homes, paired homes and front-drive garage homes.

“We know how to create compelling, creative and connected communities and all our developments have been consistently ranked in the Top 2 of every quadrant,” Westblom says. “Rangeview will bring all this experience and skill to the fore.”
Rangeview will have townhomes from Truman Homes; paired (or duplex) homes from Homes by Avi and Truman Homes; laned from Excel Homes and Truman Homes; and front-drive garage homes from Excel Homes and Homes by Avi.

“A focus on value and timeless design that puts a premium on community connectivity is what Rangeview offers,” she adds. Find out more at genstar.com.

Explore

No doubt that growth will continue throughout the southeast, but why do people love living here so much? The rich amount of amenities that are readily available would be a big part of that, and so would the easy accessibility to any part of town now that the ring road is almost finished.

The natural wonders of Fish Creek Provincial Park can be easily accessed from these southeast neighbourhoods, as well.
Fish Creek Park covers much of the southern breadth of the city, encompassing 1,348 hectares stretching some 20 kilometres from the T’suu Tina Reserve at 37th Street to the Bow River’s banks in the east and dividing established and newer suburbs that have sprung up beside it.

Running along shallow, winding Fish Creek, the park is a labyrinth of walking, cycling and equestrian paths (around 80 km in total), peppered by groves of mature trees and open meadows.

Today the park attracts more than 3 million visitors a year, from naturalists to history buffs, nature photographers, hikers, walkers, cyclists and picnicking families, according to the Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park, the non-profit organization that helps run the park. “Calgarians and tourists alike come to enjoy the many opportunities offered by this natural area in the midst of Calgary’s dynamic urban environment.”

Dine and shop

Seton is the epicentre of commercial, retail, recreation and dining in the southeast. Its urban district will have 1 million square-feet of retail space that has already blossomed into a multitude of offerings, from the Superstore to the Cineplex VIP Theatre – the first ever in Alberta.

Also in Seton are the Tommyfield Gastro Pub, Boston Pizza, TiNi Vietnamese Restaurant, to name but a few, that can satisfy foodie cravings for sure.

Mahogany Village Market is the first development planned for the community’s highly anticipated Urban Village. This retail district features an exciting list of shops and services, including Sobeys, Tim Horton’s, Cobs Bread, ATB Financial, Dairy Queen, Kinjo Sushi & Grill, The Canadian Brewhouse, and State & Main.

The massive Township Shopping Centre in Legacy is also shaping up fast as a major source for shopping and entertainment and services, providing a much-needed amenity to service the new communities in the area and beyond.

Although TV traffic reports sometimes refer to Calgary’s southeast as the “deep south,” perhaps in jest for what can sometimes be a challenging commute to the downtown. But these communities east of the Bow River and on either side of the southern portion of Stoney Trail and Deerfoot Trail can boast some of the best lifestyle balance anywhere.