Sierra Gardens in Woodland Park, by Vancouver-based Platinum Properties Group Corporation, offers a great mix. Nestled within an established community and just a short walk from Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club and Fish Creek Park, Sierra Gardens offers value at an affordable price.

“Our main goal (in developing Sierra Gardens) was to have the high quality of craftsmanship and finishing without the excessive pricing,” says Tanya Stewart, project manager with Platinum Properties.

The conversion project, located at the corner of Woodview Drive and Woodpark Boulevard S.W., will feature 144 two-bedroom, one-bathroom units, ranging in size from 869- to 1,136-square-feet, with pricing starting under $300,000. Of the 144 stacked townhomes, 96 are two-storey units and another 48 are main-floor units; 36 units comprise the first phase, released in late August.

The project is currently in the midst of renovation and construction. The homes are being completely updated, with new kitchens and bathrooms and rejuvenated living rooms and bedrooms, and open layouts making maximum use of the space.

Modernized kitchens will feature Euro-style cabinetry and standard Maytag appliances with a Samsung over-the-range microwave. Available in two colour schemes, the homes will include ceramic tile and carpet throughout, with optional upgrades to laminate flooring available, as well as Delta and American Standard fixtures and tile backsplash and tub surround. Each home at Sierra Gardens also includes a Maytag washer and dryer, with an option to upgrade to Frigidaire.

There are two configurations: the first, a main-floor, two-bedroom, one-bathroom floor plan with an open layout, office nook and patio, and the second, a two-storey, two-bedroom, one-bathroom floor plan that sits above the main floor plan. In the two-storey plan, the bedrooms and bathroom are located on the top floor, with the kitchen and dining nook, living room and balcony and storage and laundry on the first floor. Some select plans also feature a balcony off the main bedroom. There are a number of variations on the basic plan, but the units are, in all, quite similar. Two floor plans, one of each type, are open for viewing as show suites.

The exterior of the project is also receiving a facelift, with fresh paint and new roofs, fencing, landscaping and entrance signage. A new private playground is also being installed onsite.

The first possessions at Sierra Gardens are expected in late 2007, with full completion of the project slated for summer
or fall 2008.

As Stewart points out, the location of the project is a major bonus. “It is an outstanding area of Calgary,” she says of Woodlands. “During the week you can enjoy the city, and on the weekends spend time outdoors by golfing or hiking in Fish Creek Park, which you know is a green space that won’t be taken away.”

Platinum Properties deals in property management, investor services and property acquisitions, and has developed conversion projects across Canada. This is their first project in Calgary. “We’re thrilled to be in Calgary and break the soil here,” says Stewart.