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.

University research looks at solar solutions to multi-storey challenges

New research at the University of Calgary could lead to condominium and apartment high-rises being retrofitted to become energy-efficient and green-energy-producing buildings.

Caroline Hachem-Vermette, an assistant professor of architecture in the Solar Energy and Community Design Lab at the University of Calgary's Faculty of Environmental Design, is looking at new ways to optimize solar capture on multi-storey buildings to help offset their energy use.

"Most of the buildings that exist now will be existing in 50 years, so we really need to move in this direction," said Hachem-Vermette, whose interest in the area came out of wider research she did on the design of mixed-use solar communities.

University District touted as 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity'

It is the urban employment hub of northwest Calgary. And now, with a projected influx of 6,000 new residences over the next 15 years, the new University District community is slated to become the quadrant's residential core.

The first two housing developments just launched in the District — Ivy by Brookfield Residential and Noble by Truman Homes — will be uniquely positioned in the 81-hectare project between two hospitals (Foothills Medical Centre and Alberta Children's Hospital) and the University of Calgary, for potential buyers.

CMHC forecasts slowdown in new home construction

Calgary housing starts are forecast to decline for the second consecutive year in 2016, according to a new report.

In its semi-annual housing market outlook released today, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) noted reduced investments and layoffs in the energy industry due to low oil prices have spread and have impacted labour market conditions across many different industries. Elevated unemployment rates will slow down migration and income growth, while employment is expected to decline. As a result, housing demand will continue to deteriorate this year.

This, combined with a rise in inventory, will reduce the pace of new home construction. Total housing starts in 2016 will range between 8,400 and 9,400 units, down from 13,033 units in 2015.

New home industry to impact inventory, prices

Homebuyers could be in for more good news over the next several months as industry experts predict oversupply from the new home industry will create more selection and overall price softness.

"With the number of units still under construction, we do expect inventories to continue moving higher in the next couple of months," said Richard Cho, market analyst in Calgary for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC). "I think the impact that would have on the overall housing market and the resale market is more choice for buyers."

Cho added the number of units still under construction remains elevated, which will lead to the rise in inventory levels.

Several major projects in Calgary expected to capture headlines in 2016

Calgary is expected to look a lot different by the end of this year thanks to the opening of several highly anticipated developments that promise to reshape the local landscape, say officials.

"It was a good year in 2015, and the projects continue to come in for 2016," said Kevin Griffiths, director of inspections and permit service at the City of Calgary.

The National Music Centre, a new international terminal at the Calgary International Airport and the new central library are just a handful of the projects that could see their doors open in 2016.

While acknowledging downtown office construction projects have slowed, Griffiths said the pace for other commercial projects have increased. He singled out the Residence Inn by Marriott and SilverBirch Conference Centre, planned for the former site of the Alberta Boot Company on 10th Avenue S.W.

City rolls out revised waste diversion targets

The City of Calgary is rolling out revised waste diversion targets after a report labelled the previous targets as "ambitious."

The new goal, which calls for 80 per cent of Calgary's garbage to be diverted from city landfills by the year 2025, replaces the previous goal of 80 per cent by the year 2020.

According to the report's author, City of Calgary waste services planner Dick Ebersohn, the revised goal takes into account information gathered since the initial rollout, thus making it more achievable.

Lanark to house nearly 3,300 residents

Airdrie has approved the first phase of a neighbourhood structure plan in the city's southeast that will be the future home for nearly 3,300 residents.

Dubbed Lanark, the lake community will be located on a 66-hectare parcel of land south of Ravenswood and east of King's Heights and feature more than 1,200 units.

Developer Melcor Development envisions Lanark becoming Airdrie's first fresh-water lake community.

Cardel Lifestyles is enjoying a busy start to 2015. The multi-family builder has shovels in the ground at its new condo development in Auburn Bay, and recently opened new show suites in Sage Hill.

CREB®Now recently sat down with Brad Logel, sales and marketing manager for Cardel Lifestyles, to discuss everything from what's new with the company to how downsizers are shaping its business. Here's what he had to say:

CREB®Now:?What's new with Cardel Lifestyles?

Logel: We recently had the grand opening of five new condo show suites in northwest Calgary at Sage Place. We have started construction on our first condo building at Auburn Walk in southeast Calgary. We are about to release our townhomes at Cranston Ridge and our second building at Auburn Walk. Our company recently won the Homeowner Mark of Excellence for Alberta. This is awarded to the builder with the highest overall customer experience rating. This rating is based on customer surveys over a 13-month period. We also won the New Homebuyer's Choice Award earlier this year. Both of the awards are based on surveys done by Customer Insight and done for all Alberta New Home Warranty Builders and their new homeowners.

In a city renowned for its freeways and sprawling suburbs, more residents are choosing to live closer to its centre — and even forgoing hopping behind the wheel altogether

Who needs to own a car? Not Jennifer Lee.

The 21-year-old moved to Calgary two years ago to study and work in the city's burgeoning IT sector. And like a growing number of millennials, she doesn't own a car and has no plans to own one soon.

While that may not sound altogether revolutionary, Lee represents a wave of change in a city renowned for its multi-lane freeways, suburban sprawl and increasingly congested roadways.