Savanna seeks council green light
Proposed Genstar project has ‘services at hand’
If a proposed development is approved by city council next month, close to 2,600 new homes will be added to northeast Calgary. A neighbourhood called Savanna in Saddle Ridge by Genstar Development Co. was approved for the initial 95 hectares of the planned 129-hectare site by the Calgary Planning Commission last month. Genstar is slated to seek final approval from council June 9. The developer has masterplanned communities in Calgary including Panorama Hills, Chaparral Valley, Walden and Evansview.
The proposed development is the last continuous parcel in the Saddle Ridge area. It’s bordered by Airport Trail to the north, 88th Avenue to the south, Metis Trail to the west and 60th Street to the east.
“It’s an exciting development,” says Paul Boskovich, Genstar’s senior development manager. The first stage would include about 2,000 units and be home to about 5,600 people.
“It’s a significant opportunity to provide housing in the northeast where there is strong demand for housing and a range of housing needs,” says Boskovich.
“There is a fair amount of other
I think what makes our development kind of unique is that there is existing infrastructure and services in close proximity
PAUL BOSKOVICH
developments in the northeast, so we’ve had an opportunity to see what’s being provided in the market place and I think what our intention is to provide a range of housing product.” Other communities under development in northeast Calgary include SkyView Ranch, Redstone and Cityscape.
“If we are successful in obtaining city council approval, we anticipate being able to commence construction late in 2014,” says Boskovich. “While no pricing is currently available we would anticipate a range of housing types will be available as soon as 2015. With the initial phase offering single family and semi-detached homes, more affordable apartment and townhome options will be available as Savanna develops.”
The community plan also includes a 16-hectare commercial development anchored by a grocery store. This would be incorporated in a transit station area.
“The current terminus is Saddletown station, Savanna would be the next stop,” adds Boskovich.
“I think what makes our development kind of unique is that there is existing infrastructure and ser- vices in close proximity. Walking distance to the existing station in Saddletown and there’s a new school planned literally across the street from our development.
There are services close at hand.”