July 2018

188 189 our city plan,we have a policy requiring 10 acres of open space per 1,000 residents.When you include our municipal reserve park space, our environmen- tal reserve park space, and other public spaces,we are right at that ratio.” Airdrie’s downtown plan–originally done in 1999 and updated in 2008–includes about 200 acres for the core area. Utz recalls,“In January and March 2017,we did a public visioning exercise for what our downtown could be.We asked people to point out what they understand to be ‘downtown’ to them. They identified approximately 50 acres of develop- ment around Main Street as the core. So, Council has authorized us to do a new downtown plan and we’ll be keeping those visioning results in mind as we move forward.” Close to 70 percent of the city’s housing inventory are single family homes, though multi-family units have increased in the last five years–as a result of increased supply and demand.“Airdrie was tradition- ally a community where you moved out to buy a big house on a big lot to raise your family,” says Rupert. “Certainly our prices are a bit cheaper than Calgary, but we’re starting to catch up on the variety being offered as well. I also think it reflects on lifestyle -Millennials don’t necessarily want the big house with the yard.We’re starting to see empty nesters and the senior population increase-Grandma and Grandpa moving to the city. So, I would say we have a fairly balanced housing option for residents.” As part of its effort to facilitate that range of hous- ing choice, the City adopted a new Land Use Bylaw in 2016 that included provisions to allow secondary suites (such as basement suites), as well as support- Hours of Operation: Monday to Thursday - 2 to 8 pm | Saturday, Sunday & Holidays - 12 to 5 pm www.MIDTOWNinAIRDRIE.com 403-980-7228 403-536-2312 403-980-9549 Promenade + Sitting Area Tot Lot Park, Walking Paths + Greenspace Shopping Centre AIRDRIE’S NEWEST AMENITY RICH COMMUNITY FEATURES Pond & Pedestrian Bridge · Promenade + Sitting Area Tot Lot Park · Walking Paths + Greenspace · Shopping Centre LOCATED IN THE HEART OF AIRDRIE From Calgary - take hwy 2 north, head east on Yankee Valley Blvd then turn north on 8th Street. AIRDRIE’S NEWEST AMENITY RICH COMMUNITY AIRDRIE, ALBERTA ive housing and freehold townhouses throughout the city.Also, stemming from the Sustainability Plan, Airdrie City Council adopted a Waterworks Bylaw with conservation measures, including requirements for low-flow fixtures in all new developments and subtle incentives for drought resistant landscaping via the new Land Use Bylaw. Even in the downturned economy,Airdrie is hav- ing substantial population growth.Two years ago, the growth rate was 5.32 percent; last year, 4.92 percent, and there is strong continuing growth of about eight or nine people per day. Development is booming in the communities of Bayside,Windsong, SouthWindsong, Kings Heights, and Ravenswood. And plans were recently adopted for three new communities: Cobblestone Creek and Chinook Gate in the southwest, and Lanark Lake in the southeast. The latter will be Airdrie’s first recreational lake community, replete with a man-made lake and a total of three quarter sections of development devoted exclusively towards that community and recreational lake. To satisfy the city’s sports enthusiasts, Genesis Place, the main recreation facility, houses six types