DESIGN WITH ‘LIVING IN MIND’
Walden Place condo gives first-time buyer chance let personal style shine
The first step into home ownership is a big decision. For Ashley Vettori, the turning point came when a friend told her about a new opportunity in Walden.
The location was ideal because most of her friends and family are in south Calgary, including her parents who live in nearby Chaparral. But getting a place of her own became a reality when she looked at the price list.
About 70 per cent of condos at Walden Place are less than $250,000.
The new development by Cardel Lifestyles, featuring apartmentstyle condos and townhomes, opened sales earlier this year. The least expensive condo in the lineup is $149,900, before tax.
She’s been in the rental market for two and a half years, including her current home in Kingsland. Measuring her expenses as a renter against what owning a condo at Walden Place would cost — Vettori liked the value.
“The price range was low compared to what I thought it would be so it seemed like great time to actually buy,” says Vettori, who works for an insurance company at an office in downtown Calgary.
Vettori thought about the resale market but decided that wasn’t for her.
Not for her first home, where buying prior to construction, Vettori has the ability to make selections that reflect her personal taste. “I definitely wanted it to be new,” Vettori says.
“Being my first place, I wanted to pick out everything.”
She chose the Sundance, which is a 624-square-foot floor plan.
This is the least expensive option in a two bedrooms and one bathroom orientation at Walden Place, starting from $174,900, before tax. Vettori says the second bedroom can be used for a roommate, if she chooses to have one down the road. But in the meantime, it’ll be bonus closet space.
“I like how at Walden Place, all the floor plans are open-concept,” Vettori says, contrasting it with older units she’s rented, where spaces such as the kitchen were closed off.
There are 11 floor plans at Walden Place that range from 544 to 1,021 square feet.
“We have a great choice,” says area manager Brad Logel. “We have at least two different plans for every customer.”
This includes one, two and three bedroom options.
There’s also a townhome component to the development, where there’s a standard plan that measures 1,549 square feet.
“Our plans are very well designed,” Logel says.
“We design them with living in mind.”
A full-sized example of what’s available at Walden Place is displayed at its sales centre at 23 Walgrove Cove S.E. Here Cardel Lifestyles has unveiled a show suite in its Palliser floor plan.
Vettori was impressed by the specifications package at Walden Place, noting that kitchens come with quartz counters, stainless steel appliances and cabinets with soft-close doors and drawers. “All of their standards were pretty high-end,” she says.
Appliances include a 30-inch smooth- top range, hood fan, multi-program dishwasher and 21 cubic foot fridge.
The cabinets are modern shaker and offered with four pull-handle options.
Also in the kitchen is a chrome single-handle faucet with a pullout sprayer, double mount stainless steel sink and full-height tile backsplash.
The condos have nine foot ceilings, as well. For flooring, it’s luxury vinyl plank in the entryway, kitchen, laundry space and bathrooms and 38-ounce high-performance carpet with a cushy eightpound underlay in the bedrooms.
Other benefits include sound attenuation and fresh-air intake.
“Fresh air intake provides a higher quality, healthier way of living,” Logel says.
“Air is brought directly inside the condo for each individual homeowner.
“Not only does it provide fresh air but it also helps keep the home cooler in warmer months and more consistent temperature in the winter months. You also don’t have to breathe in other condo owners’ air.”
The building exterior is another important part of the plan at Walden Place.
“Walden is very modern and appealing, architecturally speaking,” Logel says. “It offers something unique.” Cardel Lifestyles is following with a development that Logel says will boast a “classic modern look.”
It’s done with big windows, James Hardie exterior siding and a heavy duty aluminum that resembles cedar.
Walden is a community by Genstar Development Co. that brings its residents plenty of added value, including green space, connectivity to major city arteries and access to commercial amenities, says Logel.
This includes the Gates of Walden, which includes a Save-On-Foods, grocery store, Shoppers Drug Mart, Starbucks, banks, restaurants and a gas station.
As Vettori says, “pretty much anything you really need.”