Strong year for Airdrie

GROWTH TO CONTINUE IN 2013

For one of the fastest growing communities in Canada, 2012 marked another “strong” year for development, says Airdrie’s top planner.

Airdrie’s population soared 47.1 per cent between 2006 and 2011, resulting in the eighth highest growth rate in the country.

While total 2012 census numbers are not finalized, there was a bump in housing permits.

There were 1,500 building permits from the start of January to the end of November, compared to 1,000 during the same period in 2011.

Those totals were mainly fuelled by an upswing in apartments with 450 new units, 400 per cent more than 2011, says Tracy Corbett, manager of planning and engineering for the City of Airdrie.

“There was a real bump there,” says Corbett, adding the climb in apartment units was a result of a number of development — which have been in the works for a while — now reaching the building permit stage.

“I’m not seeing that as a trend for Airdrie to keep those sorts of numbers,” she says.

While the biggest increase came in apartment units, Airdrie continues to have more single-family homes.

In particular, she says narrow, small lot single-family homes continue to be “very popular” in Airdrie.

Corbett says single-family homes account for 80 per cent of new homes in the city and close to the same ratio in existing stock.

However, she says there’s been a growth in demand for townhomes in Airdrie, mainly due to amenity options and prices.

Mattamy Homes and Vesta Properties both offer popular townhouse options in the city, she says.

Mattamy Homes is a company is both a builder and a developer, with homes in an Airdrie community called Windsong in southwest Airdrie, while Vesta Properties serves both roles in a northwest Airdrie community named Williamstown.

“Mattamy produces a backto-back townhome along with a street-fronting townhome that has proved very popular,” says Corbett.

“Vesta has created a number of townhomes and low-rise multi-units which are fronting their environmental reserve area. It creates a very nice amenity for people, so has sold quite well.”

Both Windsong and Williamstown were among the communities to lead Airdrie in growth in 2012, says Corbett. Along with townhouses, both communities offer singlefamily homes.

Ravenswood is another community that saw strong growth last year, says Corbett. It is a development by Qualico Communities with homes by builders Broadview Homes, McKee Homes, NuVista Homes and Pacesetter Homes.

Several communities are continuing to build-out based on approved plans, says Corbett. These includes Hillcrest, Reunion, Cooper’s Crossing, Bayside and Canals, King’s Heights and Ravenswood.

Growth is expected to continue in 2013, says Corbett.

“We are processing a number of area structure plans, so we expect strong growth to continue next year,” she says.

“As an affordable, familyfriendly city, Airdrie attracts a large number of young families and offers a lot of choice in the entry-level and valueoriented market.”