DAWSON’S LANDING
New Chestermere community
The developer behind Calgary communities including Evanston, Redstone and Crestmont is taking its first step into the Chestermere market.
Qualico Communities announced that it has received approval from the City of Chestermere for development plans on a community called Dawson’s Landing.
The community’s name is a nod to Alexander Scott Dawson, who was the chief engineer behind the construction of the Western Irrigation District, which attracted settlers in the early 1900s.
Located immediately west of Rainbow Road, the land is adjacent to the existing communities of Westmere and Rainbow Falls, and measures about 108 hectares.
It will build out to 1,305 homes in 14 phases, starting with about 241 homes in its opening phase.
A sod-turning ceremony was held to celebrate the start of the new community recently, with construction crews expected to break ground later this summer.
“The city of Chestermere is already a vibrant and active community with lots of amenities and open spaces for people to enjoy,” says Claudio Palumbo, Qualico’s vice-president of community development, southern Alberta. “We intend to add to it with Dawson’s Landing.”
The initial phases will be built by Trico Homes, Morrison Homes, Broadview Homes, Pacesetter by Sterling Homes, NuVista Homes, and Truman Homes. Pre-construction sales are projected to start late summer or early autumn 2019, with show homes to follow later that year.
Palumbo says the seasoned builder group will “help the community of Dawson’s Landing come to life.”
Home styles are set to include single-family, duplexes, townhomes, a segment dubbed cottage homes, and multi-family dwellings, says the developer. This will include lot frontages ranging from 20 to 45 feet.
“Dawson’s Landing will be a modern, integrated community, designed with the existing character of Chestermere in mind,” says Cheryl Heilman, Qualico’s marketing director.
“There are two future school sites within the community, and ground floor retail options, this community will seamlessly blend into the existing city of Chestermere.”
Dawson’s Landing is also earmarked for a regional recreation facility, and Ecopark wetland — which Palumbo calls one of the community’s “defining features.”
“Based on the principals of conservation and preservation and with guidance both the city and the province, the existing wetland will be enhanced to include boardwalks, additional plantings, educational signage to allow students from all over to come and learn about the importance of wetlands,” Palumbo says. “This park will also serve as a gathering spot for friends and families to enjoy.”
“We are really excited about this community,” says Thilo Kaufmann, general manager of acquisitions and development with Qualico.
“Not only because it’s Qualico’s first community in Chestermere but because it’s going to have some really interesting elements that haven’t been done in other communities.”
The land for Dawson’s Landing was acquired by Qualico from the Belzberg family and Ryder family, says the developer.
The families are joint owners through respective holding companies.
“We have been longtime landowners in Chestermere,” says Justin Ryder, president of Louson Investments Ltd. “We think it’s a wonderful place to live. With its proximity to Calgary and small town feel, we think it will have great success.”