Inner-city upsizing

Geoff Snider and Micaela Mailath found the perfect mix of size and location in South Calgary townhome

Geoff Snider and Micaela Mailath are "downtown people" who appreciate living in an area with a cosmopolitan vibe – close to restaurants, pubs and grocery stores. But they also love nature and what Calgary has to offer when it comes to sports. In fact, Snider is a former professional lacrosse player, who currently plays on Team Canada. He is also an entrepreneur with two businesses. Both he and Micaela, who is in sales, work from home, so when their 600-square-foot Eau Claire condo started to feel a little cramped, they began looking for a larger space. They found the perfect mix of size and location in South Calgary, where they purchased a townhome by inner-city homebuilder RNDSQR. CREB®Now: What attracted you to RNDSQR?

Geoff Snider: I had become friends with (Alkarim Devani, the founder of RNDSQR). He wanted to start training, and I was playing pro sports at the time, so I connected him with a strength coach of mine and we just became really good friends. At about the same time, we were looking to move and we thought, "we really like this guy and what their brand is all about and we like their design," and it was a good fit for us in a neighbourhood that we wanted to be in. I think Micaela and I would both agree that we are not suburb people, so this was a perfect mix. It's close to the amenities in Marda Loop, but also well located to access points to get out of the city to nature and parks.

CREB®Now: Can you describe your home and some of the features that you really like?

Geoff Snider: The home is 1,300 square feet above ground with more living space in the lower level. It's designed really well. It's functional and it's easy. I love having people over and I am proud of how cool it is. It's a really progressive design. The finishes are really high level. The home is very technologically advanced, with a NEST thermostat, Schloss smart lock and Ring video doorbell, so I don't even use keys anymore. We made a few changes. We added a steam shower in the master ensuite, and we created an office and a large master with ensuite and walk-in closet instead of three bedrooms. My favourite part of the main floor is the tile fireplace surround. It's so beautiful. It's just really nice to come home to something that you love and that you love being in. The great thing about RNDSQR is that they have such good style.

CREB®Now: What are some of the aspects that make the home sustainable?

Geoff Snider: It is really all about the design. We are the most-northern unit in a pod of four townhomes. On the east side of the building are the garages running east and west. Each home has its own back patio, but then we share an open common space. It's a place where we all hang out with each other and chat. The design fosters a real sense of community and our neighbours are wonderful – all young professionals.

This year, we partnered with YYC Growers, so we had raised beds in the common space and in return we got a harvest box.