First Time Home Buyers – The Edmonton Sun, Thursday, October 20, 2005
By GARY MCGOWAN
Special to The Sun

The South Terwillegar community made an immediate impression on the southwest Edmonton new home market when it opened this spring.

"We're well through Stage One," reports Chris Wright of MLC Land, "and Stage Two - is coming on right away." The community is located south of 23 Avenue on the west side of Rabbit Hill Road. It blends the location and high level of amenity expected of a southwest Edmonton neighbourhood with a measure of affordability that is not always associated with this area of the city.

When South Terwillegar (visit the website at southterwillegar.com) opened Pacesetter and Greenboro Master Builders along with Challenger and Look Homes were creating a selection of front attached garage homes.

"We started with 107 lots," says Wright, "and we've gone through them at a fair clip. There are not many left."

Striking features

MLC Land (who are developing South Terwillegar jointly with JCA Financial) stayed as busy as the builders.

"We completed all the entry features, finished the storm pond and the trail system along Rabbit Hill Road is largely done as well," says Wright.

That trail system will eventually run through and around all of South Terwillegar and provide connections to neighbouring communities and the city's larger network of trails.

Stage Two of the neighbourhood is going to introduce rear detached garage housing into the community.

"Lincolnberg Homes has 26 lots all facing the storm pond," says Wright, "on which they'll build this style of housing." Prices on that home product will begin in the $180's.

"The rest of our builder group will continue to construct front attached garage homes on 91 new lots in Stage Two," he adds.

South Terwillegar is being developed under "heritage" themed architectural guidelines.

Established feeling

"We use a lot of stone and natural building materials in the community because we want to create a certain harmony with the impressive natural surroundings and make this immediately feel like an established community. From your first visit," he adds, " South Terwillegar should feel like home." This approach to developing South Terwillegar seems to have struck a chord with new homebuyers. With more than two hundred lots on the market since opening day, the demand for a home in this neighbourhood has been impressive.

"I can reassure anyone who's worried about it that there are no signs of the housing market softening here at all," says Wright.

He expects the robust level of growth in South Terwillegar and Edmonton in general to continue.

Infrastructure development around South Terwillegar has continued for several years - making the community an even more attractive place to live.

" Rabbit Hill Road is completed past Stages One and Two," confirms Wright.

" Anthony Henday Drive near our community is going to open next year which will alleviate traffic congestion in the southwest. There is also the continuing commercial development at 23 Avenue .and Rabbit Hill Road to enjoy." The upscale boutique properties on that site include Starbucks, Sobey's, a wine and liquor store and Ric's Grill.

Taken as a whole, South Terwillegar's high level of urban design, location and nearby amenities make it a highly desirable community in which to live.

The addition of a rear detached garage housing option will- expects Chris Wright - draw even more people to this southwest Edmonton new home community.