THEIR DOWNSIZING JUST GOT EASIER
Sage Walk condo meets all the demands of couple seeking green space, low maintenance
Brian Bushfield grew up in the Beddington/balzac district on a farm that's been in the family since 1903. He chose not to work the land as his forebears did, opting instead for a career with a major airline at the Calgary International Airport. He lived a semi-rural life for some time, residing on an acreage north of the city before downsizing to a bungalow several years ago in Airdrie. He's now retired and his wife, Terri, is semi-retired.
The couple recently decided to downsize even further, purchasing a new two-bedroom condo in Sage Walk, a four-building project by Logel Homes in the Sage Hill community by Genesis Land Development Corp. The condo project in Calgary's north end is situated on familiar territory for Brian and will provide peace of mind for the couple who hope to get back to travelling in the near future.
“We also don't have to worry about maintenance. I'm looking forward to not doing any of it at all, actually,” says Brian.
“It's lock and leave,” says Terri, with enthusiasm.
She spent hours searching online for a home that would meet their criteria. No shovelling, no yard maintenance, no stairs, a place close to family, restaurants, shopping, the airport and major roads. Less essential, but still important, were nearby green spaces with biking and walking paths.
Sage Walk checked all the boxes with an extra large floor plan, aptly named the Cohen 2 XL. With the four-storey building yet to break ground and only one demo suite onsite, the Bushfields drove some distance to Logel's Auburn Rise project in the city's southeast to get a better idea of the workmanship.
“They had a Cohen 2 floor plan, which was similar. There were lots of pluses and not many minuses. You can look at floor plans all day long, but unless you're standing in the actual unit, it makes quite a bit of difference,” Brian says. “We went online and looked at the video, too. That was helpful as well.”
“It's a beautifully laid-out floor plan,” Terri says.
The Cohen 2 XL is a 1,101-squarefoot corner suite with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, walkin closet in the master and a 120-square-foot deck, starting at $349,900 plus GST. Terri calls the kitchen “remarkably large” with space in the dining area for a family-sized table.
They swapped out several standard features, upgrading to an extended island and an induction cooktop and will likely go for more premium fixtures as they get closer to construction.
“Upgrades weren't necessary, but we wanted to indulge ourselves,” she says.
The four-building project is lodged between an environmental reserve along a ravine in Sage Hill and the Sage Hill Crossing commercial district. The location is the No. 1 selling feature, says Logel area sales manager Darryl Solly.
“We have all that shopping, fully completed, right beside us. We have transit already here and a future library close by. We've got that huge environmental reserve so people can enjoy a walk or a bike ride. There aren't many sites like this around here,” he says.
Each suite has nine-foot ceilings that can accommodate oversized windows, vinyl plank flooring, French-door Samsung refrigerators with a water line, full-height kitchen backsplashes and a separate ventilation system.
“Each unit has its own system, so the homeowner has a lot more control. They'll have excellent air circulation and temperature control. We won an award for this system,” Solly says.
Sage Walk has 11 out of 12 floor plans available in Building 1. The one- and two-bedroom suites are 472 square feet to 1,101 square feet in size, with prices starting at $154,900 plus GST. The project is nearly 50 per cent sold with 12 corner suites remaining.
Possessions are expected in late 2021.