Inner-city homeowners look up, not out

Good things come in threes – or so goes the superstition.

Calgary's homebuilding industry seems to have taken this to heart, with three-storey infill homes emerging as a solution to what experts say is growing demand for "vertical" detached living options in inner-city communities.

"It is very cost effective to build up versus build out," said Ron Butler, president of New West Luxury Estate Homes, which builds about 10 infills per year. "And building out is not an option given the limits of the lot."

The City of Calgary currently limits the amount of land a home can occupy in a given lot, ranging from 40 to 50 per cent, depending on its zoning and size. Three-story homes provide a solution to providing additional living space where that ratio is already being tested, said Butler.

Construction falls by $135 million

Alberta homebuilders were a little more cautious in January, as new housing construction fell by $135 million in January compared to the same month last year, according to Statistics Canada.

By percentage, Alberta's 16 per cent decline placed it around the middle when compared to other provinces (spending in Saskatchewan fell by 31 per cent). Based on dollar figures, however, the provincial decline was tops in the country.

Nationally, spending on new residential building construction totalled $3.9 billion in December, up 4.8 per cent from the same month a year earlier.

Calgary Municipal Land Corp. and Calgary Stampede team up on Stampede Park

Already responsible for reshaping Calgary's blighted East Village into one of the city's most transformative neighbourhoods, Calgary Municipal Land Corp. (CMLC) is now teaming up with the Calgary Stampede to help energize plans for a "grander" Stampede Park.

Neighbours since CMLC began redeveloping the once-blighted east end, a newly signed memorandum of understanding will see the two companies collaborate on the advancement of Stampede Park's master plan, including the redevelopment the languishing Victoria Park neighbourhood.

"It is a natural partnership," said CMLC vice-president Susan Veres. "CMLC has a specialty in development and they have a specialty in operating a world-class venue and event, so why not help them (Stampede) with the realization of their master plan since [our] master plan is in full swing?"

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.

Reinvigorate your space with a personal hue

There's nothing like a downturn in the economy to make you rethink your priorities.

Yet you don't have to give up on great style. Instead, you just have to find new ways of spending less on great things, as well as you determine what can and cannot live without – in other words, become a creative director of your own fabulous space.

Start with the backdrop. There isn't much that invigorates a room more than a fresh new coat of colour. I have my go-to colours, which are tried and true: timeless shades of whites and grays; greens and blues that evoke serenity, soulfulness and calm.

If you want a hint of glam or mood, be brave choose a saturated palette. Use a rebellious colour, introducing a passionate and romantic mix that will add sophistication and attitude to your room. Paint a master bathroom with deep turquoise blue high gloss so candlelight reflects off the walls, impersonating that of a moonlit ocean.

Want to bloom your own bounty? Here are four things to do to get your garden ready

Not much can beat a ripe, juicy tomato picked fresh from the vine, or a crisp cucumber that packs a nutritious crunch. Homegrown veggies are delicious, nutritious and cost-effective.

Yet as Calgarians also know, there's a small window in which to grow their bounty.

That's why those with a green thumb like to plan out their seasonal gardens – from determining the garden's design to, of course, choosing the variety of crops – to make the most out of the planting and growing season.

If this is your first crack at planting and you're not sure how to get started, don't be intimidated, said Chelsie Anderson, owner and operator of Chelsie Squared Gardening.

Community cites lack of consultation

A bike lane proposed for northwest Calgary is meeting with some controversy from area residents who say the new lane could lead to increased traffic and parking woes.

While the new lane is intended to connect the city's growing cycle network from existing tracks along Northland Drive and Cambrian Drive/10th Street N.W., residents expressed concerns at a recent open house.

Toni Pilkey, president of the Triwood Community Association, said to those in attendance that the project has not undergone enough consultation with area residents and that the City is being "underhanded" in moving the project forward.

In October 2011, The City installed the bike lanes on 10th Street N.W., between Fifth Avenue N.W. and Cambrian Drive/Northmount Drive N.W., as part of a pilot project. The City monitored and evaluated the new roadway design for the next four seasons, and based on increased ridership, determined the bike lanes should be permanent.

La Vita Land to redevelop historic site

The Town of Cochrane announced Tuesday that it has sold its old town hall site to local developer La Vita Land Inc. for $2.75 million.

La Vita will redevelop the site to act as a "gateway and visual welcome to the heart of Cochrane, including the historic downtown area, from Highway 1A via Centre Avenue," said the Town in a release.

Council approved a framework for development, creating the Downtown Heritage District in 2015, that led to the call for proposals.

Behind-the-scene details of how communities in Calgary come to life

For casual observers, it might appear that new neighbourhoods just sprout from the ground overnight.

In fact, those first show homes only come after years of planning and negotiation.

"When people see the graders out there, people think that's the start of a community, but it starts long before," said Brookfield Residential senior manager of strategic initiatives Grace Lui.

In the case of Brookfield's up-and-coming Livingston development in north Calgary, for example, grading might have started this year, but land acquisition took place 15 years ago. The new community, which will be comprised of 10,000 homes on 514 hectares of land just north of Stoney Trail, will welcome its first show homes in 2017.

'Wholly inadequate' for some key segments

A new study is painting a frightening picture of the financial preparedness for those nearing retirement in Canada.

According to the Broadbent Institute, the value of retirement assets of those aged 55 to 64 without an employer pension – representing about half in this age cohort in Canada – is "wholly inadequate," with a median value of only $250 for those earning between $25,000 and $50,000 and $21,000 for those with incomes in the $50,000-$100,000 range.

"This new data on retirement savings and gaps in support makes one thing perfectly clear – we have a retirement income crisis on our hands that requires urgent government action now," said Rick Smith, executive director of the Broadbent Institute.