Parade of Homes

>> Colourful songbirds darting through native grasses. Deer sheltering in the for- ests of aspen and oak. Kids laughing and playing as they bike down the Harte Trail. These are the sights and sounds of Charleswood, the community that so many Winni- peggers know and love. RidgeWood West, the newest development in the area, prom- ises to build on the rural charm that makes this community so special. Having grown up in Charleswood, Frank Cotroneo of artista Homes is personally ex- cited about this new community and what it means to area residents. "There is a demand for living in Charles- wood," he explains. "it's a nice tight-knit community with beautiful streets, mature trees and great parks. it has a great dynamic that attracts people – it's not exactly coun- try living, but it's a unique lifestyle being a little bit away from the hustle and bustle of everything." Frank and artista Homes aren't the only ones who are excited. They have already started receiving calls daily, asking for more information. They expect much of this inter- est will continue coming from Charleswood residents seeking more space for their grow- ing families, "but it will also attract attention from other areas," he explains. "There are going to be prairie wetlands in- corporated into the design, so there will be the big estate homes on the water with walkout basements. There will also be lots backing onto trees and mature forest with a little more privacy. There will be room for smaller homes as well, so we'll be able to accommodate quite a few different budgets and styles." From the onset of this project, the Qualico team has been extremely mindful of how to not only preserve, but enhance the charm of the area. after a two and a half year consultation period with Charleswood residents and stakeholders, they are confident in their ability to add to the mosaic of the community while respecting the natural beauty of the surrounding environment. "RidgeWood West will be connected to something bigger; we're hooking into an ex- isting community and that's important," explains eric Vogan of Qualico Communities. "We will become the southern edge of Charleswood and it will be different from the rest – a good different, a complementary addition. We bring new engineering with re- sponsible storm water management, better roads, and traffic management." This new neighbourhood will also take advantage of the entrance off Wilkes and the Perimeter. 128 Parade of Homes FALL 2015 Ridgewood west Living with nature on the edge of CharLeswood This dedication to not only preserving, but also en- hancing, carries over to the natural habitat as well. a quick drive through Charleswood uncovers nature at its finest, from grazing deer to patches of forests and vegetation left unchanged for generations. "We brought out Native Plant Solutions and biolo- gists from Ducks Unlimited to find out who lived there and how the human, plant and animal com- munities could coexist," Vogan explains. "The wildlife opportunities will remain a key feature of this neigh- bourhood. it will be more wild than many will expect, with the wetlands adding even more biodiversity." Future residents of RidgeWood West will not only have a front row view of the wonders around them, but the opportunity to be fully immersed from a pedestrian standpoint as well. This new community will provide extensive trails that link directly into the Harte Trail and the rest of Charleswood, offering new and exciting ways to explore the area and encourag- ing active lifestyles. To learn more about living in RidgeWood West, contact Qualico Communities at 204.254.9225 or info@ridgewoodwest.com. KiK Innovation – For Qualico Communities

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