Turning Calgary's dream communities to reality

Imagine moving to a new city, trying to find a place to live; preferably near schools for the kids, accessible enough for work, with enough amenities around to allow you to live the way you want.

There are a lot of people doing just that kind of imagining these days, as Calgary continues to attract record migration numbers, many attracted by the comparative affordability of homes here. So, what should buyers – especially first-time buyers, or those new to Calgary – look for in a community to plant their family’s roots in?

One rule of thumb is that the further away a community is from the city centre, the more affordable the pricing. but it’s not always just about the price.

For the most part, the most successful communities combine the three A’s: accessibility, affordability, and amenities. All of Calgary’s land developers strive for this, even as they prioritize lifestyle essentials in their communities. We spoke with a few of the city’s premier developers to get insight on what makes an ideal community.

Finding the ideal community

A dream community is a place that is safe, and you are free to live life at ease, and enjoy all the moments together with loved ones, according to Genstar Senior Development Manager, Kelly Westblom.

“Look for well-planned communities. A well-planned community will meet the needs of every family, young, old, new to Calgary and everyone in between,” she says, adding that proximity to parks, pathways, and a heightened focus on pedestrian safety are paramount, as these keep in mind the residents’ daily lives.

Cale Marklund, Marketing Manager at Partners Group, says while safety and sense of community are important, the lifestyle that a community can offer is also key.

“Sometimes people get so caught up in the topic of home pricing, and trying so hard to find the lowest price, that they lose sign of the importance of a community that matches their lifestyle,” Marklund says. He points out that if having an active lifestyle is important to you, maybe consider a community where there are ample recreational opportunities and easy access to the nearby Rockies. Or if you need to be downtown for work, maybe somewhere in the inner city will be better or at least where accessibility – with public transport and near major thoroughfares – would be more amenable. “Find what fits your life,” he says.

For Monica Bilyk, Manager, Marketing & Communications at Qualico Communities a great community is more than the sum of all its parts – it’s about the people that live there. And, of course, a community designed with shared spaces that develop strong community bonds.

“I believe people want to live in a community that fosters a sense of belonging, and a place where they can build strong connections and social networks. They’re looking to share a sense of pride for the area they live in with neighbours and hope to work together to keep the community as clean and safe as possible for everyone living in it,” she says.

Community essentials

A variety of factors goes into achieving the ideal community, from planning for home types and architectural guidelines to create a cohesive look and feel, to amenities for the family for year-round activities, spaces for gathering with friends and family, green space, active nodes, and accessibility.

But what makes one special? Having a developer with a sterling reputation is a good start.

Genstar has been around since the 1950s and is responsible for many of Calgary’s best-known communities, and their new Rangeview community is off to a hot start.

Qualico Communities has been around just as long and has been equally vital to Calgary’s residential growth. They currently have 11 community developments on the go, with Vantage Rise in Airdrie, and Southbow Landing in Cochrane breaking ground in 2023, and Bridgeport in Chestermere set to start this year.

Partners Development Group is the youngest of the three but has proven itself just as capable with its hit development of Homestead in the northeast and is now just about ready to unveil its latest – Upper Greenwich in the northwest.

Rangeview

Rangeview in southeast Calgary is Genstar’s latest endeavour and it is off to a fast start. Rangeview offers an experience centered around the concept of Vision Zero, a proactive approach in community planning to prevent traffic-related incidents and promote safe mobility, Westblom says.

There is a focus on the outdoors with its nine bird-themed parks. “The community’s commitment to greenery is evident through the planting of approximately 4,500 trees over the course of the project, fostering a healthier ecosystem,” she adds.

“Infrastructure supporting eco-friendly transportation is a priority, with expansive bike lanes and tree-lined pathways enhancing connectivity and promoting walkability. Rangeview pioneers in sustainable housing, ensuring every home is equipped for easy installation of electric vehicle charging stations and solar panels. This forward-thinking approach empowers residents to embrace renewable energy, reducing carbon footprints while offsetting charging costs.”

It has a nice mix of architectural styles to accommodate the needs of many home buyers from its award-winning builder group, including Excel Homes, Homes by Avi, Cardel Homes, and Truman Homes. Product types include street towns, semi-detached, laned 25’, and 29’ front drive homes. “An exciting new amenity phase is also upcoming with sales beginning May 1st,” Westblom says. For more on Walden and Rangeview, visit genstar.com.

Southbow Landing

Like many, Qualico Communities has fallen in love with Cochrane, and is introducing their second development in this historical Western Heritage town just west of Calgary - Southbow Landing.

After their success with Rivercrest, which Qualico Communities jointly develops with Slokker Homes, Southbow Landing is an even more ambitious development that will add some 3,000 homes to this bustling, Big Sky town.

“Southbow Landing is a beautiful new community in an area that truly allows you to benefit from its location. You’re only 10 minutes away from Cochrane’s Town Centre where you can grab groceries, visit a doctor, or grab a bite to eat, and only 35 minutes from Kananaskis where you can enjoy a beautiful summer day hiking,” Bilyk says.

Southbow Landingwill have three school sites, over 10 kms of pathways, an extensive environmental reserve, and 4 parks for residents to enjoy. It’s perfectly situated in the south side of Cochrane, so it’s easily accessible without having to deal with traffic in the Town’s centre. It’s also only a 15-minute drive to Calgary’s city limits and 30 minutes to downtown Calgary for those who commute to work in the city.

Home types will include single family Front Garage and Laned Homes, and Laned and Front Garage Duplexes in the first phase. Builders will include Broadview Homes, Daytona Homes, Douglas Homes, NuVista Homes, Sterling Homes, and Trico Homes. Multi-family housing will come in later phases.

Visit southbowlanding. com for more.

Vantage Rise

Vantage Rise aspires to be a connected, amenity-rich community where its commercial area becomes a focal point for the community and supports the needs of its residents, and its open spaces provide opportunities to be active and socialize with others.

Located on the west side of Airdrie, Vantage Rise will feature Vantage Commons, a 12.25-acre commercial site which will include a pedestrian oriented main street, a public plaza, storm pond, pathways, and seating areas. The community will also house, another 15 acres of flexible outdoor space, a playground, picnic area, and sports courts in an area called Vantage Green.

Vantage Rise will have Front Garage Homes, Laned Homes, Townhomes, and multi-family housing. Find out more at vantagerise.qualicocommunitiescalgary.com.

Bridgeport

Bridgeport, which is breaking ground in Chestermere this year, is perfect for those who value connection, comfort, and quality of life. With its prime location, diverse housing options, and rich array of amenities, it’s a place residents will be able to call home for a lifetime, Bilyk says. Its initial phases span over 250 acres of land.

Bridgeport will have three major park spaces, a small retail shop, and a public-school site. “The community will also retain some of its natural beauty by integrating a large part of the existing habitat into the community’s plan,” she says.

Bridgeport’s proximity to established neighbouring communities makes everyday living easy. Highway 1 and 17th Avenue provide residents access to East Hills Shopping Centre which includes a Costco, movie theatre, Walmart, and Starbucks, among many other in-demand amenities. A quick drive down Rainbow Road brings residents to No Frills, a grocery store located just south of the community.

Showhomes are scheduled to open in 2025. Register for updates at bridgeport.qualicocommunitiescalgary.com.

Upper Greenwich

Partners Development Group was so happy with the success of their initial community of Homestead, that it is quickly embarking on its second, Upper Greenwich, and they’re kicking things up by several notches.

“Upper Greenwich is so exciting. It’s really a community designed around bringing in the natural elements of the surrounding area such as access to the Bow River Valley, the big, beautiful Douglas Fir trees around it, easy access to the Rockies, and melding them with the incredible access to local amenities like the Calgary Farmer’s Market, downtown Calgary, Winsport Canada Olympic Park, the historic community of Bowness and so much more,” Marklund says.

The area used to be in a forgotten corner of the northwest that is currently undergoing rapid development and now includes the popular Calgary Farmers’ Market. Upper Greenwich will add substantial pizzazz and charm to this unfolding, vibrant scene.

This gorgeous, estate-style community will offer an elevated experience, and access to an amazing variety of amenities, Marklund says. It will have luxury paired homes from the $700s, front garage estate homes from $1.1-1.2M and stunning 4-storey canal-fronting townhomes from $1.2M.

A key feature is a central canal and amphitheatre area running through the middle of the community, which is a fun and unique element that binds the feel of the entire community together, he adds.

Currently, there are a couple different home types: Front Garage Estate Homes (from New West Homes, Homes by Fifty-Six, Luxuria Homes) and Luxury Paired Homes (from Partners Development Group).

“In the coming months we will be releasing some unique and beautiful four-storey canal fronting townhomes with stunning brick architecture built by Partners Development Group,” he says. More are coming down the road, he promises.

For more information, visit uppergreenwich.com.