DUPLEX A DRAW
Starting out in Symons Gate
Cody Reid and Allison Stang accomplished some pretty meaningful milestones in 2016.
The young couple got engaged to be married and bought their first place together. For the latter, they’ll take possession on Valentine’s Day.
Reid considered popping the question shortly after being handed the keys to their new home. Two big steps on the same day.
“I had the ring since August and thought this is perfect, we’ll get the house, I’ll propose, this is all going to work out,” says Reid, a social worker.
“But then I couldn’t wait any longer.”
Reid and Stang are moving to a laned duplex by Brookfield Resi- dential in the new northwest community of Symons Gate. This is a boutique offering of 22 homes by the builder starting from the high $300,000s.
They’re now renting a singlefamily home in the established neighbourhood of Varsity.
While the couple initially explored the ability to continue in a single-family model, affordability was a factor.
But bringing them the same type of floor plan, only with the costsavings of a shared wall, was the duplex.
“It was nice to have that concept of a single-family home style, but of course, we’re just attached with someone,” Reid says.
The couple plans on bringing a dog into the picture this summer.
They’re an amazing opportunity ... to get into the market. The benefits of a semi-detached (duplex) is that you still have your own backyard, you have your front door, your front yard. Kelly Halliday, Brookfield Residential
“My fiancee was a little bit upset that none of the presents under the (Christmas) tree were barking at her,” Reid says, laughing.
But the yard that comes with a duplex makes it convenient for them to do just that.
Brookfield’s laned duplexes range from about 1,400 to 1,500 square feet.
This has been a strong selling segment for the builder, says Brookfield’s business development manager Kelly Halliday.
“There’s really no compromise in them,” Halliday says. “They’re an amazing opportunity, especially for first time buyers, to get into the market. The benefits of a semidetached (duplex) is that you still have your own backyard, you have your front door, your front yard — you really have all the benefits of a single-family home but at a more affordable price.”
Reid and Stang picked the Linden, which is displayed as a show home in Fireside in Cochrane and was in Auburn Bay.
The couple visited both show homes “multiple times,” says Reid, adding he remembers them both thinking, “Oh, this is really nice.”
On the main floor, they were fans of its open-concept design, sizable kitchen, and island.
“We’re definitely trying to cook more, but the kitchen we’re in now, it’s not as fun,” Reid says, adding their current rental was built in the 1950s. “We’re excited for the extra cupboard and counter space.”
They chose a second floor format with three bedrooms, a full bathroom, and laundry room. It’s also possible to get the Linden with two master bedrooms. Reid says the couple will eventually develop the basement and build a detached garage.
Brookfield will also introduce a line of duplexes with a front-attached single car garage in Symons Gate in the latter part of the first quarter of this year. These models range from 1,600 to 1,700 square feet and will start in the low $400,000s. There are 46 lots, with some earmarked as walkouts.
In narrowing down the location, Symons Gate made sense. Reid and Stang liked the convenience of being close to both major arteries and a wide assortment of places to shop and eat.
“It was about location,” Reid says. “You have all the amenities right down in Symons Valley.”
He points to the community’s quick access to Symons Valley Ranch Farmers Market, Costco, Co-op, and Sobeys.
Symons Gate is close to Beacon Hill Shopping Centre, Creekside Shopping Centre, and smaller commercial hubs in the nearby communities of Nolan Hill, Sage Hill and Evanston.
“We liked the pubs nearby,” Reid adds. “That’s what we like to do on a night out — go get a bite and a beer and just relax. Instead of driving super far, it’s just right down the road.”
Brookfield made green space an important element in Symons Gate. Late last year, the community held an event to celebrate the com- pletion of a green space dubbed the Curious Park. It is 0.2 hectares, features a playground, and is located centrally in Symons Gate.
The park helps put every home in Symons Gate at most 350 metres from green space of some kind. There’s also an environmental reserve on the north of the community that some homes back on to.
In early 2016, Symons Gate was named New Community of the Year at the Canadian Home Builders’ Association-Urban Development Institute Calgary Region Association SAM (Sales and Marketing) Awards.
The community has single-family homes through Albi Luxury by Brookfield Residential, Morrison Homes and Brookfield. Brookfield’s duplexes are being sold through the sales centre attached to the builder’s move-up show homes.
Brookfield also opened a townhome development called The Link at Symons Gate late last year. There are 165 townhomes in one, two- and three-bedroom variations across 24 buildings. Most of the floor plans have nine-foot ceilings.