The Ivy by Brookfield Residential

When 30-something-year-old partners Jason and Mathew went looking for a new home, they had a pretty good idea what they wanted.

Mathew, a registered nurse, wanted something close to the hospital. Jason, a pilot, wanted a reasonable commute to the airport, but didn’t want to live right next door to it. With both working shifts, the condo lifestyle made sense for the couple, who formerly rented in the beltline area. The couple purchased a townhome in April 2019 at Brookfield Residential’s The Ivy in the trendy University District just off Shaganappi Trail in northwest Calgary and, along with their dog Charlie, moved in this past May.

“It’s a great functional layout for the price,” says Jason of their Viridian floorplan and its private two-car tandem garage. “We quickly decided to purchase in The Ivy development as there was nothing else that offered the same. We also liked the location and future plans for the area.”

With its proximity to the Foothills and Children’s Hospitals, University of Calgary, Market Mall, Nose Hill Park, McMahon Stadium and planned retail for the area, including a Main Street with shopping and professional services, the University District takes full advantage of one of the last big pieces of undeveloped inner-city land left in town.

Sitting on the northern edge of the University District, just off 32nd Avenue NW, The Ivy is a collection of high-end townhomes that not only meet exacting environmental standards, but also offer the kind of practical functionality and esthetic appeal that discerning buyers demand.

The Ivy community consists of 17 separate buildings and a final build-out total of 127 luxury townhomes. Ground breaking was in 2017, says Kerstin MacDonald, sales manager at Brookfield, with first possession last summer and project completion scheduled for spring 2022.

“We’re already 65 per cent sold, with 12 of 17 buildings finished,” she says, adding “there are still great opportunities here, including a few move-in-ready homes.”

Three distinct exterior styles – The Cube, The Fin and The Brownstone – combine with four distinct floorplan options –Viridian, Olivine, Reseda and Laurel (now sold out) – to guarantee there’s a fit for every lifestyle. In fact, says MacDonald, that’s exactly what they’re seeing as buyers are spanning all demographic categories; from parents buying condos for their university student children, to professionals working in the area, to downsizers from surrounding communities.

“The Ivy offers a unique opportunity to live within the inner city without compromising on space or security,” says MacDonald. “Downsizers in typical NW communities like Parkdale and Varsity have been drawn to floorplans like the Olivine and Reseda that afford 1,500 – 1,700 sq.-ft. of living space so that they can forego the maintenance of a larger home without compromising on the living space.”

The Viridian model checks in at 1,185 sq.-ft., with two bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths and attached tandem garage. Pricing starts in the upper $400,000s. The Olivine also features a two-bed, two-bath floorplan, but in a significantly larger footprint and with a double attached garage. Prices for this model start in the high $500,000s. The Reseda has an option for a third bedroom in a 1,700-sq.-ft.-plus layout, with prices from the upper $600,000s.

All units feature estate level finishing, says MacDonald, with hardwood flooring throughout the main living areas, quartz countertops, undermount sinks and Bosch kitchen appliances all standard. Many homes have large outdoor living spaces, some overlooking the common courtyard.

Last, but certainly not least, when you purchase a home from Brookfield you don’t just get a great home, but you get the kind of top-notch professional service you expect when making the biggest purchase of your life. “From first walking into the Brookfield office we were impressed with the level of genuine professionalism and care shown by the Brookfield staff,” says Jason. “Through every step of the process we were always impressed with the attention to detail and level of care provided.”

Even the sales centre for The Ivy is unique, as the show suite is located in the University District Discovery Centre on University Avenue. If you’re looking for a new home and you haven’t been to the University District yet, what are you waiting for?