University District is a major development on 200 acres of land in northwest Calgary by West Campus Development Trust.

It will eventually be home to 7,100 residential units, 300,000 square feet of retail, 1.5 million square feet of office space, and 40 acres of parkland and open space.

Here are five new things happening in University District:

In a market flush with oversupply and lingering economic difficulties, condo builders need to stand out from the crowd to reach potential buyers.

While some offer trips to Las Vegas or New York to seal the deal, two of Calgary's longtime builders say the key to success in today's market is good developments with incentives that help a buyer's financial bottom line.

Avi Urban, the multi-family arm of award-winning builder Homes by Avi, has recently launched two innovative projects in Calgary's new northern community of Livingston.

Couple nearing retirement secured lifestyle close to family and amenities with new-build condo

Dragica and Ron Presiloski are nearing retirement and looking to move closer to family. The couple is still working full-time – Dragica in dentistry and Ron in commercial water treatment. They've been living in Regina for several years, where they own a condo, but their son and his wife reside in Calgary, as do most of the couple's extended family. So, it was a natural progression for the Presiloskis to begin their home search here.

Industry spokesperson says construction fund largely going unused

Players in one of the city's most active multi-family construction areas have made limited use of a cash-for-density fund established by the City of Calgary, says a spokesperson for the industry.

While a number of projects have been brought forward related to the Beltline Community Investment Fund (BCIF), the CHBA-UDI Calgary Region Association, the umbrella organization for the builders and developers in and around Calgary, is scratching its head about why the fund hasn't been used more.

Livingston to eventually house 30,000 people

Calgary's newest community came online this week as Brookfield Residential lifted the veil on its new Livingston development in the city's north that, when completed, will house as many as 30,000 people.

Covering more than 500 hectares straddling Centre Street north of Stoney Trail, Livingston is the first master-planned community in north Calgary within the past 20 years. It will include an estimated 10,000 homes, and will be anchored by a major activity centre that will include an estimated one million square feet of retail and institutional space,

Ward 3 Coun. Jim Stevenson, who attended the official construction launch June 28, calls Livingston "a new city north of the ring road."

Broadview, Avi Urban big winners at SAM Awards

Broadview Homes and Avi Urban walked away as the big winners Saturday night as the newly amalgamated Canadian Home Builders' Associaton - Urban Development Institute Calgary Region Association held its 29th Sales and Marketing (SAM) Awards at the Telus Convention Centre.

Broadview Homes, which is part of the Qualico Group of Companies, took home Builder of the Year honours, while Avi Urban, a division of Homes by Avi, captured Mult-Family Builder of Year.

Broadview also won in three categories for single-family homes, while Avi Urban won in two individual categories.

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).