central alberta homes spring 2013
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s pr i n g 2013 cen t r a l a lb er ta h o m es 5
spring 2013 | issue 03
market overview
11 Just the facts Central Alberta housing market to remain strong in 2013
feature
12 Estate homes High end market driven by healthy economy
events
15 Red Deer Home Show Everything for your home under one roof,
for one weekend only
community
16 An investment in lifestyle Malibu Communities focused on
developing sustainable quality neighbourhoods
18 Good neighbours Melcor committed to creating quality communities
industry news
23 Celebrating excellence in housing Local home building stars set to shine
bright at annual awards
interiors/exteriors
25 Ground rules Some tips on growing the perfect garden in Central Alberta
cover photo: bowood homes photo by andrea Wiseman@CHBACA1@chbaca1
12
18
departments
6 Message from the Executive Officer
9 Getting to Know…
30 Member List
15 25
contents
6 cen t r a l a lb er ta h o m es s pr i n g 2013
message from the executive officer
CANADIAN HOME BUILDERS’ ASSOCIATION – CENTRAL ALBERTA represents professionals in the housing industry. CHBA – Central Alberta has been in existence for over 55 years and is a network of professionals that manages industry issues to provide value to our members.
10, 7895 - 49th Avenue Red Deer, Alberta T4P 2B4Tel: 403.346.5321 Toll-free: 1.888.346.-5329Fax: 403.342.1301 Toll-free: 1.877.342.1301E-mail: [email protected]
Denie Olmstead | Executive Officer [email protected]
Joan Butler | Executive [email protected]
PUBLISHED By Source Media Group Corp. 207, 5809 Macleod Trail S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2H 0J9Tel: 403.532.3101, Fax: 403.532.3109 Toll free: 1.888.932.3101Email: [email protected]
AssOciAte PuBlisher | Jim Zang Art DirectOr | Jean Faye Rodriguez
GrAPhic DesiGners | Lama Azhari, Dave Macaulay, Megan Sereda
PrODuctiOn cO-OrDinAtOr | Colleen Leier
cOntriButOrs | John Burnham, Tess Flewelling, Treena Mielke, Mike Wizeman AccOuntinG | Donna Roberts
DirectOr Of sAles | Norma [email protected]
ADvertisinG sAles | Andrea [email protected]
Copyright 2013 by Source Media Group Corp. Material
cannot be reprinted in whole or in part without the express
written permission of the publishers. Source Media Group
Corp. agrees to advertise on behalf of the advertiser
without responsibility for claims or misinformation made
by the advertiser and acts only as an advertising medium.
Source Media Group Corp reserves the right to refuse any
advertising at its sole discretion.
Central Alberta Homes is published quarterly and is
distributed to every member of the Canadian Home
Builers’ Association – Central Alberta, as well as on free
stands throughout the region.
RetuRn undeliveRable Canadian addResses to source Media Group Corp., 207 - 5809 Macleod trail s.W., Calgary, ab t2H 0J9. Publication Agreement # 41072011
Sincerely,
Denie OlmsteadExecutive Officer
CHBA – Central Alberta
Planting seedsSPRING IS A TIME of renewal and rejuvenation not just for mind, body and soul, but
for our homes as well. It’s a time when homeowers’ thoughts turn to spring cleaning,
gardening and home improvements — and folks who don’t own homes start thinking
about buying one.
And what better place to start the process than in Central Alberta Homes magazine,
the official publication of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association – Central Alberta?
We kick off the season with our annual Red Deer Home Show, and you can read
all about it in the article on page 15. From renovation and landscaping products and
ideas, to lighting and appliances, to furnishings
and professional services, there’s something for
everyone. Whether you take in one of the speakers
offering expert advice from the main stage, or just
want to chat with a few new home builders before
you start looking at show homes, the Home Show
will plant the seeds for any number of home-related
projects.
And, speaking of planting seeds, we haven’t
forgotten about the outside of your home either. Just
in time for the spring thaw — it seems the snow’s
never really gone for good until early April — we’ve
asked a couple of local gardening gurus the timeless question: “How does your garden
grow?” They share their opinions on what grows well in Central Alberta, as well as
some secrets on how to make the most of your garden plot, no matter the size.
Of course, the theme of our magazine is homes and we don’t disappoint this edition
with several stories on the local housing market. For example, who’s building $1 million
dollar homes? And where? Join Red Deer realtor Mike Wiseman as he looks at this
growing segment of the industry in a feature article on estate homes.
In addition to the increased demand for high-end homes, we’ve also got our regular
update from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, which shows the estate
market isn’t the only market on the rise in these parts. All economic indicators point to
a good year for members of the local home building business, which is good news not
just for their trades and suppliers but for consumers too as there are options aplenty.
you’ll find many of these housing options in Red Deer’s new communities, so we’ve
profiled a couple of them this time around. Both Melcor Developments and Malibu
Communities are very active in the region and offer a wide selection of lots and builders
to choose from, many with show homes on site.
Wrapping up the magazine, as always, is our membership list. Whatever you’re
looking for, if it’s home related, you should check here first.
s pr i n g 2013 cen t r a l a lb er ta h o m es 7
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s pr i n g 2013 cen t r a l a lb er ta h o m es 9
Kevin WilkieVice President, CHBA – Central Alberta
On the job, on the ice, or on the ball
diamond, Kevin Wilkie gives it
everything he’s got. Which is good
news for his customers, who reap the ben-
efits of Kevin’s dedication to excellence in
everything he does.
The current 1st Vice President of the
Canadian Home Builders’ Association –
Central Alberta is also the Chair of both
the Home Show and Member Services
committees and a board member of the
Executive and Awards Committee.
His real job is Vice President of Sales with
True-Line Homes. “I oversee all of the sales
and marketing,” he says, “which includes
supervision of two full-time and five part-
time new home consultants as well as
creating all the marketing and branding for
the company.”
Who would have guessed that the son
of a Calgary fireman, whose favourite job
growing up was washing cars at Eastside
Dodge, would end up in the home building
industry? Not Kevin’s classmates at Red
Deer College, where he took two years of
Theatre and Film Technology, that’s for
sure. And, although he’s changed direction
professionally, he retains his love for going
to movies, concerts and even the odd road
trip to Las Vegas where he doesn’t mind
“losing a little money”.
So just how did a fine arts student find
his way into the home
building industry?
“I actually had
started a marketing
company in Red Deer
and the majority of
my work was with
home builders. I
starting working
on a condo project
for a company and
they asked if I’d
be interested in
working for them
doing part time
sales. This was
right before the
housing boom and
I got so busy selling
homes for them
that I had to commit full
time. That was about 10-years ago, and now
I get the best of both worlds. I still get to
come up with creative branding/marketing
ideas for all our True-Line projects and also
get to work closely with our sales staff and
customers to design custom homes for
people.”
Kevin loves calling Red Deer home. “I
Enjoy the small town feel of Red Deer, but
with some of the big city amenities. There
are also a lot of great people living here.
I have had the opportunity to meet and
associate with a lot of outstanding people.”
And he sees plenty of good things in the
area’s future. “Things are really starting to
pick up,” he says. “Red Deer is consistently
growing and all of us builders hope there
will be lots of land to build on in the future.”
For now, though, his advice to would-
be homebuyers: “Make sure you feel
comfortable with your builder and you
understand what is included in your home.
Nobody likes surprises.”
getting to know…
Above: Kevin and his nephew hit the ice on the lake at Invermere
10 cen t r a l a lb er ta h o m es s pr i n g 2013
s pr i n g 2013 cen t r a l a lb er ta h o m es 11
Whether in business or home
building, there’s a lot to be said
for the importance of a solid
foundation. And, for 2013, the local housing
industry is counting on it.
In fact, in Red Deer, full-time job growth,
lower carrying costs and smaller ownership
premia create a sound housing bedrock.
Red Deer’s full-time job market improved
and the employment outlook is bright. At
the projected annual rate of 680 units in
2013, up nearly 20 per cent from last year’s
total of 568, total housing starts are nearing
the levels that are in line with household
formation.
“There are currently roughly 36,345
private dwellings occupied by residents,”
says Regine Durand, market analyst,
Prairie & Territories for Canada Mortgage
and Housing Corporation. “This can serve
as a proxy for the number of households.
Annual population growth is currently
at 1.8 per cent. Applying that rate to the
number of private dwellings gives a rough
estimate of 650 new households created
each year. This represents the number of
homes that need to be built each year to
house new households.”
CMHC expects a 16 per cent gain in single
detached starts in the City of Red Deer
2013, up from 326 to 380 starts. Three game
changers will shore up the gains: full-time
job gains, less resale supply and increased
lot selection. Full-time employment
growth of 4.5 per cent between 2011 and
2012 will keep bracing up demand, as will
the roughly 5,000 folks who are expected
to move to Red Deer in 2013. The recent six
per cent drop (Dec. 2012) in active resale
listings in the city will cue builders into
starting new projects, as some prospective
Just the facts
LocationSingle-family detached Multi-family Total
2011 2012 2011 2012 2011 2012
Camrose 63 52 26 20 89 72
Canmore 2 9 28 12 30 21
Clearwater (County) 42 61 0 0 42 61
Lacombe 66 82 39 127 105 209
Lacombe (Country) 60 57 0 0 60 57
Mountain View (Country) 41 76 0 0 41 76
Red Deer 295 326 260 242 555 526
Red Deer (Country) 62 107 0 8 62 115
Sylvan Lake 126 109 13 98 139 207
ToTaL 757 879 366 502 1,123 1,386
buyers turn to the new home market to
gratify their housing needs. The servicing
of roughly 200 R1 lots planned to be
completed in Vanier Woods by 2012 year-
end will also help bring construction up to
speed.
Multi-family starts in Red Deer proper
are forecast to increase by almost 24 per
cent in 2013, a reversal of last year, which
saw a 6.9 per cent decrease in multi-family
starts, rising from 242 last year, to 300 in
2013.
... in Red Deer, full-time job growth, lower carrying costs and smaller ownership premia create a sound housing bedrock. Red Deer’s full-time job market improved and the employment outlook is bright.
market overview
Central Alberta housing market to remain strong in 2013
12 cen t r a l a lb er ta h o m es s pr i n g 2013
When you hear talk about
“estate homes” — you
might envision hillside
mansions in Calgary, or
perhaps something with a river valley view
in Edmonton. But Red Deer and Central
Alberta have their fair share of custom
estate homes as well. Which, if you look at
the numbers, and the background of this
area of the province that is seeing such
noticeable positive growth, perhaps should
come as no surprise.
Central Alberta is immersed in the
driving economies of our province,
with a heavy influence from the oil
and gas, agriculture, and health care
sectors. Its central location makes it
an ideal location for service-based
industries that help support these
industries, regardless of which corner
of the province they are located.
According to Canada Mortgage and
Housing Corporation (CMHC) statistics,
Red Deer saw an increase in estate home
starts for 2012, with approximately eight
estate homes (defined as costing one million
dollars plus) being absorbed (homes that
were completed, and either sold or were
rented out) in 2012. The numbers outside
the City of Red Deer, although difficult
to track, are notably higher due to some
desirable acreage lots surrounding premiere
recreational areas such as Sylvan Lake, the
Red Deer and Blindman Rivers, and Buffalo
Lake. The country residential market is
where you will find the majority of estate
home sales in Central Alberta.
So, if you were looking for an estate home
in Central Alberta, who should you chat
Estate homesHigh-end market driven by healthy economy
StORy By MIKE WISEMAn | PHOtOS By AnDREA WISEMAn
feature
with? Well, there are a number of builders
in the area that will work with you to create
your own custom dream home — with a
few companies who have the reputation for
building quality estate homes consistently
in the area.
Terry Loewen, CEO and Co-Owner of
Platinum Homes, estimates that their
company completed between five and 10
estate homes in Central Alberta in 2012.
The prices for their builds range from just
over $1 million to upwards of $3.5 million.
Their show home, located in Red Deer’s
newest development — Vanier Woods East,
is an incredible 2,844-plus square-foot, two-
storey home that is fully automated, very
modern, with a master suite that will take
your breath away. Although the show home
sold for just under the list price, Loewen
says that if it were to have been built on a
larger lot, it easily would have breached the
$1 million mark. The Platinum show home
bowood homes
s pr i n g 2013 cen t r a l a lb er ta h o m es 13
There are a number of builders in the area that will work with you to create your own custom dream home.
is currently the largest and highest in value
in Red Deer at the moment.
Another name you should remember
when looking at estate homes in Central
Alberta is Bowood Homes. Recipient of a
number of awards from the CHBA Central
Alberta — including Best New Estate
Home $750,000 to $999,999, as well as
Best New Estate Home over $1,500,000 for
2012, you can argue that they may be the
most well-versed small volume builder
in the estate home niche. Susan Knopp,
Architectural Designer at Bowood Homes,
says that in 2012 their company built one
estate home in Red Deer and another
five elsewhere in Central Alberta. Typical
clientele include individuals from the oil
and gas sector (both local and from the
larger centres in the province) as well as
the health care profession. Interestingly,
the numbers for 2013 are looking even
better — as Bowood reports more clients
in place than at this time last year.
Given the positive economic indicators
that currently exist in the market, it should
come as no surprise that this is the case.
Job opportunities are still on the rise, there
is currently a noticeable influx of workers
migrating to the province, with numerous
large-scale projects painting a positive
picture for the next couple of years. All of
this ultimately equates to a higher level of
consumer confidence, meaning an obvious
uptick in the average sale values in the area,
including the estate home market.
So what about the resale market?
According to Cam Cook, Sales Associate at
Larkaun Homes, purchasers in this price
bracket typically aren’t looking to move
in to “someone else’s dream home.” What
this equates to is a very low percentage of
estate home resales for the Central Alberta
region. As far as specific numbers, MLS
data indicated that there were nineteen
$1 million-plus listings in Central Alberta
in 2012. Of those 19, only six equated
to a sale in all of Central Alberta. Of
those six sales, none were in the City of
Red Deer (all were country residential
acreages). Prices on resale estate homes
ranged from $1,175,000 to $1,630,000.
larkaun show home
14 cen t r a l a lb er ta h o m es s pr i n g 2013
feature
So what does it all mean? It means that
when a qualified buyer is in the market for
an estate home, the majority of the time
these buyers are building to suit their own
personal tastes. At the end of the day, if
a buyer is in that price range, they want
to be in control of the fine touches to the
home — they don’t want to be limited by the
finishings in a pre-built home.
The estate home market in Central
Alberta is growing — driven by strong
economic stability in the region and
a positive outlook for the near future.
It appears to be a bright future for the
estate home market in Central Alberta
— a market that has only recently
emerged but shows no sign of slowing
down over the next few years.
It appears to be a bright future for the estate home market in Central Alberta.
all photos are of platinum show home
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events
Red Deer Home ShowEverything for your home under one roof, for one weekend only
By J IM ZAnG
“Everyone should attend the home show!”
So says Kevin Wilkie, committee
chairman for the CHBA – Central
Alberta’s 34th annual Red Deer Home Show,
held March 8 to 10 at Westerner Park.
“It’s great place to get all your information
on new homes, renovations, trades,
landscaping ideas, household products and
much more,” says Wilkie. “There are a lot
of great companies with people there to
answer all your questions and also local
experts offering seminars. There are always
interesting and new household products. In
fact, i don’t think I ever attended and didn’t
go home without excellent information and
purchasing some great new product.”
In addition to hundreds of exhibitors —
featuring everything from new homes and
Fast FactsShow times Friday, March 8, noon – 8p.m. Saturday, March 9, 10a.m. – 6p.m. Sunday, March 10, 10a.m. – 5p.m.
Where Westerner Park
Admission Adults $10 Students $8 (with valid ID) Seniors $8 (55+) Children free (under 12, with adult)Parking $4 per day
Exhibitors & Sponsors Visit www.reddeerhomeshow.cafor a complete list
condos, to building and gardening supplies,
to appliances, cooking and cleaning utensils
— this year’s show offers informative
seminars on several topics.
Last year, more than 10,000 people
attended the Home Show, making it one of
the regions most popular events. Indeed,
when one takes the population of Red Deer
into account, that’s more than 10 per cent
of the entire population and just about one
in every six or seven adults — attendance
figures which shows in larger centres can
only dream of.
So, whether you’re looking for a new
home, ideas to improve your current abode,
or just a fun, inexpensive way to pass some
time, drop by the Red Deer Home Show.
There’s something for everyone.
if you’re into environmentally friendly design,
and you like him on tV on shows like
green Force and room to grow, then you’ll
absolutely love carson arthur in person.
arthur, known for addressing outdoor
design challenges with a keen sense of style
and passion for eco-consciousness, will be
giving two presentations on saturday march 9. the topics are:
• Show me the Money focuses on environmental changes that
people can make to their outdoor spaces which will improve
their home value.
• The New Low-Maintenance considers how landscape design is
changing our homes and if it is for the better, while mentioning
some of the current top trends.
Carson Arthur brings his green thumb — and ideas — to Red Deer
Star power
16 cen t r a l a lb er ta h o m es s pr i n g 201316 cen t r a l a lb er ta h o m es Fa l l 2012
“there is such a wide range of
choices within those parameters that they can make the home uniquely their own.”
community profile
An investment in lifestyleMalibu Communities focused on developing sustainable quality neighbourhoods
StORy AnD PHOtOS By JOHn BuRnHAM
Developing neighbourhoods that
will protect both a homeowner’s
investment and lifestyle is the goal
of Malibu Communities.
“The company was established in 2002
to support the smaller communities in and
around Central Alberta,” says founder Hugh
MacBeth.
It’s their business philosophy that turns
Hugh’s vision into reality. Operations
Manager Audrey Corry’s belief is that
“every relationship should be a win-win. My
approach is ‘let’s all work together and build
dreams together.’ ”
Typically, building a home is the largest
investment an individual will ever make,
Hence, it’s best to make that investment in
a community with architectural controls
and other sustainable amenities that will
enhance the value of the home.
Malibu Communities is a project
manager, explains Corry. They don’t
build the houses. What they do is create
a physical environment consistent with
the character of the existing community
and then market developed lots to quality
builders. They will work with any size
builder — from developers of subdivisions
to individuals — who will adhere to their
quality standards.
“We have a lot of conversations with the
municipal officials regarding what is going
on there so that what we do is consistent
with, and adds value to, the larger
community,” says Corry. “We want to be a
proud part of the community, so we work
closely to make certain that what we are
doing there benefits everyone. The people
who live there are the ones who are going to
be affected, that’s why it is important that
we keep our standards to the level that they
should be.”
The standard approach used by Malibu
Communities is to specify such things as
the amount of brick or stone to be used
on the front exterior of the house and
then leave the choice of what type of brick
or stone to the client. They also require
that designs with approximately identical
exteriors not be repeated more often than
every sixth house on either side of the
street.
Marketing and Administration Manager
Erika Pearle puts it this way: “We don’t want
to be so restrictive that people can’t get a
house that they just love. It’s their house.
We have necessary guidelines, but there is
such a wide range of choices within those
parameters that they can make the home
uniquely their own.”
Malibu Communities’ Springbrook, in
the hamlet of Springbrook, Alberta is a
master planned community designed with
creative old fashioned charm. Down to each
intricate detail, such as specialized street
lighting, Springbrook offers a small town
Springbrook 01
s pr i n g 2013 cen t r a l a lb er ta h o m es 17
community profile
lifestyle without isolation. There is a general
store, a liquor store and one restaurant,
each one serving as a place where people
meet and greet and enjoy the company
of one another. But, a few minutes south
is the huge, new, multiplex in Penhold.
Immediately to the west is the regional
airport. A short hop north is the huge
shopping complex at the south end of Red
Deer. The hamlet is even served by Red Deer
Transit, so it would still be possible to enjoy
the postcard-picture-perfect storybook
charm of Springbrook if one did not own a
car. The final plus for Springbrook is that
factors such as the tax structure make it
a prime candidate for being the most cost-
effective real estate investment in Central
Alberta today. About 90 per cent of the
lots are single-family residential with the
remainder being multi-family residential.
Currently, Serge’s Homes, Mason Martin
Homes, Falcon Homes, and Scarlett Built
Homes are working in Springbrook.
Malibu Communities’ Valley Ridge
Estates, in the town of Blackfalds, was
designed to continue the social bond
existing there. Blackfalds is a friendly town
of young families (currently, 85 per cent
of the population consists of people under
the age of 40) that need mobility. The town
is currently building a new field house
in Valley Ridge Estates with a swimming
pool and facilities for various indoor sports
and recreational activities. Schools are
close at hand, there are four parks, and
there is direct access to three highways.
Construction of single and multi-family
structures is currently being carried on
by Paradise Homes Corporation, Serge’s
Homes, Mason Martin Homes, and Falcon
Homes.
Hazelwood Estates, in Innisfail, is a
luxury community with exceptional
recreational amenities. In Hazelwood
Estates, one can take canoe ride on Dodds
Lake, go next door for a round of golf at
the 27 hole Innisfail Golf and Country
Club, enjoy the ski hill or hike along trails
equipped with game watching platforms.
The town of Innisfail features a new
library, three schools, a pathway system
and a swimming pool with adjacent water
park. Bomaier Developments, Mason
Martin Homes, and Stevenson Homes are
currently building single-family premium
or executive style homes dictated by
Hazelwood’s larger lot sizes.
Meadowlands By The Park, in Stettler,
is Malibu Communities’ latest addition
to its selection of subdivisions. Malibu
Communities has recently taken over
managing this promising project and
is looking forward to overseeing the
development.
For more information please visit
www.malibucommunities.com
“We don’t want to be so restrictive that people can’t get a house that they just love.”
Audrey Corry (left) and Erika Pearle
Hazelwood
Valley Ridge
18 cen t r a l a lb er ta h o m es s pr i n g 201318 cen t r a l a lb er ta h o m es Fa l l 2012
“there is such a wide range of choices with in those parameters that they can make the home uniquely
their own.”
community profile
Good neighboursMelcor committed to creating quality communities
By J IM ZAnG
With a well-deserved reputation
for developing quality
communities everywhere they
go, Melcor Developments pretty much
has their choice of where they want to do
business. And, for Melcor, that choice is
Central Alberta.
Oh sure, they still have projects
ongoing in Calgary and Edmonton, but,
even for a true giant in the industry
like Melcor, there’s just no substitute
for the ‘feel’ of the small town lifestyle
offered in places like Red Deer. Where
communities truly are communities,
and neighbours know each other.
“Melcor has been active in Red Deer since
the 1970s,” says Gregg Broks, development
manager for the Red Deer region, “first
building houses and now developing
master planned communities. Melcor is
committed to creating vibrant, innovative
and sustainable neighbourhoods.”
Curently, Melcor has three different
local communities — Vanier Woods East,
Southbrook and Clearview Ridge — at
various stages of development. In the case
of Vanier Woods East, the neighbourhood
encompasses a total of 145 acres, bounded
by 19th Street to the south and 22nd Street
to the north. The future 20th Avenue is
directly east of the community. Easy access
to 19 Street and 30 Avenue means you can
be at the Collicut Centre or Westerner Park
in just a few minutes. Plus, says Broks, Red
Deer Transit has plans to extend service
into this area, with stops along Viscount
Drive and Van Slyke Way that could start as
early as 2014.
Melcor is proud to create communities
that have unique identity and a sense
of place, says Broks. “As you drive into
the neighbourhood, you will notice the
decorative street light pendants and
masonry way-finding. Vanier Woods East
was the first community where Melcor
made a co-ordinated effort to have our large
builder group showcase their products.”
there’s just no substitute for the ‘feel’ of the small town lifestyle offered in places like Red Deer. Where communities truly are communities...
s pr i n g 2013 cen t r a l a lb er ta h o m es 19
community profile
And the effort was definitely worth it
as the community features the largest
show home parade in Red Deer, with
14 homes included. There will be 668
single family homes constructed in the
neighbourhood at build-out, says Broks,
including duplexes, with an additional 170
units of townhouses and apartments. The
show home parade on Viscount and Voisin
will be open until September when a new
parade will open to showcase homes on
Veronica Close.
“Melcor has prepared a master plan
that provides housing at all levels of
affordability. One and two bedroom
apartments, townhouses (with and
without garages) in the $240,000 to
$300,000 range, duplexes in the $320,000
to $360,000 range, narrow lot homes with
no front garage selling for under $350,000
and narrow lot homes with front garage
for under $400,000. For the move up and
executive home buyers, we have lots that
will accommodate walkouts and triple
garages.”
More than 250 homes in the neighbourhood
back onto green space, providing convenient
park access at all levels of affordability. In
fact, fully 16.5 per cent of the neighbourhood
is set aside for open space, including the
linear trails, constructed wetland, natural
tree stands, and central park areas. There’s
also access to the City’s regional trail
system that follows the AltaLink ROW.
The neighbourhood is also well situated
to take advantage of existing schools
in nearby Lancaster and Lonsdale. St
Francis of Assisi and Mattie McCullough
are primary schools in the area. A grocery
store and other retail services are planned
for the community to the immediate north
and should be open in 2015 or so. There is
a church planned for the community, says
Broks, with further details to be announced
in the near future.
Phases 2, 3 and 4A are selling right now,
while the final phase, 4B, which will offer
affordable housing with rear lane parking, is
expected to have lots available for building
permits in October 2013. Lots range in
size from 40 to 70 feet wide for R1 (single-
family homes) construction, with 367 lots in
inventory. 104 lots are zoned R1A for duplex
development, 125 for smaller homes with
front garages and 72 for narrow lots with
rear parking.
Consumers don’t purchase the lots
directly, says Broks, but through their
chosen builder. And there’s plenty to choose
from. “Melcor sells exclusively to our 21
member builder group. Builders will sell
homes ranging from $240,000 to above
$1,000,000.”
The list of quality home builders
includes Abbey, Asset, Avalon, Bella
Rosa, Cambridge, Canada West, Deer
Run, Executive, Falcon, Fanta, Landmark,
Larkaun, Levi Rio, Mason Martin,
McGonigal, Pegasus, Platinum, Pointe 5,
Sorento, Ted Olson, True-Line, and Unique
Elevations.
Melcor expects full build-out to occur in
2015, says Broks, while parks and amenities
should be complete by the end of 2013.
The next Melcor projects will start to come
out of the ground this spring, says Broks.
The last remaining quarter in south east
Red Deer will be called Laredo. This prairie
themed community is located north of
Vanier Woods East. Melcor is also preparing
to open The Vista in Ryder’s Ridge in
Sylvan Lake. The Vista will be an inspired
lake community designed with timeless
architectural elegance and offering an
impressive vantage point to appreciate
Sylvan Lake.
the Vista will be an inspired lake community designed with timeless architectural elegance and offering an impressive vantage point to appreciate Sylvan Lake.
Show home grand opening BBQ
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It’s the biggest night of the year for
members of the Canadian Home
Builders’ Association – Central Alberta
region, and for good reason.
In fact, it’s a pretty big night for anyone
interested in the local home building
industry — consumers included — as
the winners of the annual Awards of
Excellence in Housing are revealed.
Because, if you’re looking for a new
home or renovation, why not start your
search with the best of the best?
Last year’s event saw more than 500
people attend the gala celebration,
and a huge crowd is expected to enjoy
themselves again this year, May 4 at
the Sheraton Red Deer Hotel, Trade and
Conference Centre, with a live band
and a casino providing just some of the
entertainment planned for the evening.
Pam Cameron, Awards Committee Chair
and CHBA – Central Alberta Board Member,
tells Central Alberta Homes, “Customer
surveys are a large part of the scoring
system for the home builders. Knowing
that customers have already built with
a builder or purchased a pre-built home
and are very happy with the service they
received, this speaks volumes about that
home builder.”
“The Awards of Excellence in Housing
means customers can have their dream
home built with confidence, knowing there
is an association in place watching over
the builders and encouraging them to take
pride in their workmanship,” she adds.
The big winners for last year, receiving
the builder of the year awards were, for
small volume, Bowood Homes and, for large
volume, Mason Martin Homes. Homestead
Custom Carpentry took home the trophy for
Celebrating excellence in housing Local home building stars set to shine bright at annual awards
Renovator of the year.
So be sure to stay tuned, it’s sure to be a
great night for home builders and buyers
alike — and we’ll cover it all in our next
edition.
Winners will be honoured in more than
25 different categories as follows:
SingLe FaMiLy wiTh oR wiThouT aTTaCheD gaRage • Best Single Family: under $224,999
• Best Single Family: $225,000 – $259,999
• Best Single Family: $260,000 – $299,999
• Best Single Family: $300,000 – $374,999
• Best Single Family: $375,000 – $449,999
• Best Single Family: $450,000 – $524,999
• Best Single Family: $525,000 – $599,999
• Best Single Family: $600,000 – $674,999
• Best Single Family: $675,000 – $749,999
SingLe FaMiLy — eSTaTe hoMe • Best Estate Home: $750,000 plus
MuLTi-FaMiLy: apaRTMenT STyLe • Best Multi Family: Under $199,999
• Best Multi Family: Over $200,000
BeST MuLTi FaMiLy: Town houSe/ DupLex STyLe • Best Multi Family: Under $199,999
• Best Multi Family: Over $200,000
RenoVaTion awaRDS • Best Renovation under $99,999
• Best Renovation over $100,000
paRTneR awaRDS • Supplier of the Year — Small Category
• Supplier of the Year — Large Category
• Service Professional of the Year
— Small Category
• Service Professional of the Year
— Large Category
• Trade of the Year — Small Category
• Trade of the Year — Large Category
oTheR awaRDS • Safety Leadership Award
• Excellence in Interior Design Award
BeST oF The yeaR• Renovator of the Year
• Builder of the Year — Small Volume
• Builder of the Year — Large Volume
CHBA – Central Alberta Members: Please visit
www.awards/chbaca.ca to register and enter
your company’s achievements in any and all of
the award categories you are eligible for.
Winners will be honoured in more than 25 different categories...
industry news
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Ground rulesSome tips on growing the perfect garden in Central Alberta
interiors/exteriors
The idea of growing their own
vegetables is appealing to many
Central Albertans who like the
thought of slicing off some fresh lettuce,
pulling up a few radishes and green onions
and tossing them together for a salad while
the barbecue is heating up.
Growing a vegetable garden can be a fairly
simple and successful undertaking simply
by following a few basic ground rules.
First and foremost, find a bright, sunny
location.
Alfred Prins, horticulturist for Parkland
Nurseries says a hot, sunny location
is crucial for a vegetable garden, no
matter what the size, to survive.
Jane Reksten, manager, botanic
gardens and wetland treatment
facility at Olds College agrees.
“Most veggies require full sun (six
to eight hours a day),” she says.
Prins notes that tomatoes, beans,
corn, cucumbers, pumpkins, mellons
and squash should be planted in the
sunniest part of the garden, while cabbage,
cauliflower, lettuce, carrots and potatoes
will thrive in a slightly cooler spot.
“Root crops need to have at least
a half day of direct sun,” he says. “Be
mindful that taller vegetables like
corn are not blocking the sun. Plant
on the north side of the garden and
something like sunflowers to the west.”
As much as location will make
a huge difference to the success of
a vegetable garden, the type of soil
is also of primary importance.
“Good garden loam, amended with
some compost which can be easily dug to
a depth of 18–24 inches works well,” says
Reksten. “This is especially important for
root vegetables so they can grow deep.”
Prins suggests adding a generous
amount of peat moss or well-composted
mulch to hard packed soil. “Mix it
well, but remember not to rototil too
often because it grounds the soil too
fine. It’s better to hand shovel.”
Prins also advises gardeners to water
with care. Knowing when to water separates
good gardeners from the rest, he says.
Once the location has been determined
and the soil primed and ready, it’s time to
plant. This can be done as early as April.
Reksten says dropping seeds into
ground that has barely thawed out is
fine, provided those seeds are for cold
hardy plants such as lettuce, peas,
Swiss chard, carrots and beets.
“The seed lines of these veggies can take
a bit of frost if they geminate and start to
grow before our last frost free day.”
Other seeds such as beans and squash
should not be planted until the ground has
thoroughly warmed up and the risk of frost
has diminished.
Small plants such as tomatoes,
cauliflower and broccoli may do better if
started in a greenhouse and put into the
garden as transplants.
For the novice gardener, Reksten suggests
trying a sampler garden.
“Plant a row of each kind of vegetable,
until you find out what you enjoy eating the
most. Stagger your seeding dates and try
different varieties of each kind of veggie
as well — experiment until you find what
works for you.”
Central Alberta gardeners usually find
vegetable gardens containing carrots,
parsnips, lettuce, Swiss chard, beets,
potatoes, kale, peas (snap, snow, shelling
types), beans (bush and pole types) do well
in this climate.
Tomatoes grow well, too, especially in
containers or raised beds.
Lettuce, Reksten’s own favourite
vegetable, is available in a number of
different varieties.
“I eat lots of salads in the summer and
I plant several different kinds (of lettuce)
such as oak leaf, butter crunch, and leaf so I
can enjoy the harvest for as long as possible.
you can even grow lettuce in a container if
you want,” she adds.
Growing a vegetable garden is good for
you, says Prins.
“It is not without work. It certainly isn’t
maintenance free, but that being said the
exercise is good for you, and the vegetables
are healthy. It’s also very therapeutic. It’s
good for the heart, good for the back and
good for the soul.”
Jane reksten, manager, botanic gardens and wetland treatment facility at olds college checks out a healthy crop of cucumbers, ready for the picking at the college greenhouse.
StORy AnD PHOtOS By tREEnA MIELKE
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Advertising FeAtureBusiness PrOFiLe
All successful businesses start with a solid foundation, and when it comes to Knelsen Rock Products, it all starts with good quality
concrete. Knelsen has been supplying the Red Deer area with redi-mix concrete since the early part of 2006. Originally estab-lished in 1973 by Raymond Knelsen in Grande Prairie, it has expanded to serve customers in LaCrete, Cold Lake, High Level and Calgary, by providing a solid and reliable product, combined with a continuous focus on customer satisfaction.
During the peak season of April thru november, Knelsen often employs more than 500 people, with many being skilled machine operators and truck drivers, who deliver quality tested products to new
Knelsen Rock Products Ltd.40 years of solid customer service and concrete results
residential construction and commercial applications.
Knelsen’s delivers on time and to strict specifications for projects such as base-ments, garage ffloors and decorative drive-ways, and can even be
seen pouring curbs and sidewalks for the City of Red Deer.
Inside the Red Deer location is the latest in quality control technology and state of the art automated equipment that both measures and monitors every single batch of concrete. With a wide
With a wide range of products and services, Knelsen is your one stop for everything concrete... Darrell Selent,
Plant Manager
StORy By tESS FLEWELL InG | PHOtOS By JOCK MACKEnZIE
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Advertising FeAture
range of products and services, Knelsen is your one stop for everything concrete; including natural round rock for exposed aggregate driveways and an in-house colour machine. this allows Knelsen to
offer specialized mixes to their customers that continue to perform even in less than ideal circumstances, while still ensuring customers receive a top of the line product. Knelsen cus-tomers can rest assured that nothing goes to waste, thanks to their environmental washout plant. All left over wash
water goes through a three-stage cleaner to make it reusable. Left over concrete is poured into forms to create new barrier blocks for use around Red Deer.
Knelsen also prides itself on employ-ing a strong work force to help deliver on their core values of integrity, quality and customer service. At this company, people make the difference; from the labourer to the truck driver to the dispatcher, each employee is a special part of the highly dedicated team. “People are our most valuable asset” states Darrell Selent, Plant Manager at the Red Deer location. “Each employee becomes the face of the company, interacting with customers every single day. We put your best face forward
Knelsen also prides itself on employing a strong work force to help deliver on their core values of integrity, quality and customer service.
and in our case it is a smiling one.” Knelsen employees take great pride in being a part of a large Alberta based company that is focussed on family values.
“Raymond Knelsen built this company on integrity and never tried to take short cuts, and we follow his example, knowing you will never get in trouble for doing the right thing,” says Selent. With integrity and cus-tomer service being a part of day to day activities at Knelsen, it is no surprise that they are a large part of the community. Or, whether it is donating products to Habitat for Humanity’s local house build orsupporting Red Deer Minor Hockey, thatKnelsen Rock Products Ltd. is always doing the right thing. n
Quality Control Technician Derald Lundberg inspects the product Darrell Selent and Craig Reid on the plant ffloor
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member list
aabbey master builder ltd.acadia stone (central stoneworks ltd)alfano homesall Weather Windowsallrose exteriorsammonite Developments inc.aries/airf lo heating & air conditioningartistic stairs ltdasset builders corp.atco gasaudio integrationsavalon central alberta
bb&b cowie insulation ltd ben’s glass & marblebildex construction ltdbomaier Developments ltd.bowood incbruins plumbing & heatingburnco rock productsbusse homes ltdbuylo homes ltd
ccanada mortgage & housing corpcanadian closet & storage co.candel homescan-air heating and air conditioning ltd.carolina homes inccarpet colour centrecentral alberta co-op ltd.central alberta Flooring/hotck holdings ltd.central alberta realtors associationcentral alberta tile onechristenson Developments
city of red Deer (inspections Dept)cKgY Fm/ciZZ Fmclearview glass service ltd.coast Wholesale appliances lpcolbray homes ltdcommunications group red Deer ltdcomplete Flooring solutions incconsolidated gypsum supply ltdcottonwood meadows (chW land management ltd.)counterscapescunningham electric ltd
dDeer run homes (1990) ltdDominion lending centres regional mortgage groupDoormasters incDurabuilt Windows & DoorsDynovac industries inc
eeagle ridge homes corpemco corp.executive builders group
fFalcon homes ltdFanta homes ltdFargey’s paint & WallcoveringFindmynewhouseFresh renovations
ggeneral appliances lacombe ltd.gienow Windows & Doorsgilmar constructionglobal overhead Doors ltdgoodmen roofing ltd.g&r builders innisfail ltdgreat canadian roofing & siding (red Deer) ltd.
hhabitat for humanity - red Deerharbour spasharvard broadcasting (100.7 Fm the river)havan built custom homes henry’s eavestroughing ltdheywood holmes & partnershome building centrehome renewalshomestead custom carpentry inc.howard & company real estate appraisers inc.huntwood custom cabinets ltd
iinland concrete ltd
jJade stone ( red Deer) ltd.JelD-Wen Windows & DoorsJim pattison broadcast groupJorgenson homes ltd
kKcb cabinetsKnelsen rock products ltd
llaebon homeslafarge canada inclakeside rona building centrelandmark homes (red Deer) inclarkaun homes ltdlevi-rio custom home builders ltd
mmalibu communitiesmarshall construction co. inc.mason martin homesmcgonigal signature homes inc.m.c home ltd.mcKee homes ltdmelcor Developments ltd mr. Fireplace
nnational home Warranty northland construction supplies
oolds collegeoriel Windows & Doors
pparadise homes corp. parkland community planning servicesparkland Drywalling ltdphoenix insurance group of red Deer incplatinum homes & Developments
professional home builders institute of albertaproform precast products inc.progressive home Warranty solutions incply gem
rrainy creek Developmentsrealty investments corporationred Deer advocatered Deer countyred Deer college red Deer electricred Deer expressred Deer Fasteners & toolsred Deer lightingred Deer overdoorriser homes ltdrbc royal bank rona revy inc.royal lepage network realty corp
sserge’s homes ltdservus credit Union ltdsiderman ltdsigns nowsml games & hot tubssnell & oslund surveys (1979) ltdsoderquist appraisals ltdsorento custom homes ltdsource media groupstevenson Development corp.stoneworx masonry & stucco inc.sunny 94 Fmsylvan lake homes ltd
ttar-ific construction ltdthermo pro insulation ltd.the alberta new home Warrantytimber Wolf truss ltd.touch canada broadcasting (2006) inc.trail appliances ltdtrue-line contracting
uUnique elevations
wWestern Financial group-red DeerWestridge cabinets ltdWindow masters incWindsor plywoodWolf creek building supplies ltd
zZybertech construction software services ltdZytech building systems inc
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