BRING THE LAKE HOME WITH YOU
Hopewell Residential’s Mahogany development helps deliver vacation life to your own backyard
When Erhardt Tutto recalls what a friend said about moving to a community with a lake, it now makes perfect sense.
“He told me they used to go to Kelowna every year — now it’s like Kelowna off their backyard,” he says. “I never thought about that.” Now he does. Regularly. Erhardt and his wife Arvella moved to Mahogany by Hopewell Residential in southeast Calgary, where they have a private dock that provides a direct link to the largest freshwater lake in Calgary.
Before the move, Erhardt admits, being on water wasn’t a priority. He says growing up in Calgary, where lakes aren’t in abundance, it just wasn’t top of mind. That time is long gone.
As he describes it, the lake and specifically the dock are features the couple wishes they would have found sooner.
“I find myself sitting on my dock and just looking at the water,” says Erhardt. “It’s kind of hypnotizing.
“I would have never known that, never thought about it. But now that it’s there, some day I’ll probably end up moving again and I’ll tell you, that would be the thing I’m going to miss: being on the water.”
The couple bought through Calbridge Homes and took possession in April 2016.
Mahogany Lake stretches 26 hectares — and provides not only a place to be active in the water, but a serene backdrop, too.
“It’s really relaxing when you look out your back window and you see that water in the morning,” Erhardt says. “There’s not a ripple on it.”
But they venture out on the water too, with a dinghy ready for guests that supports about 10 people. From the dock, “It’s easy entry into the water,” he says. “You don’t have to walk over a bunch of rocks to get into the water. They’ve got a ladder that comes right off of it.”
For the Tuttos, part of the appeal of the lake is that it’s stocked with fish.
“In the evening, when the wind dies down, the water becomes like glass and the fish start jumping like crazy throughout the whole lake,” Erhardt says. “So when you’re sitting on the dock, you can watch the fish jump. You don’t get that everywhere.”
But the fish are for more than just show. For people with a lot on the lake, their fishing trip is only a few steps out their back door.
“You have your private dock, so you can go out there anytime you want and throw the fishing line in,” Erhardt says. “Many nights after work, I’ll go down there with my lawn chair and a glass of wine and throw the line in, sit there and watch the bobber. It’s really relaxing.”
Mahogany is a three-time winner of Community of the Year-City of Calgary at the Calgary Region SAM (Sales and Marketing) Awards.
“Having a dock in your backyard with access to a fabulous lake is obviously a novel and wonderfully unique feature when you’re talking about homes in Calgary,” says Scott Hamilton, Hopewell’s director of marketing and customer experience. “Most people use them as their primary connection to the lake and the Mahogany Lake lifestyle; whether it’s launching a paddleboard, jumping in for a morning swim, going for a skate in the winter or simply enjoying Calgary’s sunny summer days.”
The Klee family, who bought through Morrison Homes, are enjoying their direct access to Mahogany Lake, as well.
Justin and Evelyn Klee, who have a two-year- old daughter, bought through Morrison Homes on Mahogany Island — part of greater Mahogany and the only residential island in Calgary. Every one of the 22 lots on the island has its own dock, and homes here currently are priced from $ 1.4 million.
Before relocating to Mahogany, the Klees were in Douglasdale Estates. When Justin was asked what inspired the move, the answer was simple.
“The water. Just to be on the lake,” he says.
While their search started with homes in older lake communities, when they saw the full lineup of existing and future amenities in Mahogany, plans changed. Pointing to the commercial development at Mahogany’s new Village Market and the 22,000-square-foot Beach Club, Klee says: “It’s unbelievable what they did with that community.”
And having a dock mattered. On how often they’re out there, Justin says “almost every day.”
Their home also has a pool, hot tub, gazebo, and outdoor kitchen, too.
“When you’re on that dock, it’s like being at a vacation home, but you’re at home,” says Klee. “Just fishing off the dock, and the late nights watching the fish jump, or the paddle boat and just being able to go when you want, it’s unbelievable.”