Cambrian, Chappelle Gardens honoured as best communities
Rohit Group, after rolling out Edmonton’s best new community in 2020 and 2021, has done it once more but this time with Cambrian.
Meanwhile, Brookfield Residential’s Chappelle Gardens, named Canada’s Best Growing Community in 2023, was honoured as Edmonton’s best community this year.
The two growing neighbourhoods received their honours at the recent 2024 Canadian Home Builders’ Association-Edmonton Region Awards of Excellence in Housing gala.
Cambrian, located in Sherwood Park, is all about ravine living. It faced off against Cherot, another new Rohit community but located in St. Albert, Elan in Beaumont from developer Dream, and two Qualico Communities: Marquis in the northeast and Rivers Edge in the west end.
Chappelle, designed to re-create the feeling of small-town living, emerged victorious after being selected from the following list of remaining finalists: Salisbury Village in Sherwood Park from Avillia Developments, Cantiro’s The Hills at Charlesworth in southeast Edmonton, The Orchards also in the southeast but from Brookfield, and The Village at Griesbach from Canada Lands Co.
BEST NEW COMMUNITY
Launched last year, Rohit’s Cambrian is a master-planned development located north of Yellowhead Trail and east of Range Road 231.
“We decided to embark on our journey in Sherwood Park for multiple compelling reasons,” Trisha Poitras, senior marketing co-ordinator, Rohit Group. “Known for its vibrant local economy and high standard of living, Sherwood Park presented us with a unique opportunity. We aimed to create a community that could cater to the area’s expanding population and its increasing demand for new homes.”
Rohit said it’s excited by the success of Cambrian. It also said it believes the community resonated with the CHBA-ER judges to take the Best New Community award due to its ravine lots and robust amenities including scenic trails and expansive parks, which it adds will enhance residents’ daily lives and promote a sense of well-being and connectivity.
“It is always an honour to have one of our communities recognized with the Best New Community award,” said Scott Rudman, senior project manager, land development, for the Rohit Group. “In the past, our Woodhaven Edgemont community has won this accolade (2020 and 2021) two years consecutively. The attention and momentum generated by these awards were palpable and played a crucial role in the area’s success.”
Winning the award, added Rudman, also significantly influences potential buyers’ decisions when choosing where to build or buy a new home.
“Such awards are not just accolades; they signal to buyers that a community has been recognized for its excellence, which can enhance the perceived value and desirability of the area,” said Rudman. “The recognition assures buyers of quality in planning, construction and available amenities, and suggests a strong potential for future growth and stability in property values.”
Builders in Cambrian include ART Homes, Bedrock Homes, Gill Built Homes, Rohit Homes, San Rufo Homes, and Victory Homes.
BEST COMMUNITY
While Chappelle Gardens was launched in 2011, it still has about five more years of future growth ahead.
“Chappelle Gardens promotes organic, healthy living in a smalltown setting,” said Mike Kohl, Brookfield Residential’s senior vice-president, Alberta Communities. “Buyers are attracted to Chappelle for its small-town charm, offering respite from the urban hustle while maintaining accessibility via major connectors like the Anthony Henday Drive. The community provides choice and affordability for buyers at all stages of their home buying journey, along with opportunities for connection and establishing their best place to call home.”
Features in Chappelle include an urban village park, tree-lined interconnected paths, including a bee pollinator path, a 6,6000-square-foot Social House that provides yearround programming like the Taste of Chappelle as well as being home to an NHL-sized hockey rink.
The community also offers various parks such as the Sun Dial Park and in fall 2024 it will open the Frieda Hiller Park; commemorating the Hiller family who homesteaded on the land since 1932.
“It was a moment of excitement and pride to have Chappelle take home this prestigious award as well as have our community of The Orchards recognized as a finalist,” said Kohl. “The achievement reflects the collective efforts of our team, builder partners, residents association, planners and community members in shaping vibrant neighbourhoods we call home.”
Brookfield said it feels Chappelle’s innovative approach to community design, incorporating elements of small-town living within an urban setting likely resonated with the CHBA-ER judges as well as the integration of gardens, thoughtful amenities and a focus on fostering community connection.
It was at the 2023 CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence where Chappelle was named Canada’s Best Growing Community. These award wins, added Kohl, reinforce home buyers’ decisions on where to build and buy their new home. “It validates the quality and appeal of the community, instilling confidence in prospective buyers,” said Kohl.
Builders in Chappelle include Brookfield Residential, City Homes and Daytona Homes.