With more than 1,200 residential units, street-side boutique retail, professional live/work units, and master-planned recreational and plaza space, FLIGHTS is poised to become a sustainable, pedestrian-friendly community slated for building occupancy in summer 2010.

Offering both downtown skyline and breath-taking mountain views, the development in the community of Saddle Ridge will take its position as the nearest residential development to the Calgary International Airport—while remaining outside of its flight path. FLIGHTS spans 15 acres off of 84 Avenue N.E. and is bisected by a runway-style main street—48 Street N.E.

A number of major commercial developments and employment nodes sit very close to FLIGHTS, including the airport, Westwinds and Hopewell Business Parks, the Peter Lougheed Health Care Centre, and Stone Gate Landing—a $3-billion 1,100-acre commercial mega project featuring prime industrial, retail, and office space. Nearby recreational facilities include the planned multi-sport North East Community Complex and Silver Wing Golf Course.

The FLIGHTS project also connects to the regional pathway system, and is close to three proposed LRT stations, major expressways and future Airport and Stoney Trail expansions.

“We wanted to move away from the traditional big-box retail and cookie-cutter residential development that has blanketed the city’s landscape,” says Rathan Moorthy, 7S Group’s vice-president of marketing. “Residents at FLIGHTS will come home to an urban village lifestyle complete with modern and eco-friendly amenities all set within a suburban context. The demand for a quality housing choice in this quadrant of the city has never been stronger.”

Jeremy Sturgess, principal of Sturgess Architecture agrees. “This is one of the most significant projects we have worked on in a number of years. We are going to be offering a very sophisticated model for how people can live in a dense community oriented for residential development, which makes for an exciting alternative to what is typically found in suburban sprawls.”

FLIGHTS really took off in November of 2007 after a lengthy and comprehensive application process before City Council saw the developers’ application approved for land use re-designation, and the nod was given for an amendment to the Saddle Ridge Area Structure Plan to accommodate a development of this nature.

Its developers note City of Calgary senior planners have said it is unprecedented for a project to garner such a high approval rating by city planners, department heads, planning commissions, and city council, lauding the 7S Group for its diligence. The project will aim to achieve standards set by leading environmental organizations such as LEED Canada and Built Green™.

Environmental features will focus on air quality and water and energy conservation—including reduced roof heat island effect, light pollution reduction, water- efficient landscaping and xeriscaping, low-flow plumbing, efficient HVAC design, on-site storage (including bikes) and collection of recyclables.

Phase 1, the Lifestyle District, forms the major retail focus for FLIGHTS with three multi-use buildings housing approximately 300 residential units. This phase will also encompass a landmark plaza, FLIGHTS Square, which will be the epicentre of activity, and include a communal area for socializing, concerts, community events, and transit shelter.

“We worked on making the public realm one of the most distinctive parts of the development. We focused on an urban plaza at the core of the development that will be expressive of the climate and vegetation and provides a strong interface with the building,” says Bev Sandalack, principal of Sandalack and Associates, a firm focussing on urban design, landscape architecture and planning.

Building one in Phase 1, designed by Sturgess Architecture, is a seven-storey concrete structure named YYC (Calgary’s International Airport code) and is made up of 85 residential loft-style studio, one- and two-bedroom units, at an average size of 900 square-feet each; four live-work units; and more than 17,000 square-feet allotted for boutique retail space for fashion, dining grocery and more. More Phase 1 buildings are in preliminary conceptual design stages.

“There is a deliberate sense of community and commonality in the building so that you don’t feel one in a crowd. You can get to know your neighbours and feel like you are a significant part of where you live,” adds Sturgess.

All residential units will be equipped with Energy Star rated appliances and designer sink, bathtub, plumbing fixture and lighting packages. Wiring for Fibre Optic Home Services will deliver HDTV and Internet services.

To secure a unit for the first building, register online at http://www.flightsyyc.com, confirming a place in line for unit selection to take place later this year.