Where most people saw the useless, dead remnants of the former Greyhound maintenance facility, vacant for over ten years, Anthem made way for a fresh start when the Vancouver based company purchased the 5.2-acre site in September 2005. The remediation process began in October 2006, led by Hazco Environmental and Decommissioning services. Contaminated soil, due to diesel fuel and benzene leaking out of the maintenances underground storage tanks, was removed and sent to city landfills for suitable disposal. Air and water were tested for safety and quality before construction got under way.

From the hustle and bustle of city life to the natural beauty of the Bow River, condo owners can enjoy the best of both worlds with this new community located at 222 Riverfront Avenue, nestled in Eau Claire, with Chinatown and Sien Lok Park to the east and Prince’s Island Park to the west.

Venturing downtown, only a few blocks from Waterfront, you will find a wide variety of restaurants and bars. Eau Claire market is right across the street, walk two blocks and you’re in the heart of a world oil capital. Corporate office towers bear names like BP, Shell, TransCanada and ConocoPhillips. Walk another block and it’s a shopper’s dream from haute couture fashion to extreme sporting gear to Rolls Royce automobiles. If you’re looking for diversity, Chinatown is right next door.

Prince’s Island, which is a mere jaunt across the bridge, plays host to many Calgary events, such as Shakespeare in the Park, and various summer music festivals. The beautiful landscape is great for taking long walks or having picnics.

Regional sales manager for MAC Marketing Solutions, Tim Taylor says the second tower will be available for purchase, with prices ranging from the mid-$300,000s to $1 million, by mid-November. Potential buyers are welcome to view everything this development has to offer at the Waterfront Discovery Centre which opened its doors at 104 2 Street S.W. in early October, displaying some of the best home viewing techniques technology has to offer. There are touch screens that provide you a full 180-degree simulated view of the city from the tower suites. A second touch screen lets you view floor plans in all three colour schemes (grass, river and current).

Taylor says the entire building is projected to be completed in five to seven different phases, providing a wide variety of residential choices throughout. From the three 25-, 23-, and 16-storey towers to the low-rise lofts and townhomes, as well as the luxurious executive suites, this building will have plenty of alternatives for whatever your preference might be.

Upon entering the lobby, you are immediately greeted by one of Waterfront’s defining features, a seven-foot waterfall cascading over a frosted glass pane. Be sure to watch your step! Not for safety reasons, but to marvel at the granite threshold welcoming you to your new home.

The two-bedroom, 1,194-square-foot, T-E plan show suite is furnished with taste and style and a sense of casual elegance, and features hardwood and porcelain tile flooring. The main bathrooms are outfitted with stunning marble counter tops and ten-millimetre frameless glass shower doors. The master bathroom has the same features and also includes his and her sinks and a bathtub.

Floor-to-ceiling windows mean break taking views of the city skyline, Bow River and Prince’s Island. Most homes also feature natural gas fireplaces and balcony bibs, so residents can stay warm inside and out, even on the coldest winter days. For summer scorchers, turn on the air conditioning.

Kitchens include marble counter tops. In addition to the cabinets, the dishwasher and Sub-zero fridge are hidden by beautifully crafted accent panels, and appliance controls are built right into the mill work. Stoves include natural gas cook tops and soft closing drawers make sure unnecessary banging is not heard within these walls.

Each room is divided by eye-appealing frosted glass sliding doors, offering privacy while maximizing room space.

For the show suite Anthem transformed the second bedroom into a den and media room but the two-bedroom suites include a den that can be used in any way the owner desires, in this show suite has been transformed into an office space.

The 581-square-foot, one bedroom T-A plan has nearly all of the incredible features of the two bedrooms.

A guest suite is available for booking to give visitors a nearer option to a hotel. Gym, whirlpool, feng shui courtyard, and 24-hour concierge service are just a few more amenities available to Waterfront residents. 
The buildings Vancouver-based designer Rafii Architects are known for spacious floor plans, allowing residents to “live larger than what the number says,” says Taylor.

People from all demographics have purchased units in the first tower, says Taylor. From young professionals, students (with the help of parents) buying their first home, to down-sizing executives looking for a hassle/maintenance free living situation that’s closer to their place of business, the variety of residents is “right across the board,” he says.

There is a huge corporate confidence in downtown core migration, since people are opting to live closer to work as well as leisure, what most people want or need is just around the corner, explains Taylor.

He says that these types of residences are becoming desirable to people seeking a more balanced lifestyle. You’re spending less time in the car because you are closer to work, with River pathway systems and downtown amenities just a stone’s throw away. CL