It used to be the small town north of Calgary, where everything was just a swirl of dusty roads and prairie landscape. Though not about to shed its small-town identity, Airdrie is fast becoming the address to be for the young urban professional and for first-time buyers seeking to buy a piece of prime lot sans the inflated prices of Calgary.

This fall, Renascence Development Corporation (RDC) is opening its doors to its newest multi-family offering, the 190-unit the Edge, which consist of two four-storey buildings on East Lake Road, right next to Airdrie’s East Lake Recreation and Wellness Centre. “We’re going for more of an urban appeal to first time home buyers,” says Lisa Thomas, RDC’s vice-president of sales and marketing.

That urban appeal makes the Edge an enviable location to be as Airdrie continues to grow and attract a younger population. The Edge is close enough to downtown Calgary but far removed from noisy crowds. Other considerations taken into the equation with the Edge’s design were the commercial and business enterprises and the recreational activities geared towards a cross-section of the population. “One of the best features of the Edge is its proximity to the parks and recreations abundant in Airdrie. Younger people with active lifestyles can appreciate that proximity,” says Marianne Dahl, RDC’s director of marketing.

The cutting-edge design of the Edge, from its sleek modern lines, to the choice of red, khaki and cream exteriors is just one of the Edge’s attractions. “What we’ve done is tie it in with the architecture of the recreation and wellness centre which is right next door,” says Thomas.

There are also eight different floor plans, ranging from 635 square-feet for a one-bedroom suite to 1,000 square-feet for a two-bedroom suite, up to 1,400 square-feet for two-bedroom-plus-loft units. “We have the most two-bedroom-plus-den and one- bedrooms plus den in our offering,” says Dahl.

First-time homeowners will find the Edge’s feature designs a refreshing reflection of their own lifestyle from nine-foot ceilings and California twist style carpeting, to contemporary smooth-slab Tofino Thermafoil cabinets and brushed nickel and glass light fixtures. Homeowners can also choose from black and white appliances. “The look is contemporary sleek lines typical of the California styles in condominiums where you have one bedroom on one side and your living room on the other,” says Dahl.

The Edge is typical of the demographics of its future homeowners. “Our main marketing is that it’s fun, sharp and stylish,” says Thomas, referring to the innovative and contemporary feel of the Edge.

As for the name, “that came about quite simply because it’s at the edge of East Lake and the edge of the recreation centre,” says Dahl. RDC’s marketing team also had fun drawing up catchy names for their suites.  “We came up with names depicting the edge such as The Brink, The Point, The Threshold, The Peak, The Fringe and The Ledge, The Rim and the Verge,” says Dahl. “Notice how everything all starts with “The,” when you’re on the edge.” 

Young homeowners will also be delighted to know that the Edge can be as affordable as possible be in a market saturated with high land prices. One-bedroom suites start from $195,900 and two-bedrooms in the $230,000s, while corner suites begin in the $300,000s. A small selection of lofts is also available, priced in the low-$300,000 range. The presentation centre will opened October 22, and reservations will be accepted for one week, with sales slated to kick off at The Edge beginning on October 27. 

To learn more, visit the website at  http://www.livingattheedge.ca or call (403) 948-2904.