DEVELOPMENT DELIVERS CANMORE IN ITS GLORY
John Denver had it right. There is definitely something to feeling a Rocky Mountain high — and it’s unlike anything else. The majesty of the rugged, massive rock, the fresh scent of the fir trees, the sweet silence of nature in its grandeur beckons people from around the world 365 days a year.
It’s all about “Rockies’ magic,” says Keith Brown, who has a second home with wife Rosemarie—their“getawayplace” — at Versant at Stewart Creek in Canmore.
The Browns aren’t alone. In spite of the economic downturn in much of Alberta, Canmore hasn’t been affected as much, says Barry Kozmyk, sales director of Versant.
“A lot of people here have done well in their lives and want to move to the next step — either a second home or a permanent residence in their favoured location.”
And Canmore is close to home for many. Kozmyk says he has noticed an uptick in people coming from all over Alberta, including Edmonton and Red Deer.
“They all recognize the beauty and lifestyle opportunities here. They see the value and are ready to make that more of their future.
“Many people have been coming here for years and renting a place so they could enjoy all that the natural environment has to offer all year-round,” says Kozmyk.
“Now they’re looking for something more permanent.”
That was part of the attraction for the Browns.
“It’s a marvelous place with all-around majestic mountains,” says Brown.
He defines himself as a “self-employed adventurer,” so the four-season opportunities were another big attraction for the couple.
Golfing, hiking, biking, running and more are right out the door in spring, summer and fall and, of course, the winter opportunities, whether downhill or crosscountry skiing, snowboarding or snowshoeing, are worldrenowned.
And it’s such a wired world today he is able to continue working in this delightful natural playground.
But it’s much more than that. It’s about the home — and the people, says Brown.
“We liked the floor plan and the way it was designed. We have neighbours to the south and one below, but we never hear them. There is underground parking, and we have three bedrooms, four balconies and a big square footage that’s open and great for entertaining.”
They bought one of the largest plans at close to 2,000 square feet in the Lodge buildings, where each home has its own private entrance.
“It’s really an apartment, but it feels like home,” says Brown.
Both Lodge designs and stacked townhomes, known as Chalets, are available in the 52-unit development that hugs the hillside leading up to the Stewart Creek Golf Course.
“The project has been designed inside and out with natural elements — stone, cedar, Italian porcelain, solid-core doors … all high-end finishes that our buyers appreciate,” says Kozmyk.
Adds Brown: “The majestic nature of the buildings resonates in my mind as one of the major reasons we bought here — and the extremely high specs as well as the closeness to the golf course.” It goes even further. “Secondary is all of the people we’ve met who also chose to live at Versant,” says Brown.
And that includes the whole development team, including builder/developer Richard Bremner.
“TheyaregroundedinCanmore and grounded in proper business ethics,” adds Brown.
The development has recently celebrated the grand opening of its second phase. Three Lodges are now complete — Uto, Grassi and Engler — offering stacked, open floor plans from 931 square feet to 2,025 square feet. Two new show suites in Uto Lodge have just opened.
The townhomes (Wheeler and Webber Chalets are now c omplete) provide floor plans of 1,540 square feet or 1,811 square feet, and a show suite is also open.
“Versant is for people looking for a lifestyle change or who want to downsize so they can spend more time in the fresh air, in a healthy community like Canmore,” says John Third, project leader of Versant.
In fact, 70 per cent of the buyers in Versant are permanent residents.
“We never came here often enough,” says Rosemarie Brown.
“Now we wake up in the morning to a spectacular view and ask ourselves, ‘Is this real?’ It’s a great place to come and just decompress.”