Live among the aspen groves in new west side boutique community

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A new master-planned, boutique-style community on the edge of the city, nestled into century-old aspen groves on Calgary’s west side, broke ground last week. Brawn Landing, an exclusive development of Trico Homes, graces 33 acres on the perimeter of the established upscale community of Wentworth. Developed and built by Trico Home, this boutique-style community will offer expansive mountain views, plenty of natural beauty and walkable amenities.

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Located at the confluence of 85^th Street and 12^th Avenue S.W., adjacent to the Bow Trail Expansion, the lands, which have been owned by the Brawn family for decades (hence the name Brawn Landing), have sat untouched for years. “Wentworth has become a really special neighbourhood, but this part was missing,” says Michael Brown, president and CEO of Trico Homes.  

The community’s master-plan embraces nature and will have a vast amount of greenspace, most of it in its naturalized form. The stands of aspen trees will remain and a pathway system will be integrated throughout, linking the community together.

“I actually think that the best landscaping that you can do is really subtle and links into the wild. That’s what people want. People want to touch the outside and engage with that feeling of being in nature. I think that we will accomplish that in spades,” says Brown.

Housing types will include 33 single-family homes (nine semi-estate homes, 16 executive bungalow villas, and eight estate homes), a collection of townhomes, five- and six-storey apartment-style condominiums, along with a significant commercial component, which will be located at the podium level of the condominium projects.

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 Homes will feature traditional and timeless exterior elevations including craftsman, French Country, arts and crafts, Tudor and prairie. The exteriors will include nature-inspired colours and materials, such as Hardie board, stucco, wood components and accents and stone.

“Opportunities to build new on the west side of Calgary are becoming rare, and Brawn Landing represents one of the last pockets available — in fact, it’s the final opportunity in Wentworth. The west side has always been a coveted place for families to live, and this is also one of the last areas where you can build front-attached homes,” says Adam Zyrmirski, area sales manager for Brawn Landing.

Sales have already kicked off on the nine semi-estate lots. There are four models to choose from, including three front-drive garage models — the Springfield, a five-bedroom 2,673-square-foot home; the Greystone, a 2,902-sq.-ft. home with three bedrooms; and the Crowfoot, also three bedrooms with 2,803 sq. ft. of living space. There is also an opportunity to build the Wynwood 30, a bungalow design.

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 Trico’s commercial component will be designed to complement the existing milieu already present in Wentworth.

“Surprisingly, the west side is still under retailed. There are not as many restaurants and shops as needed. We are really focused on having great signature restaurant spaces that don’t have to necessarily be high-end, but that have a real niche to them,” says Brown, likening the vision to what is offered at University District.

Plans are also in the works for a seniors’ residence and a daycare, and Brown is hoping that by creating a proximity of the two, that the two demographics (young and older) will collide, creating a sense of connection.

Knitting together the missing pieces to create a whole community has become a signature specialty of Trico Homes.

“We are taking on these opportunities that are in parts of the city that are incomplete and it is about how do we stitch everything together. How do we build off of the vision work that was done in the past, but really add our own sense to it. We have an opportunity to do something really special here. To create community. People are really looking for that,” says Brown.

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