FAMILY FINDS THEIR SPACE TO GROW IN RAVENSWOOD
When Derek and Nicole Bigelow started exploring options for a new home, it wasn’t for their own needs, but to help Derek’s retired parents downsize.
While house hunting in Airdrie, Derek stopped at Broadview Homes’ sales centre in the southeast Airdrie community of Ravenswood.
“They showed us what they had available for lots, and all of a sudden, we were looking for a house, which was never the intention,” says Derek.
“They had some attractive walkout lots that were reasonably priced. And with our kids (10-yearold twins) sharing a room, and our son being 13 years old, we decided it was time to get a bigger house with four bedrooms so everyone can have their own bedroom. We were at that point in our lives.”
With the move, they shift from an 1,800-square-foot home in northeast Calgary to one that’s more than 2,300 square feet in the Kornell, a front-drive model by Broadview Homes.
This plan won the builder an award at the Calgary Region SAM (Sales and Marketing ) Awards announced in 2016.
“It was a good jump for us,” Derek says. “It got us that extra square footage that we were looking for.”
The floor plan’s open design impressed.
“( We’re able) to see right through the house, see beautiful railings, and cabinets and hardwood, and look straight out the windows at the back of the house,” says Derek.
The Bigelows were also pleased to be able to make custom touches, tailoring the home to what the family needed.
For example, rather than the standard three bedrooms and a bonus room on the second level, the builder removed the bonus room to give the family their fourth bedroom above grade.
Nicole’s 100-plus pair shoe collection also got a home. The master bedroom has two walk-in closets, with one for the couple’s wardrobe, and the other for storing her shoes.
“They even labelled it a shoe closet on the plans for her,” Derek says.
For the Bigelows, who have spent time in Airdrie, largely at the multi-purpose centre Genesis Place, moving to the small city north of Calgary made sense.
“What attracted us to Airdrie is it has a small town feel to it but yet it has all the major (amenities) you would need ... recreation, shopping — everything for us is literally within five minutes door to door, and you just can’t do that in Calgary,” says Derek. “It’s just easier to live here.”
For Ravenswood residents, one of the closest commercial developments is Kingsview Market, a 331,000-square-foot complex, anchored by a Save-on-Foods grocery store.
In Ravenswood, which is masterplanned by Qualico Communities, Derek was fond of the architecture on the homes, creating attractive streetscapes throughout the community.
“Right down to the light fixtures that they have on the streets, you can tell they put some thought and design into them,” he adds.
When it comes to residential development, Ravenswood is down to the home stretch, with its final residential lots now released. The community that opened in 2007 will build out to 901 single-family homes and duplexes combined, along with 80 town houses.
Its last two phases include one with 78 lots, all front-drive singlefamily homes, and the other with 138 lots. The latter has 38 singlefamily homes and 51 duplexes with lane access, and the balance are front-drive, single-family homes.
“The final phases of Ravenswood offer some ideal lots,” says Laura Field, marketing co-ordinator for Qualico.
She says the phase that’s exclusive to front-drive single-family homes has lots that are up to 48 feet.
“This means buyers can get a larger home or backyard,” she says, adding the other phase boasts lots that are “walking distance to a K-12 school.
“All the pathways and parks are in place in the community, meaning you can move in and enjoy the amenities right away,” she adds.
The builder group includes Pacesetter by Sterling Homes, Broadview Homes, McKee Homes and NuVista Homes, and Emerald Homes.
An existing townhome development in the community is by Avalon Master Builder.
Prices for front-drive singlefamily homes start from the $460,000s, and laned single-family homes start from the $360,000s,
duplexes are from the $330,000s and town houses are from $239,000. In all cases, the price includes the lot and GST.
The streetscape in the community features architectural styles including English Cottage, Craftsman, Alpine, Tudor, Prairie and Colonial.
“Residents love the neighbourhood,” says Field. “There are so many playgrounds and walking paths, and the commercial centre is close enough but still far enough to keep traffic low in the community.”
Within the community, there’s 8.2 hectares of green space, four parks, one feature playground and one soccer field.
“Your children can walk to school in Ravenswood and there is great sense of community spirit in this neighbourhood,” Field says. “You’ll frequently see young families playing outdoors, or neighbours catching up in the pathways. The architectural styles, and range of home types available is really appealing to buyers.”