Calgary Herald from Calgary, Alberta, Canada • 106

Homes G10 CALGARY HERALD Saturday, November 21 1998 COMMUNITIES i- I "I Country Hills Golf Course is the only 36-hole course within Calgary limits. Hills alive with sounds of Panorama Golf course brings new spark 1 I I 1 1 -1 vw w--1-- i ii built a permanent clubhouse. It also set up the club to turn its 27-hole course into the first and only 36-hole layout within city limits. That expansion happened last year. Ultima also played a part in having Country Hills Boulevard connected between Beddington Trail and Centre Street North.

That connection gives residents access to shopping in Harvest Hills, and an easy route west to the mountains. Future plans call for a 15-acre regional park in the northwest end of Ultima's land. Just what will be there is still being debated by residents in Hid FRANK KING CALGARY HERALD After waiting out a slow start, the northwest community of Panorama Hills has become one of the faster-growing developments in the city's far north. The golfresidential project, north of Hidden Valley and Beddington Trail, was relatively quiet for its first two years because most brand-new communities have start-up pains, and the city's real estate market was relatively flat. Now, Allan Mar of Ultima Develop ment Corp.

says his 338-acre ini Vl J' Aid den Valley, Country Hills, Beddington, Harvest Hills, Sandstone, Panorama and Coventry Hills, all of whom would have access to it As well, the one multi-family site in the community is slated to be developed next year by Maxima Homes. The 23-unit townhouse project, called The Manors At Panorama Hills, tiative has more than 6oo (of a planned 1,500) houses in place. Many of those homes snake amongst the newest holes of Country Hills Golf Club. Others sit on a ridge with spectacular south views of the course, along with Beddington, Sandstone and Hidden Valley. Mar describes himself as ecstatic with the cur Marianne Helm, Calgary Herald Many homes in Panorama Hills provide a scenic view of the rolling countryside and communities in the northwest.

is likely to be priced between $225,000 and $300,000. Access is also quick to major roadways from the area. When Patti Am-brock and her husband Dave moved from Edmonton in 1996, they picked Panorama because its location provided relatively easy access to some of the city's major routes Deerfoot Trail, Centre Street and 14th Street. At the time, they were one of the earliest home buyers there, so "it was difficult to see how things would turn out But we're very happy. The architectural controls have been very consistent.

And the overall appearance is quite attractive." rent pace of sales. "We've nurtured and grown a new community which is second to none," he says. "And the spirit of the residents there is amazing. They've created their own social committee and have organized an easter egg hunt, a Stampede breakfast and a nine-hole golf tournament." Mar's firm is a partnership that includes home builders Stepper, Cardel and Mapeland. In a complicated 1994 deal, Ultima bought the Panorama Hills land from 500 golf course members and Qualico Developments.

The deal allowed Country Hills Golf Course to complete a financial restructuring and begin raising funds to As well, she notes, "I can't talk enough about the community spirit. When you move into a new community you don't know what to expect. But people here know each other." Ambrock, an executive member of the Northern Hills Community Association (which covers Panorama, Coventry, Country and Harvest Hills), says relations with Ultima have been quite satisfactory. "Ultima's been very responsive in answering our concerns and returning phone calls," Ambrock reports. Community Profile Public schools: Bused to Greenview Elementary on McKnight Boulevard N.E., Balmoral Junior High on 16th Avenue N.W, and John Diefenbaker High in Huntington Hills.

Separate schools: Bused to St. Margaret ElementaryJunior High on Carol Drive N.W., and St. Francis High on Northmount Drive N.W. Shopping: Everything is outside the community. Just to the east are the shops and services of Country Hills Town Centre.

To the west, off Country Hills Boulevard on the northern border of Edgemont, is a Superstore and a dozen other stores, services and restaurants. Recreation: Tot lots and pathways are inside Panorama Hills. Ball Diamonds and soccer pitches are further away, in Harvest Hills and Hidden Valley. Show homes: Stepper, Maxima, Cardel, Shane, Mapeland and Arcuri, have homes priced from $202,000 to $600,000, on Panorama Hills Circle. Ultima active in northwest Future phases Future phases I Pi lit if a Si 1.1:11- nhases 3 I Golf Course Golf course Calgary Herald After a slow start, Ultima Development Corp.

is finding success in two northwest communities: Panorama Hills and Country Hills. Located on the northwest side of Country Hills Boulevard west of Harvest Hills, Panorama is 313 acres of almost all single-family houses. It was originally 65 acres larger, but Ultima deeded that land to adjacent Country Hills Golf Course, which proceeded to add nine holes to its 27. Those new homes surround Ultima's land, creating more view and course-backing lots. The first Panorama show home parade opened in early 1995, but that was a slow year for builders, so president and partner Allan Mar admits "it was a challenge.

We built the best set of show homes around, but Country Hills Boulevard wasn't connected all the way to Deerfoot Trail then, and the extra nine golf holes weren't done either." Since then, Panorama has done well enough for Ultima to start developing across the road in Country Hills. A to tal of 800 lots, many of them for multi-family housing, are planned there. As in Panorama, Ultima has used a stable of builders dominated by partners in the company: Cardel, Mapeland and Maxima Developments. But it's also brought in other builders, including multi-family specialist Statesman. Despite all this activity, Ultima has remained small just five people, including vice-president Don Canning, who was hired in 1996 to help with the expanding operation.

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