A new 153-acre neighbourhood will soon be under construction on the edge of St. Albert.
The Club and Residences of River’s Gate will consist of 93 estate lots – each half an acre in size or more – with seven acres of park space and 78 acres of environmental reserve.
The community will border the Sturgeon Golf and Country Club to the east, the Sturgeon River to the north and Riverlot 56 to the west.
Being so close to St. Albert, the neighbourhood will combine the amenities of city living and owning a country acreage, said Katrina Rowe, project manager for Beaverbrook Developments.
“Everyone will be really close to services and St. Albert schools if they so choose,” said Rowe.
“Obviously, it’s close to the main road which is great too. A large number of the lots back on the Sturgeon River and an environmental reserve. So those lots will have an absolutely phenomenal view.”
Rowe said the project has been in the works for six years. The subdivision was recently approved by Sturgeon County, and Beaverbrook is now awaiting approval of its engineering plans.
Construction of streets, landscaping, lights and services may get underway by May 1, with the first owners expected to build houses in the fall.
The cost for individual lots will range from $300,000 to $600,000, depending on location.
Some are within the community, backing onto other properties. The more expensive lots will overlook the river.
Rowe said Beaverbrook was looking into planting mature trees and offering high quality fencing, lighting, landscaping and possible water features, such as waterfalls and streams.
“We really want this community to be a showpiece for us, a signature development,” she said.
Rowe added that all residences would be estate homes.
Builders have to follow certain standards and requirements on the level of detail, but will be free to choose the style of their house.
“We will allow almost any type of style provided they build true to that style,” she said.
“If it’s a modern style then it must be a modern house. If it’s colonial it must fit the description of a colonial house.”
If you wonder why it’s called “The Club,” Rowe said there’s some consideration to gating one half of the community to give it a club-like feel.
That means residents would require a pass or key to enter the gated area.
Rowe said demand for the gate is high. Gated communities often come with a homeowner’s association that provides snow removal and lawn care.
Other Beaverbrook communities work with the concept already, and many people are choosing it for safety and privacy reasons.
“From our experience in other communities, people purchasing and building homes of this size frequently like to have that gate because you get a lot of people just driving around to look at the houses,” she said.
“And I think (the owners) like to have it a little more exclusive, feeling a little more secure.”
With part of the neighbourhood backing on to a golf course, Rowe said the developer added 50 metres of buffer zone “just in case there happen to be any balls that come close.”
The buffer zone will be a park space with trees and greenery, possibly including a walking path with access to the river.
“It runs parallel to the golf course so it would be quite surprising if that many balls go in that direction,” Rowe said.
“They might get the odd golf ball that rolls up their property but I don’t think the balls will be flying high in the air. Certainly much less than on the golf course.”
Seventeen of the lots are reserved already and Rowe said it’s a great time for the public to get into the market and choose the right builder for their home.
Beaverbrook currently offers a 10-per-cent, pre-construction discount on all lot prices.
The community will also be connected to 127 Street. Rowe said Beaverbrook took the future road re-alignment planned by Sturgeon County into consideration when planning the neighbourhood.
The road will be re-aligned to connect to Sturgeon Road and the Anthony Henday highway to the south.
“(Lots backing on to the road) will probably not be the first lots we sell but I want to reassure people that there will be some type of noise attenuation fence there,” Rowe said.
“The road will be higher than where the houses are situated so there will be a little bit of a barrier. But it’s certainly a convenience for people living here.”
