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Stories Tagged - Calgary
News
Oct. 11, 2016 | CREBNow
Q&A with Eleanor Mohammed, Canadian Institute of Planners
Talking everything from what makes a great community to the favourite room in her house
What defines a great place? A mix of housing? A popular neighbourhood haunt? Walking and biking paths?
CREB® recently sat down with Eleanor Mohammed, president of the Alberta Professional Planners Institute and a director for the Canadian Institute of Planners, which organizes the annual Great Places competition. Here's what she had to say:
CREB®Now: Tell us a bit more about the Great Places competition?
What defines a great place? A mix of housing? A popular neighbourhood haunt? Walking and biking paths?
CREB® recently sat down with Eleanor Mohammed, president of the Alberta Professional Planners Institute and a director for the Canadian Institute of Planners, which organizes the annual Great Places competition. Here's what she had to say:
CREB®Now: Tell us a bit more about the Great Places competition?
News
May 17, 2016 | Jamie Zachary
Story in the making
Over the past five decades, Calgary's real estate industry has been bare to it all – from double-digit interest rates to densification. Starting today, CREB®Now will weave together an incredible narrative of how the local housing industry has evolved through the unique perspectives of CREB®'s 30 remaining past presidents.
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Change can be hard.
It can be messy.
It can be painful.
But it can also be necessary.
And with perspective, it can be the best thing that ever happens.
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Change can be hard.
It can be messy.
It can be painful.
But it can also be necessary.
And with perspective, it can be the best thing that ever happens.
News
May 06, 2016 | Cailynn Klingbeil
55 Years of Real Estate: 1961 CREB® president Roy Wilson
Real estate industry has undergone monumental shift, says CREB®'s longest-tenured past president
When Roy Wilson describes the early days in the 1950s in which he got his start in real estate, it quickly becomes clear just how much Calgary and the real estate industry has changed in one lifetime.
"I've seen lots of ups and downs," said Wilson, who headed up CREB®'s board of directors in 1961, officially making him the organization's longest-tenured past president.
In fact, he describes today's market as "taking a kick in the teeth" but, adds confidently, "it's going to turn around."
When Roy Wilson describes the early days in the 1950s in which he got his start in real estate, it quickly becomes clear just how much Calgary and the real estate industry has changed in one lifetime.
"I've seen lots of ups and downs," said Wilson, who headed up CREB®'s board of directors in 1961, officially making him the organization's longest-tenured past president.
In fact, he describes today's market as "taking a kick in the teeth" but, adds confidently, "it's going to turn around."
News
April 01, 2016 | Lindsay Holden
A bit of everything
Bearspaw, Springbank appealing to a more diverse sect of buyers
Long admired for its opulence, the communities of Bearspaw and Springbank just outside of Calgary's northwest border are now attracting a wider range of buyers who are looking for a bit of everything, say industry professionals.
"Years ago, the area was big into horse culture – everyone wanted to buy a pony for their teenaged daughter. Now, it is more about organized sports, family vacations," said Jeff Neustaedter, a real estate professional whose office last year saw 35 transactions above the $1.1-million mark in Bearspaw alone, ranging from 40-hectare sites to secluded parcels.
While the area between Calgary and Cochrane has always been known for its stately homes, McKinley Masters Custom Homes owner Mark Kwasnicki noted homeowners want more these days – they want space to stretch their legs, but also to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Long admired for its opulence, the communities of Bearspaw and Springbank just outside of Calgary's northwest border are now attracting a wider range of buyers who are looking for a bit of everything, say industry professionals.
"Years ago, the area was big into horse culture – everyone wanted to buy a pony for their teenaged daughter. Now, it is more about organized sports, family vacations," said Jeff Neustaedter, a real estate professional whose office last year saw 35 transactions above the $1.1-million mark in Bearspaw alone, ranging from 40-hectare sites to secluded parcels.
While the area between Calgary and Cochrane has always been known for its stately homes, McKinley Masters Custom Homes owner Mark Kwasnicki noted homeowners want more these days – they want space to stretch their legs, but also to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
News
March 18, 2016 | Cody Stuart
Stadium Shopping Centre
Now the subject of a formal application for a development permit, the Stadium Shopping Centre redevelopment in northwest Calgary could be one step closer to reality. That hasn't stopped a group of concerned University Heights residents from expressing their concern that the massive project, as is, will create significant traffic flow concerns in the community. Spearheaded by four professors at the University of Calgary, the group recently issued a 15-page report catalogues a number of issues that are being supported by the University Heights Community Association. CREB®Now takes a look at some of those concerns.
News
March 11, 2016 | CREBNow
Best of housing industry recognized
95 companies announced as 2015 SAM Awards finalists
Nearly 100 companies and professionals in the Calgary and area's residential construction industry were recognized Thursday as the newly amalgamated CHBA – UDI Calgary Region Association announced finalists for the 2015 Sales and Marketing (SAM) Awards.
The 29th annual awards, which celebrates and acknowledges innovation and excellence in the industry, will hand out 60 piece of hardware, including the top Grand SAMs – three builder categories (Builder of the Year, Builder of Merit for a small-volume builder and Multi-Family Builder of the Year).
Nearly 100 companies and professionals in the Calgary and area's residential construction industry were recognized Thursday as the newly amalgamated CHBA – UDI Calgary Region Association announced finalists for the 2015 Sales and Marketing (SAM) Awards.
The 29th annual awards, which celebrates and acknowledges innovation and excellence in the industry, will hand out 60 piece of hardware, including the top Grand SAMs – three builder categories (Builder of the Year, Builder of Merit for a small-volume builder and Multi-Family Builder of the Year).
News
Feb. 26, 2016 | Donna Balzer
Mineralize your soil to grow better food
A sneak peek into this year's Home & Garden Show
If you could grow healthy lettuce with the same protein value as steak, would you? After all, according to Steve Solomon, author of The Intelligent Gardener, it's possible to grow lettuce with 20 per cent protein simply by mineralizing your soil.
Solomon mocks garden writers, myself included. He says, in a long and thorough way, most of us do not replace the minerals in the soil at the same ratio we take them out when we harvest plants.
So I decided to test my soil recently, and I got some bad news.
My problem is I am afraid to pollute the soil with excess fertilizers, so I add only natural ingredients like compost and worm castings. Solomon, who used to be an organic farmer, says compost is not enough. The soil system is broken and compost alone will not put our humpty dumpty soil together again.
If you could grow healthy lettuce with the same protein value as steak, would you? After all, according to Steve Solomon, author of The Intelligent Gardener, it's possible to grow lettuce with 20 per cent protein simply by mineralizing your soil.
Solomon mocks garden writers, myself included. He says, in a long and thorough way, most of us do not replace the minerals in the soil at the same ratio we take them out when we harvest plants.
So I decided to test my soil recently, and I got some bad news.
My problem is I am afraid to pollute the soil with excess fertilizers, so I add only natural ingredients like compost and worm castings. Solomon, who used to be an organic farmer, says compost is not enough. The soil system is broken and compost alone will not put our humpty dumpty soil together again.
News
Feb. 26, 2016 | CREBNow
Alberta cities still among fastest-growing centres in Canada
Calgary, Edmonton tied for second
Calgary continued to be one of Canada's fastest-growing cities in 2015.
Growing in size even in the face of a struggling energy sector, Calgary tied with Edmonton as the second- fastest-growing cities in all of Canada.
According to Statistics Canada, Calgary and Edmonton posted identical population gains of 2.4 per cent between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015, placing the two centres behind only Kelowna, B.C. as the fastest-growing cities in Canada.
The average growth nationwide was 1.2 per cent, with five centres (Thunder Bay Ont., Peterborough Ont., Saguenay Que., Sudbury Ont., Saint John NB) posting populations declines over the surveyed period.
Calgary continued to be one of Canada's fastest-growing cities in 2015.
Growing in size even in the face of a struggling energy sector, Calgary tied with Edmonton as the second- fastest-growing cities in all of Canada.
According to Statistics Canada, Calgary and Edmonton posted identical population gains of 2.4 per cent between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015, placing the two centres behind only Kelowna, B.C. as the fastest-growing cities in Canada.
The average growth nationwide was 1.2 per cent, with five centres (Thunder Bay Ont., Peterborough Ont., Saguenay Que., Sudbury Ont., Saint John NB) posting populations declines over the surveyed period.
News
Feb. 26, 2016 | CREBNow
Uber says it's out after council decision
Company says Calgary too cost-prohibitive
Calgary city council voted Monday 14-1 in favour of new ride-sharing regulations that will require more rigorous licensing, background checks and inspections.
Yet U.S.-based Uber said the model is cost prohibitive and that the draft bylaw will run the company out of Calgary.
"It's a really unfortunate day for riders and drivers in Calgary," Ramit Kar, Uber's general manager for Alberta, told reporters. "For riders, there's no longer going to be an option that they've been asking for to get transported around the city."
In a statement on Twitter Monday night, the company added that, "it's unfortunate to see#yyccc vote for regulations that prevent the return of ridesharing to Calgary. "We'll continue to advocate for solutions that create jobs for drivers & affordable transportation options for the public. "
Calgary city council voted Monday 14-1 in favour of new ride-sharing regulations that will require more rigorous licensing, background checks and inspections.
Yet U.S.-based Uber said the model is cost prohibitive and that the draft bylaw will run the company out of Calgary.
"It's a really unfortunate day for riders and drivers in Calgary," Ramit Kar, Uber's general manager for Alberta, told reporters. "For riders, there's no longer going to be an option that they've been asking for to get transported around the city."
In a statement on Twitter Monday night, the company added that, "it's unfortunate to see