Creating business with pleasure in the community commercial centres

Walking paths bring ease and relaxation to the nieghbourhood, playgrounds bring the fun, but commercial amenities are the beating heart of activity in many of today’s new communities, as they become an essential part in everyday life.
Imagine if you forgot getting milk on the way home from work, needing to get back in the car and drive back to get it can be a huge inconvenience, if instead you can just walk to your neighbourhood store to get it.

The in-community mini-malls are essential to everyday life, providing services like dental clinics, convenience stores, liquor stores, and pet care among others that residents rely on. But the importance of living in a community with quick access to everyday needs of goods and services cannot be overstated.

Strategic location

Tim Logel, founder of Logel Homes, has always made it a point to select locations for his many condo developments to have convenient access to commercial centres. “It adds so much to the ease of living of residents of our condos,” he tells Calgary New Home and Condo Guide.

Logel Homes’ inaugural condo development of Auburn Rise was specifically built in the heart of amenity-rich southeast community of Auburn Bay, just across from what is now a dynamic and vibrant commercial area of Auburn Station.
Now, Logel Homes’ latest development, Waterside at Mahogany is just across the street, and likewise takes advantage of this existing commercial area, and the rapidly growing Mahogany Village beside it.

“We have always strived for locations that offer all the conveniences to our residents and here you’ll have beautiful views of Mahogany Lake – the biggest in Calgary – tranquil parks and pathways to walk your dog, and tons of commercial amenities just at your doorstep,” he adds.

Creating convenience

Southeast Calgary resident Linda Alcaide says when she moved into her home some 15 years ago there really wasn’t a lot of choices where to shop for groceries. “It took a while to come together, but today I have plenty of options within just a five-minute drive.”

“Commercial areas are important to new communities because they provide essential goods, services, and amenities for those living in the area, and reduce travel times which therefore help enhance their quality of life,” says Qualico Communities Calgary Marketing & Communications Manager, Monica Bilyk.

“Commercial spaces also support economic growth and can create employment opportunities for residents in and around the community. Additionally, shopping centres, cafes, and restaurants can serve as social meetup points, promoting a sense of community.”

Crucial amenities

Not all the new communities have their own dedicated commercial area within their boundaries, but most are strategically located enough that they can enjoy shopping at the larger shopping centres nearby.

“Because commercial amenities often come later in the development phase, amenities in neighbouring communities or surrounding areas are helpful in filling the void for residents until the community itself is able to supply them,” Bilyk says.

“Having shops and services nearby allows residents to continue to participate in everyday activities despite the community not being complete. Shopping Centres such as East Hills are essentially able to supplement the amenities until they are available in the community itself.”

Established communities like Legacy, Mahogany and Seton in the southeast can already enjoy commercial centres both in and immediately surrounding the respective areas. The latest one is Township, south Calgary’s newest shopping centre that already services to new communities in the booming Pine Creek area and beyond.

Qualico’s Dawson’s Landing in Chestermere, which is relatively newer compared to those other communities, definitely benefits from having the massive East Hills shopping centre at its doorstep, as residents can just do their grocery shopping on the way home from work in Calgary.

Qualico Communities Senior Development Manager,Mike Anderson, says their new developments of Southbow Landing in Cochrane and Vantage Rise in Airdrie will both have 10+ acre commercial sites located at the entrance to the communities. “This will allow for a variety of uses to be close to residents.”