TRANQUIL COUNTRY LIVING
Community roots and tradition form foundation of growth in desirable Springbank
One has only to visit the community centre in Springbank to understand the depth of community there.
It's evident from the historic photos of figure skaters, 4-H Club members and community leaders on the walls, to the tarnished sports trophies under glass, to the concession serving hot coffee and hotdogs on a busy Saturday. Springbank is a district steeped in tradition and determined to keep its soul intact no matter the city sprawl creeping in from the east.
Springbank is a district in Rocky View County west of Calgary, with the Bow River on the north and Highway 8 on the south, stretching west down the back side of Broadcast Hill to Highway 22. First settled in the late 19th century, it was named for the springs emanating from small coulees running through the district.
Many of Springbank's pioneering families have owned land since before Alberta was a province and have kept it in the family. Springbank is now, as it was then, a very desirable place to build a home in the country.
Jonathan Popowich is a realtor who grew up in Springbank.
His grandparents settled there and despite the city annexation that's been occurring since the 1980s, he believes Rocky View has done a good job supporting longtime landowners and preserving
Springbank's sense of community.
“Living in the city, it's garage door up, garage door down. In Springbank, we know our neighbours even though we're scattered and far apart,” he says.
Popowich is working with an anonymous developer on a new subdivision called Stonewood, off Escarpment Drive. Launched in 2019, there are just two remaining lots out of nine, two-acre parcels.
He couldn't disclose purchase prices but did elaborate on how prices in Springbank go.
“The West Bluff, Escarpment Drive, Horizon View areas are the three most desirable areas and pretty much the most expensive. Despite market conditions, there's always a demand for this area because there are so few lots,” he says. “Property values start high at about 101 Street S.W., then the further west you go, the lower the price point.”
The Acres, launched early in 2020 as a subdivision called River Edge, is a maintenance-free enclave of 49 single-family lots in Springbank. It's south of the Springbank Park for All Seasons on the Elbow River. Lots are available for purchase online through the developer, Price Boychuk and Jackson Corp., through Bode Canada.
Co-founder Jeff Jackson says Springbank is in need of fresh perspective on development that reflects the modern lifestyle of both aging populations and the next generation. The Acres will be a country experience that promotes an active, healthy lifestyle that doesn't involve weekends spent mowing grass on a lawn tractor.
“Our team continues to monitor the phenomenon we refer to as the `urban exodus.' Data from around the world shows people moving further from the closest metropolitan centre. This trend positions the county to be a desirable place to live in the months and years to come,” he says.
If not quite an exodus, moving to a quiet rural area where the city is only 10 minutes away is one of the reasons behind the success of Harmony, a residential community by the Springbank Airport. Developed by Bordeaux Properties and Qualico Communities, Harmony is primarily an estate community with thoughtful multi-family offerings to serve a wide range of lifestyles. As if being in the country isn't enough of an amenity, Harmony has man-made lakes and a beach, playgrounds for kids and adults alike and the Mickelson National Golf Club. And, like Springbank itself, it has a very united and tight-knit residents' association.
Staying on top of Springbank's development has been an ongoing job for the county. Guided by a North and South Springbank Area Structure Plan (ASP), the county is accountable to 6,000 residents, not including Harmony, which is considered a hamlet with its own plan. But with estimated projections of more than 32,000 people according to the plan's build-out timeline, the county is working hard to ensure every step and every proposal is carefully considered.
We are generally seeing a shift in demand towards other forms of residential development that cater to different ages and lifestyles.
Planning supervisor Dominic Kazmierczak says there are several approved projects in the works, such as Bingham Crossing, a proposed shopping destination and lifestyle centre, and Pradera Springs, a development for seniors. Currently, 31 per cent of Springbank residents are aged 55 and over.
“While country residential is certainly still very desirable for many in the community, we are generally seeing a shift in demand towards other forms of residential development that cater to different ages and lifestyles,” he says.
Rocky View is identifying the amount of available land required for future development through a series of proposed ASPS, which will accommodate this shift by providing new opportunities for pockets of other development types, such as cluster residential and other compact housing types.
While further annexation on Springbank's eastern shore may be a few years away, Popowich can already see the speculation among buyers.
“If you look at who is already buying, the existing ASP, the proposed ASPS — the writing is on the wall for extensive development. It will change the landscape quite a bit,” he says.