Many well-designed townhomes at affordable prices in Cochrane
Three bedrooms will be a nice step up.
“Whereas before, when family came to visit, we went on the floor and they took our beds. We’d camp out in the living room,” Wilde says. “Now we have two other bedrooms to pick from, just a whole different feeling.
“I never thought I needed more than one bathroom, but it sure is nice. A walk-in closet wasn’t on my list, but I have one.”
A dishwasher and generous cupboard spaces were other items they lacked but now have.
“I have a gas stove, which I thought was a 20-year plan, not now,” Wilde says.
For people in the market for a new townhome, the heritage town west of Calgary continues to be a top destination.
“There are quite a few townhome developments within the various communities in the town of Cochrane,” says Town of Cochrane senior planner Riley Welden. “Every year, we do see more and more of them. So there must be a demand.”
This year, new construction for the segment in Cochrane has picked up. Between Jan. 1 and the end of June, the most current data available, there were 69 construction starts on townhomes in town, up from 21 a year ago, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp says.
New communities, including the aforementioned Heritage Hills, Heartland, Sunset Ridge, Riversong, Jumping Pound Ridge, the Willows at River Heights, and Fireside all have at least one townhome development now selling.
In Fireside by La Vita Land, there’s a development by Calbridge Homes selling from the low $200,000s on floor plans ranging from 903 to 1,404 square feet, and another by Landmark Homes that is fee-simple and from the low $300,000s on floor plans ranging from 1,367 to 1,395 square feet.
La Vita’s other Cochrane community, the Willows, has a project by Kingsmith Homes with townhomes measuring more than 1,600 square feet, and starting from the upper $300,000s. It, too, is a feesimple development.
In Jumping Pound Ridge, Slokker Homes’ townhome site starts at $249,000 on floor plans ranging from 1,137 to 1,730 square feet.
Riversong by Tamani Communities has Rise Townhomes by Jayman Built, where there are four units left, all 1,462 square feet, and starting from $309,497 plus tax.
On the north end of town, Sunset Ridge by Melcor Developments has two fee-simple townhome developments, one by Excel Homes and another by Jayman Built.
Excel’s range from 1,337 to 1,669 square feet and start from $302,500, including tax. The Jayman site is down to its final three units — all the 1,276-square-foot Crowfoot floor plan, which starts from $299,900, including GST.
In Heartland by Apex Land, it’s Birchwood Properties’ Brand Townhomes. These range from 1,055 to 1,372 square feet. Brand’s starting price is $232,900 plus GST.
“We have a good relationship with the developers here in Cochrane and work really well with them,” Welden says. “We work closely with them and want to provide — and I’m sure the development industry does, as well — a variety of housing options. Townhomes certainly ( help) provide that.”
Welden says he sees how townhomes are an attractive fit for a variety of demographics, such as downsizers and young couples or families. “I think it’s a variety of reasons, but certainly affordability and the type of product that they can get out here when they’re comparing from a particular price point would definitely factor in these decisions,” he says.
“I have been with the Town for a little over a year, and one of the things that stood out for me when I first got here last year, generally, but even specific to townhomes — was the quality of the townhomes being developed within the town of Cochrane,” Welden adds.
“I was thoroughly impressed. The architecture, the design, the landscaping ... I think you could add that in as another factor they are generating demand, because of that product.”