Greenwich offers a taste of the Big Apple in Calgary's northwest

Calgary's western edge along the Trans-Canada Highway is taking on an ultra-urban vibe as the development of Greenwich, inspired by its Manhattan namesake, revitalizes the area.

A master-planned community from Melcor Developments, the urban village is a nostalgic mix of residential brownstones, recreation, retail and office space. It also has one major attraction that its New York counterpart lacks – easy access to the mountains.

"We're only 18 minutes from downtown Calgary and less than a half-hour drive to the mountains," said Mathew Backhouse, Melcor's assistant land development manager in Calgary.

The village's energetic streetscape and festival-like central plaza are designed for walkability and the creation of community hubs for residents. Showhomes opened earlier this year.

"We have 80 per cent of servicing completed, including roads, concrete and utilities, and landscaping is approximately 50 per cent completed," said Backhouse. "We will begin landscape construction on our large central park with an off-leash dog park in 2020."

Greenwich echoes New York's metropolitan feel, with unique multi-family housing concepts, including brownstones and walkout-basement townhomes. The builder group of Cove Properties, Landmark Homes and Madison Avenue Group has already sold more than 100 units and residents began moving in this October.

Cove Properties describes its contribution to the community, the Apollo, as "New York Chic." The Apollo's 128 contemporary one- and two-bedroom suites range from 557 to 1,247 square feet, all with nine-foot ceilings. Centrally located within Greenwich, residents have easy access to adjacent green space. Prices range from $214,900 to $469,000.

Landmark Homes' Artis features art-inspired, 925-to-1,900-square-foot luxury townhomes styled with New York flair. They have open-concept designs, with walkout basements and glass-panelled balconies for residents to savour the views. Prices start at $355,000 for stacked layouts and $450,000 for double-car-garage layouts, including GST.

Madison Avenue Group is redefining executive living through their New York-inspired Hudson West bespoke townhomes located in the heart of Greenwich. Ranging from 1,284 to 1,755 square feet, each incudes a double-attached garage and a personalized design experience. They're currently priced at $379,900 to $619,900 and up.

Greenwich's urban-village convenience means residents can meet their daily needs within the neighbourhood, thanks to its boutique shopping, restaurant and café offerings. One major draw for residents and visitors alike will be the Calgary Farmers' Market West, set to open in 2021.

"We will be hosting pop-up Calgary Farmers' Market events again in 2020, one each month from the end of May until mid-September," said Backhouse. "We will be announcing several other tenants as well."