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Services, shopping, schools and restaurants are all near the University District.
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Single mom Diana Herrera loves the pulse and convenience of an urban lifestyle. So when the opportunity arose to buy a condominium in her District at the University, she didn’t hesitate.
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For the past two years, she has been renting a two-bedroom condo in the community and really enjoying the amenities and lifestyle. She wanted to buy in the area, but until recently she thought her prices were off the market.
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“But I think it was in January. I thought, I can afford this,” says Herrera, who works in the sales department.
She made an appointment to tour the show suites at Argyle, a contemporary six-story mixed-use condominium development.
She brought her 13 year old daughter and 7 year old son.
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“We were all super excited,” says Herrera, who was born and raised in Colombia and has lived all over the world, from Houston, Texas to Dubai. Five years ago, she landed in Calgary with her then-husband (now divorced) and her two children. Children who grew up in single-family homes are now sold in small condominiums living in thriving urban villages.
Located just west of the University of Calgary on 200 acres overlooking the Bow River and Rocky Mountains, the University District is full of facilities and green spaces, including a curated mix of shops and services. Favorites include local eateries such as Orangetheory Fitness, YYC Cycle, Staples, Cineplex VIP Cinemas, OEB Breakfast Co. and Monogram coffee.
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Children go to local schools. I walk to restaurants, especially Five Guys and Village Ice Cream, and hang out in the green spaces. Herrera’s daughter uses convenient public transportation. The LRT station is just around the corner and her son is skateboarding in the park. Herrera also enjoys restaurants.
“I can go get a coffee or a drink with my friends and I don’t have to drive. I can even walk to Save-On-Foods. Great.”
Walkability is just one factor that earned the University District the title of Canada’s Fastest Growing Community at the 2022 Canadian Home Builders Association National Awards for Housing Excellence.
Argyle is the University District’s newest facility, comprising 151 studios, one and two bedroom homes, a comprehensive owner’s amenity space including a full gym on the 6th floor and a rooftop terrace on the 2nd floor. Construction started in May.
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The architecture of this project is a contemporary twist on the historic design of stone warehouses. The layers, dimensions and textures of the building are tied to a literal description of the classic and timeless argyle pattern, exemplified in his window pattern and color scheme punching the facade.
The show suite showcases a 545-square-foot A1 plan, one-bedroom model, and the home is decorated in both Wescott and Harlequin color palette choices.
“Going through the show suite was such a good experience. It put me at ease. I’m a very visual person and didn’t have to imagine anything. Everything looked so real.” says Herrera.
This motivated single mom (she’s all about creating a great life for her kids) purchased a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom unit on the 3rd floor of the Argyle. The house has a balcony with a gas connection for BBQ and room for a patio table with chairs. “I think I might add a hammock to make it really tropical,” says Herrera.
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The kitchen was also her selling point. “For me, cooking is a tradition. When I think of my family, I think of my grandmother and her recipes. I use a lot of them now to cook hot, fresh food for my kids. For me, the kitchen is definitely the most important place in the house.”
Carla Dean, designer and head of product development at Homes by Avi, explains that most of Argyle’s homes are less than 1,000 square feet, so the kitchen must be very efficient within a small footprint. . Each kitchen has a series of drawers, built-in spice racks, multipurpose box shelves, and a pantry for food and storage. The island, which Dean says was deliberately chosen, is noticeably lacking in design.
“Having a fixed cabinet in the middle of a small space eliminates flexibility. Left alone, it opens up the space and opens up possibilities for moveable islands and dining room tables,” she says.
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Herrera is happy with the extra space and is already looking for both a dining room table and a small mobile island for her home in Argyll.
The icing on the cake for the family was choosing the color of the front door.
“The kids chose green because it was their color of hope,” says Herrera.
detail
community: university district
Developer: University of Calgary Property Group
development: Argyle is a 151-unit, six-story contemporary mixed-use condominium development with retail at ground level. Amenities include 2nd floor Owner’s Amenity facilities including underground parking, fully stocked gym, recreation room, kitchen and rooftop terrace.
Developer: Homes by Avi
price: Prices for studio apartments start in the low $300,000 range. Price includes underground parking and GST. Homes by Avi offers a price protection guarantee. If the price drops before you own it, we will refund the difference. Also, for a limited time, we are offering $20,000 off the interior selection or purchase price.
price: Condo rates are 44 cents per square foot.
View Home: The Shaw Suite is located at the University District Discovery Centre, 4410 University Ave. NW. Open Tuesday through Friday from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Closed on Mondays.
information: www.homesbyavi.com; www.myuniversitydistrict.ca
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