Avalon’s sold-out ZEN in Airdrie was such a success that they are bringing the product to this exclusive enclave where estate homes predominate, and this location’s ease-of-life convenience is a big factor in establishing the balanced living everyone is looking for.

“Aspen Hills is a very self-contained community with loads of amenities; groceries, schools and the Westside Recreation Centre are all nearby,” says Avalon’s Customer Experience Manager, Terra Davidson.

“Our ZEN townhomes in Aspen Hills gives people the chance to live affordably in one of the most sought after neighbourhoods in west Calgary. Townhomes that match the exclusivity of the community with a contemporary feel and an emphasis on a lovely exterior with cedar shakes and stone accents, and most of all are friendly to the environment.”

There will be 60 units in total for ZEN in Aspen Hills spread out over seven buildings, and construction will start by September this year and first possessions should be ready by spring of 2010, she says. A show suite should be available on-site for the public by March next year.

One of the unique features of ZEN is that each unit will have an individually fenced backyard, which gives more freedom to owners. “It’s a really popular feature and not a lot of other townhome projects have this. A lot of our buyers have pets or small children and having this standard feature gives them a better sense of security, one less thing to worry about,” Davidson adds.

Another distinguishing feature is the ‘green-ness’ of ZEN. A BuiltGreen™ member, Avalon’s homes are certified to have an EnerGuide rating of at least 83 (on an energy-efficient scale of 0 to 100) – qualifying every ZEN owner to a $3,000 rebate from the Province of Alberta and Climate Change Central and even a 10 per cent rebate from CMHC (if they use CMHC financing) . Walls have R-27 insulation to mitigate heat-loss, dual-pane Argon-filled windows, Energy Star-certified appliances, and heat recovery ventilators, which allow the house to breathe. Avalon also uses low VOC (volatile organic compound) paints and adhesives.

“Buyers actually have the option of raising the EnerGuide rating to 86+ which would qualify owners to increase their rebate from the province of Alberta to $10,000 after they move in,” Davidson says.

For ZEN, the master builder also uses Earthscape flooring, an alternative to hardwood that still gives a feeling of sophistication and elegance. “It goes through the whole main floor and gives the open design that free flowing feeling,” she adds.

ZEN in Aspen Hills has five designs (two exterior and three interior) to choose from, starting from 1,100 square-feet to 1,200 square-feet, with two or three bedrooms with one-and-a-half and two-and-a-half bathroom options. These are two-storey townhomes with an option to develop the basement for optimum living flexibility. Starting at the $260,000s, ZEN in Aspen Hills is a very affordable option.

“We have a really open floor plan, a very modern design, a very contemporary feel,” Davidson says. “But the best thing is that our standard package is already pretty comprehensive and there really isn’t that much need to upgrade, so those on a budget know they can get tremendous value in these townhomes.”

She adds that they tend to attract a young crowd of professionals, young couples and singles just starting out in life. “We also have plans that have two master bedrooms, which lend quite well to renting out some space to roommates.”

Pre-sales are going briskly, and Davidson says interested parties can grab this opportunity by registering at http://www.zeninbalance.com. “Of course, buying early will entitle you to a price incentive,” she points out.

“Find the right balance with ZEN townhomes in Aspen Hills — home ownership is green and that leaves more green in your bank account. These certified BuiltGreen™ townhomes provide lots of room for kids, hobbies and family dinners. The very cool standard finishes are available in a choice of four designer colour palettes.”