The Patios is a 59-townhome project slated to break ground this spring in the family-friendly Hopewell community of Sagewood in Airdrie.

Floor plans will borrow names from floral varieties, to stress a connection between the development and the park-like setting the site backs on to, says Diane MacLeod, director of operations at Beattie Homes.  And true to the project’s name, buyers will have scores of park to kick back in next door paired with patios at ground level built directly into the townhome project.

“Instead of balconies, we’re going with patios at grade because we are making an effort to create outdoor living space. People can practically cover their entire yard in patio if they want,” says MacLeod. “Since we’re building the project in Sagewood, which is very family-orientated, we wanted to continue that atmosphere.”

Boasting two full bathrooms in every Patio address, each spanning 1,250 to 1,450 square feet, floor plans are also awash in indoor living space. A bouquet of bungalow and two-storey plans are planned for the digs, which will offer buyers choices for both main-floor and second-story configurations.

“The kitchens will be a little different, and upstairs people have a choice of two master suites or a master suite and two more bedrooms. Each unit will have two bathrooms upstairs, which is virtually unheard of,” says MacLeod.

While Beattie is known for its award-winning single-family homes and villas, the advent of the Patios will open the market to a larger group. “I think it will appeal to all types of people. Empty-nesters will be drawn to it because they can be close to sons and daughters and grandkids, while kids moving out for the first-time and first-time buyers will be drawn to the price,” says MacLeod of the abodes expected to start in the low $200,000s.

A mix of attached-garage style and garageless digs are planned for Beattie’s debut townhomes, with the latter offering the benefit of natural light aplenty in the absence of up-front car storage.

While details are still being fine-tuned, would-be residents can rest assured standard fare in all Patio floorplans will be quality building materials, says MacLeod. “It will be similar to our single-family homes’ Emerald specifications. You get Beattie quality, with upgrades built into it. Our philosophy is to build a home you’d like to live in.”

Kitchen appliances, wider-profile millwork, programmable thermostats, chrome hardware, an array of lighting choices, 36-ounce carpet and a three-coat paint standard are among finishing included in the price, while Patio buyers also reap the benefits all Beattie buyers share with use of the Elements Design Studio as a venue to make selections.

Two-storey suites will offer up extra room – about 500 square feet – in basements for storage or beefing up development immediately or down the road. A handful of bungalow plans are also in the works for those who prefer to leave stair climbing to their neighbours.

Meanwhile, those worried about hearing fellow Patio residents can take comfort in Beattie’s building methods, which limit walls being shared between suites. “It’s not box-on-box. There is character to the outside, and even though there is a party wall, it will only be joined at the back of the house in the garage units,” says MacLeod.

And fast leaving behind its origins of sleepy bedroom community to Calgary, an Airdrie address is growing in value and amenities. “It’s definitely becoming a good alternative, with the big-box stores they have now, and you can be in Calgary faster than driving from one end of (Calgary) to the other,” says MacLeod.

Interested home shoppers can have their name added to a registration list or find out more information at Beattie’s single-family showhome (199 Sagewood Blvd.) on the Patios, earmarked to break ground in May at the east side of 24 St. on the north end of Hopewell Residential Communities’ Sagewood.  CL