When browsing through the list of Calgary communities, envisioning how many of them were named isn't the easiest of endeavors. Rarely tying back to any physical idea or origin, the names are normally as pleasant as they are intangible.

However, for one Calgary community, that name couldn't be any more concrete. Located along the banks of the Bow River in southeast Calgary, Quarry Park is a former gravel site that has been transformed into an innovative community by Remington Development Corporation.

It appears the weather isn't the only thing taking a turn for the better lately, as Calgary's real estate picture brightened considerably in March. According to CREB®, residential sales in the city continued to rise last month, reaching 2,167 units, an increase of 12.6 per cent over last March.

After the first quarter of 2012, sales are up by 7.3 per cent over the same time last year. While the increase is significant, when compared to historic activity, residential sales continue to remain below the long-term trend. Monthly new listings remain slightly lower than last year, whereas year-to-date figures show 7.2 per cent fewer listings have come onto the market in the first quarter of this year.