NOURISHING NEIGHBOURLY CONNECTIONS
Community garden amenities are a growing trend
Green thumbs moving from a single-family home to an apartmentstyle condo or townhome can keep their cultivator, weeder, trowel and gardening gloves just as busy.
In a growing trend at Calgary area multi-family developments, a community garden or raised planter beds are on-site and available for residents of the building or complex to enjoy.
Partners Development Group is one of the companies that has seen success with the on-site gardening amenity.
“It’s all based around the community aspect,” says Greg Gutek, president and founder of Partners. “We feel it’s important. It gets people out of their houses, and they get to meet each other. We hope we can mix all kinds of generations together.”
The first Partners development to see this idea take root was northeast Calgary’s Arrive at Skyview Ranch Arbours. Arrive at Sage Meadows in northwest Calgary, which launched pre-construction sales earlier this year, and the future development of Arrive at Crestmont West on the southwest end of the city, will follow suit.
“We’re definitely fans of it,” Gutek says, adding his family enjoys gardening, and he’s seen firsthand how it’s been an opportunity for different generations to enjoy quality time together. That’s the hope here.
“If we have the opportunity to build some of these communities, some of those good things that I have seen in my life (from gardening) can come into the communities we build,” he adds.
It helps promote a “healthy lifestyle,” Gutek says of the community garden. “I’m pretty passionate about it.”
Some other examples of future community gardens in multi-family developments located within new communities are the Canals Townhomes by Slokker Homes on the west end of Airdrie and Holland Park by Excel Homes in the southeast Calgary community of Walden.
“Many new townhome and condo developments are now constructed with outdoor space in mind,” says Stephanie Chapman, marketing and communications specialist at Excel Homes. “Since yards are often small or perhaps non-existent in most multi-family developments, many developers are taking this into mind and incorporating green spaces for residents to play and get to know one another.”
Townhome development Holland Park features European-inspired exterior architecture and has a planned central green space and community garden.
“A common outdoor space provides residents a place to slow down, enjoy the sunshine, and reconnect with one another,” Chapman says. “Community gardens/ green spaces encourage people to be more involved in the development (and community) and interact with their neighbours.
“These spaces help to forge friendships and strengthen bonds,” she adds.
People living in a new apartment-style condo or townhome located in an established end of Calgary can enjoy working in an on-site garden, as well. They’re on tap at developments such as Grow by Rndsqr in Bankview, The Annex by Minto Communities in Kensington, and Radius by Bucci Developments in Bridgeland.
Bucci has seen how well this idea can work. The developer included a community garden in its Tribeca project in Mission, which completed in 2014. Based on being so well-received there, the amenity will reappear at Radius, a development that’s on track to complete construction early next year, says Chelsey Marshall, sales and marketing manager for Bucci.
“Living inner-city is amazing, it fosters opportunities for connection and it is very convenient, which saves you time — time that can be spent doing more of what you love,” Marshall says. “While you may give up a big yard when you move to a condo, you don’t have to forgo your connection to nature.
“Buying local and eating at restaurants that work with local growers and farmers is a very clear trend amongst our homebuyers,” she adds. “Giving people a dedicated space to grow their own food is a natural progression, and has been very well-received.
“Having the garden plots in a common space also gives people an opportunity to connect with like-minded neighbours — it’s really lovely to see the sense of community that is established around amenities like this.”
For Minto Communities, founded in 1955, The Annex — which launched sales earlier this year — marks its Calgary market debut. It’s a nine-storey development that’s expected to offer first possessions for buyers in autumn 2020.
Among the amenities set for its expansive rooftop patio is a community garden. It will have 17 beds and reach 50 square metres.
“Community gardens are an example of not only living sustainability, but also add beauty and bring awareness to living things,” says Norah Fraser, director, development and marketing for Minto. “Community gardening is a healthy, inexpensive activity for people of all ages and stages of life that brings people closer to nature and to each other.
“Condo living doesn’t always allow residents the opportunity to exercise their green thumb, and we wanted to make sure this is available at the Annex,” she adds.
The connections between residents is another benefit. “It allows people who may not necessarily have an opportunity to meet, come together with a common goal,” Fraser says. “People are able to engage in conversation while getting outside and connecting with nature.”