of people also appreciate the architectural controls we have out there that ensure that if you invest in a high-end home you are going to be surrounded by similar type product.”
“Many people really welcome the quietness and serenity of Desert Blume,” adds Ivan Backer, real estate agent, Desert Blume Estates. “Many people are looking for that and the community atmosphere rather than the hustle and bustle and noise of the city.”
In short, what people are looking for in the high-end developments in and around the city is more than just a home, it is a particular type of lifestyle, one defined by spaciousness, proximity to nature, a serene atmosphere, and the investment security that comes from architectural controls.
Heron Crossing: Taking flight
Located in the very southwest corner of the city, Heron Crossing and Point at Canyon Creek is close to Desert Blume. Gary Stimson and his wife purchased the development two years ago, and decided to name it after the herons that live around the little bridge.
“This spring, we’re starting to develop the first phase which is 12 lots,” says Stimson. “They’re all oversized lots, set up for a minimum of a triple garage. The lots are quite deep, up to
200 feet deep. The first phase will be in a peninsula. Nine of the lots will be with walkout basements. All have beautiful views of Seven Persons Creek and the surrounding hills. They should be ready for market about the first part of July.”
Like Desert Blume, Heron Crossing has strict architectural controls and, despite being located within the city, a tranquil, country atmosphere with plenty of wildlife to see.
Ranchlands & Riverwalk: Slow and steady
It has been over a decade since planning first began on Phase 3 of the Ranchlands development along the South Saskatchewan River. When the American housing market crashed in 2008 and the global economy slumped, plans to develop Phase 3c were halted. In 2014, these plans were reactivated, being finalized in 2016. Early this year, approval for the first subdivision of Phase 3c, consisting of 63 small and large lots, was received. When these lots are released onto the market will be determined by market conditions and the sale of existing lots. The City tries to keep a two-year rolling inventory of lots; currently, they have about five years’ worth.
“We have over 200 lots on the market right now,” says Bulmer. “Sales are 25-30 lots a year which isn’t great so we’re not rushing Ranchlands 3c onto the market yet.”
The slowdown in the market in the past few years has also meant that the development of Riverwalk, formerly known as Phase 4 of Ranchlands, has also been delayed.
“Riverwalk is 200 acres of land with the South Saskatchewan on three sides of it, sort of on a point of land with the river wrapping around it,” says Bulmer. “It’s going to be quite a special area because of its proximity to the river. It’s a very quiet area now and I expect that to be maintained in the future. We’ve done some visioning work on it and some preliminary efforts, but because of the market we haven’t done much to advance that further. This year, though, we are going to start getting some consultants in place to start the planning work. Our process is usually a couple years of planning, a year or so of engineering and design, and then two years of construction to get the first lots for sale. It’s a lengthy process when you go through everything. We’re always keeping our eye on the future.”
In addition to the development of new lots occurring in neighbourhoods within the city or surrounding communities, there are also some high-end infill homes being built. ❚
Registration for 2017-2018 is now available.
Contact your local Prairie Rose school for details.
Everyone Learning Together
Prairie Rose School Division has 17 public schools, 16 colony schools and 2 outreach schools. Te division is one of the largest in the province with buses transporting students approximately 19, 200 kilometres every day to school and back.
Locate your neighbourhood school by visiting
www.prrd.ab.ca. Follow us on Twitter @PrairieRoseSD8
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