Southern pride explore southeast Calgary

By Pepper Rodriguez
July 21, 2021

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.

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, the new community of Seton – the home of the world-class South Health Campus hospital – is shaping up to be a commercial and employment hub, and the endless delight of living so close to the Fish Creek Provincial Park and the Bow River’s best fishing holes cannot be understated as qualities anyone would want in a forever home.

The twin lake communities of Mahogany by Hopewell Residential and the all-but-sold-out Auburn Bay by Brookfield Residential have proven the enduring popularity of the stay-cation model that is often replicated in today’s newer communities. Wolf Willow by WestCreek Developments, and Cranston’s Riverstone by Brookfield Residential both rely on their riverside locations to lure nature-loving homeowners. While Walden by Genstar and Legacy by WestCreek point to the convenience and wide choice of homes they offer for their success.

Anthem United’s trio of communities - Belmont, Pine Creek and Sirocco at Pine Creek - and Hudson at Creekstone by Highfield Land Management, as well as Yorkville by Mattamy, are all technically in the southwest as they lie on the west side of Macleod Trail. Artesia by Brookfield Residential is further south just outside the city’s boundaries. But all of those communities are close enough to the border of the SE and they also benefit from all those close-by amenities that it is worthwhile mentioning them in this feature as well.

The southeast had been a major area of growth in Calgary over the last decade and the rapid succession of new communities continues unabated with the introduction of Rangeview from Section 23 that will be opening showhomes soon, and the just announced start of development for Hotchkiss to be jointly undertaken by Hopewell Residential and Qualico Communities.

There is growth for sure. But why do people love living here?

First time home buyers, Ceazar Simon and Coleen Cruz, knew they wanted to own their own home and have been searching since 2019. With the help of a realtor, they found one in Wolf Willow.

“We really didn’t know what we wanted, or where. We just knew it had to be a single-family home that we could afford,” Ceazar tells Calgary New Home + Condo Guide. “Our realtor took us to Wolf Willow and we saw the Raeya from Trico Homes and we fell in love with it right away.”

He says they had no idea about this new community, but he’s glad they found it. “We didn’t have a clue about Wolf Willow, and we were just so surprised that it’s close to the river, near the golf course and lots of commercial amenities just around the corner. We’re so glad to have found this,” he adds. Both of them grew up in Calgary but they were unfamiliar with the new Calgary suburbs. “I grew up in Millrise and Coleen’s from the north and we still have family there so it’s cool that Wolf Willow is kind of in the middle.”

Pet people also love that many of the city’s biggest dog parks as found in the area., there are 14 City-run off-leash areas in the southeast. The 10-acre Jim Davidson Bark and Play area in Auburn Bay is busy any day of the week, River Park runs by the Bow River and connects to regional pathways to nearby communities of Quarry Park and Douglasdale.

Cranston’s Riverstone

Cranston’s Riverstone is a community built around outdoor living, promoting healthy, active lifestyles. All of the homes are just steps away from parks and pathways, while still being close to great schools, playgrounds and amenities. The community includes a 22,000 sq. ft. Residents Association facility and 7.5-acre park that is the gathering place for friends and neighbours to come together, connect, learn, and stay active.

Cranston’s Riverstone has lived up to all expectations as southeast Calgary’s premier riverside community, and it may be hard to believe but it is already approaching build out.

Seton

Directly across the Deerfoot Trail from Riverstone is what just may be Brookfield Residential’s crowning glory in Seton. Billed as Calgary’s “Downtown South,” the young, vibrant community is quickly fulfilling its vast potential with its complete “live, work, play” lifestyle.

It has the South Health Campus hospital right at its entrance, the world-record holding biggest YMCA, and more shops, restaurants, hotels and groceries than you can shake a stick at.

Of course, the outstanding array of home owning options that Seton has is what has made it so successful in such short a time. They opened new show homes in the latest phase this past spring and visitor traffic there has been very encouraging.

Walden

In 2019 about 75 per cent of the 411-acre Walden community had already been built out. It will have around 4,000 homes when it is completed. Feature park with 2 kms of walking trails that wrap around the neighbourhood and connect to the regional pathway system and to Fish Creek Park.

Mahogany

At 63 acres, Mahogany not only has Calgary’s largest lake, it also has more beach area, at 21 acres, than any other community in the city, making it the place to live for those who desire the fun and relaxation a lake lifestyle has to offer.

Legacy

Legacy won the Community of The Year for 2015 and 2016 and has since gone on to greater heights, offering everything from affordable townhomes to million-dollar estate homes on the ridge. “This is a community for everyone, where families can put down roots. Where you can buy your first home and move on to a bigger family home and onto a downsizer home without leaving the community,” says Kalida Manarin, marketing manager at WestCreek Developments.

Explore

The natural wonders of Fish Creek Provincial Park can be easily accessed from these neighbourhoods.

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.

Tommyfield Gastro Pub, Boston Pizza, TiNi Vietnamese Restaurant, to name but a few, can satisfy foodie cravings for sure.

Mahogany Village Market is the first development in 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 the communities in the area.

About Pepper Rodriguez

Pepper Rodriguez is a writer, editor of New Home + Condo Guide's Calgary and Edmonton editions.

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