FFWD REW

It takes homes to raise a village

This post is sponsored by East Village/CMLC

There has been a considerable amount of talk of late about restaurants bars coffee shops bakeries parks brand new bridges and shopping centres in East Village. It’s all part of creating a community that serves the need of its inhabitants. But what of the most important aspect of living in East Village: the homes?

“We have a substantial position in East Village ;so we’re going to be there for the long run” says Fred Serrafero vice president of development and construction for FRAM+Slokker. “A couple of years ago we opened our sales program and the first condo was appropriately named FIRST and that condo has actually sold out now and is well under construction — we’re reaching rooftop by the end of this month.”

FRAM+Slokker was one of the first developers to set up shop in East Village taking a chance on a fledgling neighbourhood that was more idea than anything else. The company’s success mirrors that of Embassy BOSA the first developer to jump on board with its Evolution condominium project.

“This past summer we finished selling out Fuse. Both the full tower and the podium suites are 100 per cent sold out so we’re very excited about that” says Robert Marchand vice president of sales and marketing at Embassy BOSA. “That was a little bit over a two-year process for us. Pulse which is our second tower is right behind that in sales. So we’re down to our last homes there”

Both companies realized the potential of the area recognizing the work of Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) in drawing a welcoming map on East Village’s blank canvas.

“It’s always risky going into a large venture and these projects are big deals — big costs big risks market fluctuations there are a lot things that are outside of the developer’s control — but I think with CMLC doing an amazing job of providing clarity around the vision for the community and getting it ready for investment by developers

like ourselves really helped minimize the feeling of that risk” says Marchand.

Currently FRAM+Slokker is planning to welcome occupants into FIRST — which features rooftop amenities for residents giving everyone a penthouse view — by the summer of next year and is planning to start construction on its latest project Verve by next spring.

A 290 unit building Verve sits on The Riff a diagonal pedestrian walkway that will feature restaurants cafes and shops. The building is already almost 50 per cent sold according to Serrafero.

Embassy BOSAosa working hard on Fuse and Pulse and the podium garden that will give residents a view of the Bow River the Simmons Building and St. Patrick’s Island is also looking toward their next project a partnership with RioCan that will see two more towers rising above a new shopping centre complete with a Loblaw’s Market grocery store.

“I hope that this politely shows the confidence of East Village to anybody who may have questions about it” says Marchand. “It’s here it’s going to be amazing and people are putting their money where their mouths are.”

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