DOUBLE DUTY TOWNHOMES
Live-work units at Wentworth Pointe offer ‘creative concept’ for cutting the commute
Having a home and business under the same roof is a time-tested combination.
One of the earliest examples in Calgary being 1800s general stores, where in many cases the second level would be the proprietor’s home.
With today’s zoning restrictions, formally basing a company from home is a less-common arrangement. But for people such as Ned Mazur and his wife Carla Mazur, it mattered.
Ned’s the owner of Generations Planning Group, which has an office on the southeast end of Calgary.
With the lease coming to an end at his business’s current location and the couple’s interest in downsizing their home, they found a townhome in the southwest estate neighbourhood of Wentworth that was ready for double duty.
They bought one of the live-work units at Wentworth Pointe by Trico Homes.
“It’s a creative concept, and I think we should see more of it in the city,” says Ned.
The development on 85th Street S.W. will build out with 83 threestorey townhomes, including eight zoned for live-work use.
Prices on live-work townhomes, which have a two-car attachedgarage, start from $544,000. The lineup also includes conventional townhomes with a two-car attached-garage from $529,400 and others with a single-car attachedgarage from $455,000. In all cases, the price is before the tax.
Only five of the townhomes remaining at Wentworth Pointe are available with a single-car garage.
The live-work homes are in the Ashbury floor plan, which measure 1,732 square feet.
They have an 11 foot two inch by nine foot one inch office that sits across from a half bathroom. Stairs lead to the second and third levels, which are the owner’s home.
“It’s a good situation where you could run your business, you have a place to live and the two really don’t have to touch each other,” says Ned.
“This was nice because you have a front entrance and a rear entrance and you have a double garage, so you can have someone park there,” he says, adding it’s designed for privacy between the two segments of the home. “There’s a rest room there, so you don’t nec- essarily need anyone to see your place.”
There are three live-work units remaining in the development’s opening phase and two more slated to come onstream in its final release.
“It’s certainly been a nice draw for some people,” says Henry Luong, citing accountants as an example of the type of profession that have seen their live-work townhomes as a match. Luong is co-area sales manager at the development with Cindy Arevalo.
“People are surprised when they come in and it piques their interest,” he says, of the live-work option.
Beyond the business end of the townhome, the Mazurs were impressed by the home itself.
“It’s a very functional openconcept on the main level,” Ned says. “You have your kitchen with a dining room and a fairly large living/family room and a nice deck off of that.
“And then when you go upstairs there are three bedrooms, the master is very spacious and the other two are certainly functional.”
Townhomes with a double-car garage range from 1,719 square feet for interior units to 1,747 square feet for end units.
They come with three bedrooms on the third level as standard, and the ability to add an open flex room or fourth bedroom in the basement. An additional full bathroom in the basement can be added as an option, as well.
There’s also an option for a dual master bedroom format instead.
The townhomes with a singlecar attached garage offer dual master bedrooms and measure 1,468 square feet.
On the exterior, these townhomes boast Hardie plank siding, cultured stone, and asphalt shingles.
They’re available in the buyer’s choice of three interior design colour packages, with standards including nine-foot knock-down ceilings on the main level, fourinch baseboards, carpet in bedrooms with an eight-pound underlay, maple railings, ceramic tile, and luxury vinyl plank flooring.
Kitchens come with granite or quartz counters, islands with a
flush eating bar, 42-inch high cabinets with soft-closing hardware, and a stainless steel appliance package that includes a 30-inch self-cleaning gas range.
People who would like to explore a full-sized example of these townhomes can do so with its two show homes. One has three bedrooms and the other is in a dual master bedroom orientation.
Wentworth Pointe’s well-connected location is another factor in its appeal, says Luong.
“We have people coming from ( neighbourhoods such as) the Hamptons and Edgemont that are inquiring about moving down here just because of the (69th Street Southwest LRT station), all the shops and walkability for all the amenities,” he says, adding he’s seen interest from nearby communities, such as West Springs, Coach Hill, and Cougar Ridge, as well.
“They want to stay here because they’re just so used to walking everywhere.”
It puts residents near large commercial developments such as West 85th, West Springs Village, and Aspen Landing.
The townhome site is near grocery stores Save-on-Foods and Coop, and Sunterra Market.
The Mazurs like that their new home means being able to reach this long lineup of amenities on foot, says Ned, adding “it’s a good spot in the city.”