page 2 g friday, june 12, 2015 section g globe real ete · living spacesthe soft life warm tones...

LIVING SPACES

THESOFTLIFEWarm tones and mellowmaterials combine to makethis Forest Hill home anopulent retreat PAGE 11

The staircase at 46 Forest Hill Rd., its under side covered in sumptuous grey leather, is a central element in a home where every detail has been considered. ERIK ROTTER

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Connect with us: @globeandmail facebook.com/theglobeandmail EDITOR: D’ARCY McGOVERN

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Globe Real Estate F R I DAY , J U N E 1 2 , 2 0 1 5 S E C T I O N G. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

DESIGN Partisans, tipped as Ontario’s top emerging architectural firm, pushes for a focus on podiums and art-first design PAGE 2

THE MARKET New rules promise to lift the veil of secrecy in bidding wars PAGE 4

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G8 G T H E G LO B E A N D M A I L • F R I DAY , J U N E 1 2 , 2 0 1 5• GLOBE REAL ESTATE

House in Governor’s Bridgesells for $233,000over asking price

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ASKING PRICE$2,075,000. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SELLING PRICE$2,308,000. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PREVIOUS SELLING PRICE$1,150,000 (2005). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

TAXES$9,742 (2015). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

DAYS ON THE MARKETSeven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

LISTING AGENTCailey Heaps Estrin, Royal Le-Page Real Estate Services Ltd.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Action: Houses don’t comeup for sale often in the Gover-nor’s Bridge community over-looking the Don Valley andEvergreen Brick Works, but theservices of agent Cailey HeapsEstrin were needed by two sell-

ers on the same street thisspring.

To avoid direct competition,this detached residence was list-ed one week after its neighbour,banking multiple offers after acaravan of more than 100 visitors between private show-ings, agents and public openhouses.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

What They Got: This 2,900-square-foot house is the productof a decade-long remodel and

expansion of an 89-year-olddwelling with a private driveway,shed and 40-by-135-foot lot back-ing onto Cudmore Creek.6 Windows, doors and roofingwere replaced, all five bath-rooms updated to varyingdegrees and an enlarged firesidefamily room and kitchen outfit-ted with granite counters, stain-less steel appliances and skylitbreakfast area with glass patiodoors.6 Public quarters consist of a fire-

side living room, adjacent diningarea and 1,275-square-foot base-ment revamped with fitness andrecreation rooms.6 Residents can retreat to fivebedrooms upstairs, four situatedon the second floor, along withlaundry facilities.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Agent’s Take: “It’s a veryprivate setting,” Ms. Heaps Estrinsays. “It’s in an excellent schooldistrict – Bennington Heights –and easy walking distance to the

Brick Works and close to high-ways.”

The house itself is befitting ofits exclusive locale. “The housewas nicely renovated, so it wasvery cozy and bright,” Ms. HeapsEstrin says.

“It’s somewhat unique in thatthey did a rear addition with avery open kitchen and familyroom with a lot of glass … andit had a third-floor sundeck thatoverlooked the ravine, so it hada unique feel.”

DONE DEALS 6 BY SYDNIA YU

BAYVIEW AND MOORE 33 DOUGLAS CRES.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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As the population of Calgarycontinues its steep incline,

the city’s downtown core isbracing itself for an influx ofhigh-rise condominium develop-ments to house its ever-increas-ing number of professionals.

In the city’s Beltline neigh-bourhood, the population hasrisen consistently by about 4 percent a year between 2010 and2014 according to the officialcity of Calgary census.

And with no sign of thatgrowth slowing, the city’s core isbegging for developers to buildhigher and create a more denseurban atmosphere downtown.

“The densification that hap-pened in Toronto two decadesago is happening now in Calga-ry,” said Matthew Boukall, direc-tor of residential research forAltus Group in Calgary.

“We are seeing more interestin condos, more high-rises,more focus on the downtowncore.”

With a population increase ofover 130,000 in five years, theBeltline and other downtownresidential districts are primecandidates for large-scale condo-miniums, and the city’s continu-al growth, as well as itseconomic and socio-economicatmosphere, have attracted theeye of many Toronto-based de-velopers.

In the past few years, firmssuch as Tribute Communities,Lamb Development Corp., andGreat Gulf have been exploringthe Calgary market for invest-ment and development oppor-tunities.

Brad Lamb, founder and CEOof Lamb Development, visitedCalgary for the first time duringthe Calgary Stampede in 2006,and decided that the city wasworth investigating for possiblewestward expansion.

“Toronto is a big city with lotsof risk and always talk of bub-bles bursting, so it made senseto take capital and place itsomewhere else by investing inanother city, to mitigate thatrisk,” Mr. Lamb said.

“I talked to contractors anddid my own research, but the[Calgary] market was overheat-ing and poised, and I couldn’tget a grip on pricing.

“It seemed to be heading fordisaster.”

One year later, Mr. Lamb’s pre-diction proved to be true, asCalgary became one of theworst cities affected by the 2008recession.

It was the city’s ability torebuild and cultivate a strongereconomic base that drew the at-tention of Mr. Lamb and otherToronto-based builders after2010.

“I’ve always found Calgary tobe a fun and interesting city,”said Lamb.

“I could see that it was on theverge of creating a bigger, betterdowntown and I wanted to be apart of that.”

Lamb Development now hasthree condominium projects atvarious stages downtown and inthe Beltline, including the 31-storey development, 6th andTenth Condos.

It was the atmosphere andpassion in Calgary that drewGreat Gulf to the city in 2013,

according to the company’spresident, Christopher Wein.

“As a large-scale company,we’re always looking to grow,and a part of our growth is geo-graphical, so we started lookingfor cities with good demograph-ics, a good economy, good ener-gy,” Mr. Wein said.

“Only a few cities in Canadaare really thriving like that, andCalgary is one of them.”

Great Gulf’s first proposed pro-ject in Calgary is 304 Macleod, atwo-tower condominium struc-ture housing 443 units and twofloors of retail space in the EastVillage. The project is currentlyin the process of acquiring de-velopment approvals with thecity.

“We like that it’s right in theheart of the city, and there is somuch going on there,” Mr. Weinsaid.

Mr. Boukall is intrigued bywhat Toronto-based developerscan offer Calgary and how theywill change the city by drawingmore people to the downtowncore with more product exper-tise, new and unique floorplans, and financial stability.

“These developers can take onlarger projects and even moveahead with construction easier,”he said.

“They’ll be creating tens ofthousands of new homes, sohopefully that will reignite thecore and bring a new night lifeto the city.”

Mr. Wein is excited that GreatGulf will not only be a part ofbuilding up Calgary’s Beltlineand downtown presence, butthat the company also intendsto expand further into the cityby developing communities andbuilding homes and townhous-es.

“Calgary is a dynamic city withamazing energy, a great youngpopulation, highly educated pro-fessionals, great local politicsand a strong mayor, and moreand more people who are emi-grating are choosing Calgary astheir Canadian home base,” hesaid.

“It’s an exciting time in abeautiful city with some reallynice natural amenities.”

Even the downturn in Alber-ta’s economy has not deterredthese Toronto-based builders,who are investing in Calgaryand its downtown core for thelong haul.

Though condo unit sales havebeen slower than originally an-ticipated, Mr. Lamb notes thatCalgary is in the same state hesaw Toronto’s market in 2012and says that he is not con-cerned about the future of de-velopment in the city.

“Cities don’t die over one incident. Calgary is goingthrough a bad time with oilpricing, but that just changesthe way we sell our product,”Mr. Lamb said.

Though Lamb Development isnot currently buying new sitesin Alberta, the company haseyes on the market and is eagerfor more opportunities to investand develop in Calgary once theeconomy fully recovers from theoil slump of 2014.

“Calgary is just an awesomeCanadian city with massivepotential,” Mr. Lamb said.

“I know I’ll be working therefor at least another 25 years.”

DEVELOPMENT

Cowtown grabs the eye of Hogtown buildersToronto-based developers are flocking to Calgary to capitalize on the city’s population growth and downtown densification

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KRISTA CONRAD CALGARY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Lamb Development’s Orchard Condominiums. Lamb has three condo projects at various stages in Calgary. NORM LI

The 31-storey 6th and Tenth Condominiums by Lamb Development in the Beltline. NORM LI