By Chloe Perreault, Communication Strategist, CHBA
Developers are making strides in building communities that are vibrant, amenity-rich and more walkable, breaking away from the stereotype that suburbanites need a car for everything. Great community design not only enhances the visual appeal of suburban landscapes but also significantly improves residents’ quality of life. While major cities such as Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal often get the most attention when it comes to revitalizing waterfronts, creating greenspaces and promoting sustainable living, the reality is that these transformations are happening across the country.
Alpine Park
Two recent examples of outstanding community development hail from Alberta. Dream Developments was awarded top honours in the 2024 CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence for both of the Community Development awards.
Alpine Park is a cutting-edge urban community near Calgary that clinched the Best Growing Community award. Developed in collaboration with HDR | Peter Calthorpe, a renowned figure in new urbanism, Alpine Park prioritizes people-centred design over traditional car-centric layouts. Spanning 476 acres, the community draws inspiration from Calgary’s natural and architectural heritage, blending mountainous, prairie and urban elements to establish a uniquely Calgarian setting.
Alpine Park boasts various eco-friendly features, such as solar-oriented garages, a naturalized stormwater wetland and an extensive urban forest plan. The community is designed to be highly walkable, with most homes just an eight-minute walk from the Village Centre, a retail hub owned by Dream for ongoing development. The Village Centre will offer a range of shops, cafes and amenities to ensure residents have easy access to daily necessities. Additionally, the community layout emphasizes social connectivity with homes featuring front porches, wide pathways and tree-lined streets.
Élan
Winner of the Best New Community category, Élan, in Beaumont, was built for intergenerational living and provides small-town charm while encouraging a family-centric lifestyle ideal for young families seeking walkability and amenities nearby. This lively community on Edmonton’s doorstep pays tribute to the town’s Franco-Albertan heritage with outstanding architecture and people-centered design.
Élan covers 154 acres and is expected to have 1,480 residential units upon completion. The community features a variety of housing styles, including Prairie, Farmhouse, Craftsman, French Country and Quaint Quebecois architecture. There is a network of parks and open areas to establish hubs and meeting spots for residents and visitors, including a central park with wood-built playgrounds, sports courts and seasonal events for residents and visitors to enjoy, all developed to foster connected community. Élan promotes commercial and mixed-use spaces and diverse transportation choices, and The Urban Village will showcase denser residential and mixed-use properties, serving as the central hub and attraction for the neighbourhood.
The success of these two projects highlights the power of meticulous planning and community engagement. By championing greenspaces, sustainable living and pedestrian-friendly environments, developers are setting new standards for community developments that foster vibrant, inclusive spaces where individuals can live, work and thrive.
