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Why did Habitat for Humanity choose Langdon?
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Langdon is a great place to call home. Affordable real estate and small town hospitality attracted many young families to build their lives within this community while maintaining convenient access to the city for work, shopping or entertainment. Hamilton Place will provide Habitat families the same opportunities.
The Rocky View County's Growth Management Strategy has identified Langdon as one of five centres for growth. The Rocky View 2060 plan calls for Inspired, Diverse and Sustainable development and we believe Hamilton Place is a positive step in that direction.
Also, the County is preparing specific amendments to their Municipal Development Plan (MDP) to address the provision of ‘Social Infrastructure' as part of ongoing community development within the Municipality.
To review the information presented at the Open House on April 8, 2009 click here.
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How will low-income residents afford to live in Langdon?
The water and utility rates are very high. They also will have to travel for work, groceries and entertainment.
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Habitat partner families are working families just like you. Habitat Calgary carefully selects families who are able and willing to take on all of the intrinsic responsibilities of homeownership.
Through Habitat's favorable financing terms, clients' household expenses are distributed differently than a typical family. This enables them to afford the day-to-day expenses of home ownership, transportation, etc.
Hamilton Place is anticipated to be certified Gold through the Built Green Program, thereby reducing the overall costs for utilities and water.
Please refer to the "Affordability" slide in in the September 2009 Open House presentation to learn more about the monthly income and household expense distribution for Habitat Families.
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How will the needs of these new residents be met?
Langdon lacks grocery stores, medical clinics, employment opportunities, public transportation, and something for youths to do (no movie theaters, swimming pools, or hockey arenas.)
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We acknowledge that there are some limitations on amenities in the Langdon area. Habitat for Humanity carefully evaluates each applicant to ensure their needs are met within the community and that the families are able to take on the responsibility of homeownership in this community.
Rocky View County has identified Langdon as one of five centres for growth. Amenities such as grocery stores, medical and recreational facilities are anticipated alongside future growth.
The Bow North Facility Board completed a Needs Assessment & Feasibility Study in support of the proposed development of a recreation complex in the Hamlet.
The proposed Bow North Recreational Facility will include a community hall, arena, tennis courts, ball diamonds, soccer fields, a skateboard park, walking paths and more. For more information on this facility, click here.
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How do you select the families that receive the homes you build?
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Habitat Calgary carefully selects families that are able and willing to take on the responsibilities of homeownership. For instance, Habitat families must have at least one person that is employed full time with a consistent work history.
It is very important for Habitat for Humanity to build a sense of community, so people with similar age groups, family size, occupations and interests are generally chosen from a selection criterion.
Visit our website to Meet a Habitat Family, review our Selection Criteria and find more information about our Homeownership Program.
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Who chooses who will live in the homes?
Will priority be to Langdon and rural residents, or will it be the overflow of families from Calgary?
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Habitat for Humanity is working closely with local community and social organizations to ensure that local and rural residents will have the opportunity to attain a Habitat home. There may already be families in Langdon who qualify for homeownership in Hamilton Place.
After that, suitable families from Calgary may also live in Hamilton Place. Ultimately, the decision will be made by Habitat for Humanity.
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Langdon residents already deal with lack of services and the antics of youth who have nothing to occupy their time.
Adding low-income families will just increase the number people needing services that aren't offered and contribute to more crime.
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Habitat Calgary partner families are working families, just like you. They work hard, care for their children and want a safe place to call home.
In all cases, Habitat Calgary actively recruits partner families from the community surrounding the project location. There may already be families in Langdon who qualify for homeownership in Hamilton Place.
By recruiting locally as much as possible, we enable existing residents to stay in their community, allowing them to continue contributing to the success of Langdon in an affordable and sustainable way.
Recreational amenities are anticipated to be built soon to accommodate the growing demand for such facilities in the community, which will provide many options for family-oriented and youth activities.
Learn more about the Bow North Recreational Facility and the Needs Assessment & Feasibility Study that supports it.
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Will the townhomes be built to follow the same architectural controls already established in Langdon (i.e. early 1920's craftsman style)?
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Careful site design and high architectural standards will ensure the project is integrated with the surrounding residential area.
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The revised plans have a water feature. I'm concerned about safety and mosquitoes. How are you addressing this?
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The proposed water feature is a storm water pond designed to retain surface drainage during periods of high precipitation. The pond will be designed by a professional engineer in accordance with all Provincial and Municipal standards and requirements to ensure that safety standards are met.
Habitat is investigating the potential installation of a fountain in the storm pond, which will circulate water and prevent stagnation. Mosquitoes typically breed in stagnant, shallow water, so an actual pond - versus a dry pond as well as the fountain feature will not only be a visual design feature benefiting the community at large but also functional .
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How will the increased density affect the environment?
Langdon has a limited supply of water already.
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Habitat for Humanity has contracted several technical experts to determine the project's effects on the environment and existing infrastructure.
Habitat prides itself on being a good environmental steward. Hamilton Place will meet minimum Gold standards in the Built Green program, surpassing the environmental standards of most conventional homebuilders.
These Built Green standards will utilize significantly less water and utilities than the current homes located in the community and will help Rocky View County achieve the Inspired, Diverse and Sustainability goals they have outlined in their Growth Strategy Plan.
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How can this project be built when there isn't enough water as it is?
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Rocky View Utility Corp. has recently been granted a license increase by the Province of Alberta to essentially double the water capacity under the previous license. Rocky View Utility Corp. has confirmed they are willing and able to provided water for this proposed project without interruption of service to the community.
If required, Habitat for Humanity will incur the costs for upgrades to distribution lines and/or pumps. There will be no extra cost to the community if this occurs.
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How will this project affect my property value?
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Habitat homes are built to the same standards used by other home builders, improving the local community and appreciating along with the homes around them.
Habitat for Humanity will use the input received throughout this process to ensure that Hamilton Place is well-integrated within the residential community using careful site design and architectural plans.
The environmental, Built-Green design principles will also set a new standard for future development projects. And in addition to achieving a minimum Gold Built Green standard, Habitat Calgary is a registered contractor with the Canadian Home Builders Association (CHBA) as well as a registered builder member of the Alberta New Home Warranty Program (ANHWP).
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This is your second Open House - what are the next steps in the approval process?
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The March 2009 Open House was held to introduce the Community to Habitat and obtain valuable feedback regarding the preliminary designs for Hamilton Place. Over the past few months, Habitat has worked with various professionals to incorporate that feedback in the redesigned plans. The September Open House provided an opportunity to present the new designs and obtain additional feedback.
Next Steps:
- Rocky View County will be circulating the notice of applications within the Community
- Technical studies will be completed and reviewed by the County
- If required, additional changes to the project design may occur
- Rocky View County will schedule a Council Public Hearing (possibly January, 2010) after which a decision will be made on the application
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