MIDTOWN MARKS A NATIONAL FIRST
Sustainable community design `a reflection of where we're going'
Canada's first ever Built Green certified community is under construction in the greater Edmonton region.
Called Midtown, this St. Albert development is also being described as your town, green town, yoga town, dog town and modern town.
“A lot of the current communities we see out there are a reflection of post-war urban planning, which focused on wide roads, big driveways and big garages,” said Paul Lanni, president of Averton, Midtown's developer. “The thinking about how we're living is evolving, and Midtown promises to be a reflection of where we're going.”
The 45-acre development in the western portion of St. Albert, and within walking distance from the Enjoy Centre, will include a variety of housing options, an emphasis on green space and a European-style town square.
It's also the first community to become part of Built Green's Communities Pilot, geared to residential developers who want to create greener, healthier communities.
“As the first to enrol, Averton has shown their leadership and commitment to their design-is-everything approach, creating green communities that bring together great esthetic and lifestyle,” said Built Green Canada CEO Jenifer Christenson. “Now and in the future — long after COVID-19 has subsided — there will be a greater focus on healthier, more sustainable living. One aspect of this is focusing on greener buildings and communities that will not only use fewer resources and produce less waste but will also be better for our health.”
The first Midtown homeowners could move in as early this spring as work on the opening phase of 86 townhome units is already underway with 12 under construction.
But the townhomes, which include two signature Averton features: floor-to-ceiling windows and rooftop terraces, are just the beginning for this urban village, which will also include mid-rise buildings and luxury retirement residences.
“There's nothing cookie cutter about anything we do and this community will not be any different,” said Lanni, noting there will a focus on using premium materials. “It will be, from start to finish, a mixture of brick and Hardie panel and metal cladding … our focus is really about creating that premium streetscape.”
Landscaping will also play a key role.
“We're looking at experiences, at how people will experience Midtown on a daily basis and we're approaching landscaping that way,” added Lanni. “It's about front doors opening onto open spaces as opposed to just seeing a sea of garages. We've actually sprinkled our green spaces so that every unit has the advantage to being on an amenity as opposed to only some units backing onto an amenity as we see in most communities. This is about weaving the open spaces throughout the community and really improving how it feels to live there.”
Plans also call for a community garden, yoga lawns and a dog park.
Meanwhile, Midtown's location allows additional connections to nature with the Red Willow Trail system on its doorstep. Residents will be able to bike or walk north along the trail system to the Sturgeon River and St. Albert's downtown, and west to Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park. For those who drive, access to the Anthony Henday is about a moment or two away.
At full buildout Midtown will be home to some 1,100 housing units.
“We're creating a village where there isn't one today so it does take time and for us the most important thing is making sure we do it in the best way possible,” said Lanni, projecting a five-year to possibly 10-year buildout before Midtown is completed.
Next year, Phase 2 will see work begin on the higher end retirement residences, comprising approximately 200 units. Midtown will also contain a commercial portion focused on neighbourhood scale food and beverage and service sector retail.
“I've been in meetings with Averton, and their focus on design has been embraced into their culture; references to the impact of art and design are peppered through their discussions,” said Christenson. “Reoccurring questions include how this will create vibrancy, improve health, promote walkability, encourage social connections — and, ultimately, how their own choices will enhance the experience for those that will live at Midtown.
“We're looking forward to their input and lessons learned through the development of this community and welcome others to participate and provide feedback — we understand no two communities are alike and want to ensure there's appropriate flexibility.”
Built Green Canada is an industry-driven organization that works with builders interested in sustainability practices in the residential building sector.