FINDING A GROOVE AT WEST GROVE
Master-planned community in the city’s west end on Rise for growing families seeking long-term fit
As Akash Kullar and Viktoria Titov Kullar know, growing families need space.
The couple bought their first home together in Cougar Ridge five years ago. At about 1,800 square feet, without a developed basement, it worked for their needs at the time.
But now with two children — Mila, three, and Jiya, one — they knew it wasn’t a long-term fit.
As they looked into options available through the new home market, it was the maturity of an area on the west end of the city that stood out.
The Rise at West Grove Estates is a master-planned community by Bri-mor Developments that sits within a quick drive — and in some cases, a walk — to shops, services, places to eat, and grocery stores.
It offers homes from by Albi Luxury by Brookfield Residential and Cedarglen Homes from the mid-$ 700,000s. Both builders have models that are part of a show home parade on West Grove Way.
The couple’s home was built by Cedarglen. “Everything is super close,” says Titov Kullar of the location. “There’s nothing that isn’t here that I would have to drive out of this area to go get.”
Within a five-minute drive, residents of the Rise can access a large retail complex dubbed West 85th, and in less than eight minutes, they’re at Aspen Landing.
“You have so many different options for groceries or food, there are pubs around here now,” Kullar says. “There’s always something new springing up.”
He was also pleased by how close
their new home is to the Westside Recreation Centre, where he’s been member for the past few years.
The facility on 69th Street S.W. boasts an aquatic park, fitness centre, climbing wall, leisure ice arena, hockey arena, fitness studios, a gymnasium, and skate park.
Access to transit was another draw. Kullar is an accountant who works in the oil and gas industry, based out of an office in downtown Calgary. He regularly uses the LRT, taking the nearby 69th Street station.
“It’s about a 20-minute train ride in, and when I do decide to drive, it’s maybe 15 to 20 minutes at the most,” Kullar says.
Another benefit to moving to a mature area is the selection of schools, says Titov Kullar.
Public schools in the area include West Springs School, Rosscarrock School, West Ridge School, Vincent Massey, and Ernest Manning High School.
From the Catholic School District, there’s Holy Name School, St. Joan of Arc, St. Michael School, and Bishop Carroll.
There are also a wide range of private and charter schools, which are listed on the community’s website, risewestgroveestates.com
“There are a lot of choices,” says Titov Kullar.
Within the community, their home is on a lot that’s part of a neighbourly cul-de-sac.
“I grew up in a cul-de-sac and we were all pretty close,” says Kullar, adding they also thought about their children riding their bicycles in the community. “It’s easier to watch them. That was definitely a draw for us taking this lot.”
The Rise will build out to 200 homes. More than 90 per cent of homes in its opening phase — comprised of 111 lots — are either under design or construction.
Its followup phase has 89 lots. Since opening in autumn 2017, 25 per cent is either under design or construction.
“Even while facing a cautious economic environment in Calgary, our builders have seen an unprecedented level of market demand at the Rise, and as a result we have brought on our final 90 lots a year ahead of schedule,” says Aleem Dhanani, managing director for Bri-mor.
“This is simply a result of providing real value to homeowners for one of the most important purchasing decisions they will make for their family,” adds Dhanani. “Real value means securing a great quality home with beautiful curb appeal, all required amenities around the corner, 15 minutes to downtown, over seven acres (2.8 hectares) of green space for the family — and all at an affordable price unseen in the west side of Calgary.
“We are very happy to see families so excited to begin their future at the Rise.”
Green spaces are an important part of the plan for the Rise.
This includes natural park space and environmental reserve, a large tot lot and open area designed for children, and reflective park serving as an extension to the natural reserve, says Dhanani.
The main community park with an activated theme will contain a community stage, junior soccer field, and fitness equipment and is expected to open this summer.
Kullar and Titov Kullar bought Cedarglen’s Huxley II floor plan, which is also one of the models the builder has presented as a show home in the community.
It measures 2,332 square feet above grade, and with the optional basement development they decided to get, it reaches about 3,000 square of developed space. The home has a two car front-attached garage.
On what made the model stand out, Titov Kullar says “definitely the kitchen.”
“We both have huge families and we love to entertain,” she says. “So just to be able to have everyone in the same space, and everyone have a place to sit when they come over is something that drew us to this model in particular.”
The front-facing second floor bonus room was another highlight. “The size of the bonus room and the proximity to the children’s rooms — so if we watch TV at night, we can still hear them,” Kullar says.