Calgarians are in the top one per cent of income

A CALGARY HERALD ADVERTISING PUBLICATION
AUTO
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OCTOBER 23, 2013
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ISSUE TWO
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W W W. C A L G A R Y H E R A L D. C O M / L U X U R Y
LUXURY
REAL ESTATE
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HOME DECOR
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FURNITURE
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FA S H I O N & AC C E S S O R I E S
one for
ALL
Calgarians are in the top one per cent of income
earners in the country, and it shows as the city's
luxury market continues to grow
Barb Livingstone
What do you get when you combine the most “onepercenters” per capita, a new national flagship Ferrari Maserati showroom, the entry of high-end retailer
Nordstrom next year and the biggest increase ever in
$1 million-plus home sales?
You get Calgary — a city that, despite devastating floods
this summer, continues to power this country’s economy,
including the purchasing power for all things “luxury.”
Ben Brunnen, a Calgary economic consultant, says
the city — with the largest number of head offices per
capita in the country — has more executives, higher
pay and the type of industries (oil and gas, mining, utilities, construction, manufacturing) that contribute to the
strength of the luxury market.
Brunnen, former chief economist for the Calgary
Chamber of Commerce, says the city's strong economic
base and continued strong energy prices have led to
continued consumers confidence.
“We showed our ability to weather the economic
downturn and the confidence from that means people
are willing to spend,” he says.
Newly released data from Statistics Canada reports that
2.9 per cent of Calgarians are in the top one per cent of
income earners in the country. Toronto has the most onepercenters, with more than 73,000 making top dollars, but
that accounts for only 1.6 per cent of Toronto’s population
— much less than this city on a per capita basis.
Canada’s one-percenters now earn at least $191,000
per year, before tax, according to the latest 2011 National Household Survey. To be part of this country’s
exclusive top one per cent of earners, you had to make
at least $191,100 annually — an amount seven times
greater than the national median income of $29,900.
But it is not just the one-percenters who drive the luxury
market. Calgary also has the highest average incomes in
the country — and that means purchasing power.
TD Economics predicts retail sales will rise by 4.8
per cent this year in Alberta and 4.6 per cent in 2014,
compared to 2.3 per cent and 3.1 per cent respectively
across the country.
“We generally see the highest retail spending in the
country,” says Brunnen.
And while this city is not a large retail market compared to bigger cities such as Toronto and Vancouver,
he says international retailers are, more and more, seeing Calgary as a good market to be in.
High-end U.S. retailer Nordstrom is entering the luxury
market next year with a store at Chinook Centre, competing against Holt Renfrew — whose Calgary store is
seen as one of the most profitable per square foot in the
country.
Calgarians can also find luxury vehicles in the city,
from Ferrari to Bentley dealerships.
But a sign of the times is news of a large expansion within that market. While there has been a Ferrari
Maserati dealership in Calgary since 2008, this fall construction will begin on a 45,000-square-foot showroom
at Blackfoot Trail and Heritage Drive S.E., overlooking
Deerfoot Meadows. It is set to become the brand’s flagship store for Canada.
And when you buy a $100,000-plus vehicle, you
need the garage to hold it. The luxury housing market is
also reflecting this city’s purchasing power.
With still more than three months to go this year,
Calgary’s luxury housing market had already set a record for most sales in a year.
Total year-to-date MLS sales for properties of
$1 million, and up as of September was already at 545
and counting —more than the 12-month record for
transactions set only last year.
“Consumers have seen the value in investing in
higher-value homes,” Brunnen says, in a housing market that is still considered affordable compared to other
large Canadian cities.
He sees Calgary’s overall luxury market being strong
for the forseeable future, with continued long-term
investment in industry such as the oilsands.
“Alberta and Calgary are great places to be.”
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quality is
ALWAYS IN STYLE
Invest in some luxurious pieces for fall and feel like a million bucks
Rachel Naud
F
Luxury
Luxury
Auto
Retail
Jamie Zachary
Jay de Nance
L
uxury and autos are as synonymous as Batman
and Robin, Simon and Garfunkel, Abbott and
Costello.
Represented by a plethora of storied nameplates,
some of which date back to the birth of the automobile,
luxury vehicles have long captured motorists’ imaginations.
In Calgary, they’ve transcended dream machines status over the past decade, with many of the world’s best
automakers planting deep roots in a city that loves to live
in the fast lane.
“The appetite starts with the oil and gas sector,” says
Calgary Motor Dealers Association executive director Jim
Gillespie. “These folks, who work extremely hard for their
money, are high-income earners, and they like to spoil
themselves.”
Calgary’s entrepreneurial spirit has also spawned a
growing group of businesspeople working outside the oil
and gas industry who are similarly successful and fuelling
a further appetite for luxury vehicles, notes Gillespie.
“These people also like to treat themselves, whether
that’s with a multi-million-dollar home, high-end appliances or a toy in the toy in the garage,” he says.
The Conference Board of Canada expects Calgary’s
disposable income in 2013 to increase to $45,735 —
the highest among Canada’s 10 largest cities, and an
increase from $40,704 in 2012.
Alberta also leads all provinces with an average disposable income of $41,117 in 2013, compared to a Canadian average of $30,898.
In Calgary, Lincoln, Cadillac, Lexus, BMW, Infiniti,
Acura, Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche all have
dealerships. Some, such as Hyatt Infiniti, represent their
respective brands’ flagship stores in Canada — an insight into how automakers view the Calgary market, says
Gillespie, noting a second Infiniti store is expected in Calgary within the next two years.
Many of the world’s exotic auto brands are also zeroing
in on the city. Bentley, Aston Martin, Spyker and Fisker
are all located within the Calgary Auto Mall, as well as
Dilawari Detour, a unique 5,000-square-foot street-front
shop in the CORE off Stephen Avenue.
A Lamborghini and Lotus dealership is also expected to
arrive within our city within the next few years, located in a
to-be-built facility off Blackfoot Trial and Heritage Drive. They
will be joined by Porsche, currently located on Macleod
Trail, and Ferrari and Maserati, which presently operates out
of a facility on Barlow Trail.
Looking back, Gillespie is surprised at how quickly Calgary’s luxury vehicle market has evolved in such a short
time.
“We didn’t have many of these brands in the city five years
ago,” says Gillespie, pointing to the annual Calgary International Auto and Truck Show, which represents the only Western Canadian stop for a number of brands such Bugatti.
“I think part of is simply evolution. The city’s population
reached, and since surpassed one million people, which
has fueled an evolution of the local economy.”
Jamie Zachary is editor of the Calgary Herald’s
Wednesday Wheels section and writes a weekly Motor
Mouth column covering the local auto industry.
LUXURY
A
battle in the luxury retail sector has been raging across
North America over the past decade, with a recent focus
on the Canadian market.
There has been a long history in the high-end retail sector where
shoppers move south across the border to spend their hard
earned fashion budgets.
Recently, both American and Canadian retailers have been
focused on introducing lucrative store offerings to keep the Canadian consumer dollars on home ice. Although the Canadian
markets have a higher cost associated with doing business than
their American neighbours, the Canadian economy at this time is
viewed as a much healthier one than that of the United States.
Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom and Holt Renfrew are set to go
head to head to compete for the top spot as Canada’s No. 1
luxury goods provider.
The Hudson’s Bay Company recently acquired the U.S. based luxury retailer Saks Inc. for $2.9 billion, which upholds the firm’s promise
to further compete with the category-dominant Holt Renfrew brand
owned by the Weston family. Hudson’s Bay is set to open approximately 20 Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH outlet stores in Canada, in addition to the full-sized Saks department stores planned for Vancouver
and Toronto; set for delivery over the next two years.
Holt Renfrew, founded in 1837, has been a dominant player in
the Canadian luxury goods market with very little competition over
the years. Today, however, both Hudson’s Bay and Holt Renfrew
are bracing themselves for yet another American retailer making
the move north.
The emergence of Seattle-based luxury titan Nordstrom is about
to enter several Canadian markets. Nordstrom’s plans to enter the
market with four locations set for delivery, starting in Calgary at Chinook Centre with a 140,000-square-foot store on two levels in fall
2014. Vancouver and Ottawa are slated to open spring 2015 and
Toronto in fall 2016.
Calgary has the strongest personal disposable income level in
the country, which has made the city fertile ground for luxury retailers to expand and grow. Enclosed shopping centres have dominated the luxury retail market, particularly Chinook Centre and the
Core Shopping Centre in downtown Calgary.
Chinook Centre has seen a dramatic increase in luxury retail
chains moving into the shopping mall since the completion of a
$277-million-dollar expansion in fall 2010. Brands such as Tory Burch, Tiffany & Co., Burberry, Michael
Kors, Harry Rosen and Armani Exchange have lead the luxury
surge at Chinook.
The CORE shopping centre, formerly known as TD Square and
Eaton Centre, located in the heart of downtown Calgary has also
been a dominant player in the luxury retail market.
Anchored by Holt Renfrew and Harry Rosen, the CORE also underwent a drastic redevelopment which completed in November
2011. It was recently awarded the VIVA Best-of-the-Best Award
from the International Council of Shopping Centres, which honours and recognizes the most outstanding examples of shopping
centre design and development, sustainability, marketing and retail
store design worldwide.
The luxury retail sector is an ultracompetitive market segment as
Canadian based retail brands continue to evolve and international
retailers continue to migrate onto the local retail scene. Calgary will
continue to be an important stop for expanding retailers moving
into the Canadian markets.
Jay de Nance is director of tenant services for Fairfield
Commercial Real Estate Inc.
Luxury
Real Estate
Josh Skapin
B
uying a luxury home is anything but an impulse purchase. It takes a keen sense of the market to know where and
when there’s value in handing over a million dollars or more
for a home.
And luxury home buyers are setup nicely in the Stampede City
right now, says Becky Walters, president of the Calgary Real
Estate Board.
She says purchasers are at an advantage when putting pen
to paper on homes worth seven figures or more.
“I’d say the luxury market in the city is still a buyer’s market,”
says Walters.
“There’s a lot of inventory in that price range inside
the city and out.” Many of these listings are new homes and put on the resale
market to sell, she adds.
“We’ve got just about 1,400 properties in the city of Calgary
listed at more than $1 million and for the month of August we
saw 525 sell,” says Walters. “That’s not eating up the inventory.”
Despite the buildup of million-dollar listings, high-end home
sales are stronger in the Calgary area this year than in 2012.
In fact, sales of homes of all kinds priced $1 million or higher
soared 42 per cent between Jan.1 and the end of August compared to a year earlier. After eight months this year, 524 homes
changed hands for the price of seven figures or more.
During the same time in 2012, there were 370 sales in this
price range.
One of the most high-end areas in Calgary is the historic innercity community of Mount Royal. While sales have been similar in
Mount Royal this year compared to 2012, buyers are reaching
deeper in their pockets to move there.
In August, six homes changed hands at an average price of
$2.1 million. A year earlier, Mount Royal also saw six sales but for
an average price of $1.4 million.
“The interest rates for one are making it more affordable,” says
Walters. Another factor is that job stability in Calgary is back on
track.
“Everyone took a step back in ’08-09, so I think there were a
lot of people making sure that they were going forward solid in
their jobs and income,” says Walters. “I think we’ve seen it’s had
that turnaround for probably close to 18 months now anyways, if
you talk to the downtown core.”
Job stability is also bringing homeowners from a lower price
bracket to million dollar homes.
“It’s driving the entire market so they are able to sell their less —
expensive home and then move up into that range because they
have that confidence,” says Walters.
While the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. doesn’t record sales, it tracks absorption, which is the time in which home
owners take possession.
Absorption of single-family homes priced $1 million and higher
is up 25 per cent, with 243 possessions from Jan.1 to the end of
July compared to a year earlier.
During the same time last year, there were 195 possessions
“There are likely a number of reasons we’ve seen the increase
in activity in the luxury home market,” says Richard Cho, CMHC
senior market analyst, noting one reason is a growth in income
earned in Calgary. “Home values in general have been rising, and with that there
are likely some buyers who have been capitalize on some of
those equity gains and use it towards their next house.”
Josh Skapin is a Calgary Herald New Homes and
New Condos staff writer.
Luxury is a special publication of the Calgary Herald. zx Project co-ordinators: Jamie Zachary and
Jennifer Worley zx Cover design: Charlene Kolesnik zx Advertising inquiries: 403-235-7168
all is a great season for fashion. There’s
no better feeling than throwing on a cosy
sweater, slipping on a new pair of stylish
leather boots or glamming it up with a special
piece of jewelry.
Jewelry is often an accessory worth its weight
in gold.
“Investing in some quality jewelry pieces is a good
investment because whether
it's gold, diamonds, platinum
or precious stones, it's going
to appreciate in value,” says
a spokesperson for J. Vair
Anderson Ltd. “They hold their
value. And people love wearing fine jewelry.”
When it comes to sparkling
up your wardrobe, have some
fun with it, suggest the experts
at J.Vair Anderson.
“There’s nothing wrong with
mixing colours of metal. You don’t
have to wear all white gold or all
yellow gold. Mix and match.”
As for the rest of your wardrobe, this is the season for
investing in some quality, luxurious pieces that are not only
smart spending but make you
feel like a million bucks.
“Investing in quality is always
a smart way to spend,” says
Stacey Shimozawa, buyer
and manager of women’s wear at Calgary’s
O’Connors Men’s & Women's Clothing & Footwear. “Your wardrobe is an investment and the
pieces, if chosen properly, should last for years.
The fit, fabric and styling will be better so it will look
newer for longer. Even the colours will be better
researched and will look current for longer.”
And since we get a lot of mileage from our fall
wardrobe, purchasing trendy looks that last is
especially important.
To get you through the season in style, we've
asked local design experts to showcase their
best wears for fall.
Jewelry
n Wide band rings ( 1.77tw diamonds set in a
matte print 18kt gold) and cuff bracelets (1.52tw
diamonds in 18kt rose gold). The rose gold ring
and, particularly, the wide cuff bracelet, would
work beautifully with the animal prints
that are popular this fall. In addition,
the buttons on clothing are tending
toward yellow gold. As such, women
may enjoy wearing one of the yellow
gold pieces of jewelery with the new
suits that are current.
n Enameled jewelery (.47tw
diamonds in 18kt white gold) The
enameled rings come in an unlimited
choice of colours, and thus are very
versatile. The beauty and workmanship of the ring illustrated would warrant wearing with any outfit.
n Make a bold statement with
a wide sterling silver bracelet with
one sapphire. The statement piece
in silver could take a classic black
turtleneck or dress from everyday to
dramatic.
Hot fashion trends this fall
n A fuller skirt. Everyone has been
obsessed with the pencil skirt for so
long that we've forgotten how good
a skirt with some fullness can look.
Check out this beautiful mohair in
a navy and forest green blend from
Max Mara.
n A cigarette pant in a rich Jacquard goes with
so much more than you'd think. It can be bold or
subtle, but will make everything else look fresh
again.
n The staple leather of the season is the fine
leather moto jacket. Wear it over dresses, with a
girlie skirt or with your favourite jeans.
n Colourful denim. With everything from a
great blazer to cashmere sweater, they're a
staple for fall, and with a fabulous fit and four-way
stretch fabric, you'll find it hard to go back to
anything else.
n Look for booties with chain details or studs,
bright patent or suede pumps and man-tailored
loafers and brogues — and then wear them with
everything. The booties and brogues work with
dresses and skirts and the feminine pumps can
work with jeans. Everything goes.
Layering style
With the Calgary climate, layering colours and
textures is a must.
“Fall is a time to purchase some great pieces
that will carry you through eight or more months
of the year,” says Aaron Miller, buyer and sales
consultant for O'Connors Men's & Women's
Clothing & Footwear. “It's about conquering
the elements and looking great doing it, but
keeping in mind your lifestyle and where it takes
you.”
To get to where you're going in luxurious style,
Miller recommends the following hot outerwear
to keep gents looking cool all season.
n Lubiam hybred sport coat. These jackets
are unique because they have a zip-out bib, so
you can wear it on a cool morning layered and
with a scarf, and it comes off as outerwear. Or
with a quick zip, the bib comes out and you have
great casual sport coat look for the weekend.
n Canali's quilted outerwear jacket and one of
the hottest brands Barbour with its version. These
jackets are great editions with their rugged looks, yet
soft-weight appeal and clean lines.
n Samuelsohn quater lined soft constructed
sport coat. For guys who run hot or like to layer
up, these jackets are your best friends. They
move with ease and are uber comfortable. They
also look amazing with jeans or can be paired up
with a great wool trouser.
n Ferrente wool knit with hoodie and Dale of
Norway Alpin quarter zip. These are both great
pieces because you can layer up and look great
whether you're heading to the mountains or driving the kids to hockey.
The cigarette pant in rich Jacquard
adds luxury to the fall wardrobe;
courtesy O’Connors Men’s & Women's
Clothing & Footwear. Inset photos:
Wide bands and enamelled jewelry are
among the top jewelry trends making a
statement; courtesy J. Vair Anderson.
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Luxury is all
eye of the
about lifestyle.
it's not so
BEHOLDER
much about
a specific home or
From estate homes on a large lots to little jewel boxes with beautiful
finishes, luxury homes come in all shapes and sizes
Andrea Cox
T
he pursuit of luxury, like the pursuit of happiness can often
be elusive, especially when it comes to real estate.
“Everyone has a different set of parameters that define
luxury,” says Ross Pavl, a Calgary-based luxury real estate specialist with Re/Max. “It really depends on the stage of life that the buyer
is at.”
According to a recent study by Sotheby’s International, certain elements drive the marketplace when it comes to luxury homes and
luxury neighbourhoods.
The Top Tier Trends Report: A Comparative Survey of Canada’s
Luxury Real Estate Market reveals that in Calgary, luxury is all about
a distinctive Western Canadian lifestyle, one that is defined by location, amenities, gourmet kitchens and stellar views — views of
downtown, the river and the mountains.
Pavl agrees that luxury is all about lifestyle. “It’s not so much
about a specific home or neighbourhood.”
He notes the younger set want to live in the inner- city close to
work, great schools and the vibe. But as individuals age, the draw
to a more peaceful lifestyle in the country beckons.
He says a luxury home is typically defined as a property
$1 million or over — most sales occur in the $1-million-to-$1.3million range. But he thinks that given Calgary’s market, the
$1 million cutoff is below the luxury threshold. “A million dollars in
the inner city isn’t really luxury.”
That is most likely why Sotheby’s report placed the baseline entry
point for a luxury single-family home in Calgary at $2 million, which
is comparable with that of Toronto.
There is no doubt that Calgary’s robust economy has added fuel
to the luxury home market, which, according to numbers reported
by the Calgary Real Estate Board, is on fire. As of mid-September
of this year, the year-to-date sales for properties priced at $1 million
or more sat at 543 — that’s just one off the all-time record of 544
set for the entire year of 2012. To give some perspective, the yearto-date sales last year at this time hovered at 375 homes.
Surprisingly the average luxury buyer driving the market in Calgary is young, between 35 and 40, according to Sotheby's. Many
of those buyers make a lot of money — more than 80 per cent are
earning an income of $500,000 or higher.
This new, young and wealthy demographic is drawn to the innercity lifestyle with its walkability, access to restaurants, theatre and
the river. The Sotheby's survey unearths the most desirable established luxury neighbourhoods are Mount Royal, Brittania, Bel-Aire,
Aspen, Springbank Hill, Elbow Park, Elbow Valley, the Westside
and anything inner city.
And buyers are snapping up inner-city real estate everywhere.
Neighbourhoods such as Marda Loop, Kensington and Altadore
are hopping.
“People are just buying, tearing down and rebuilding their luxury
home,” says Pavl.
Yet size doesn't necessarily define luxury, notes Jacqui Ackerley,
neighbourhood
planning co-ordinator for Qualico Communities, the developer behind the luxury neighbourhood of Dressage.
“What people view as luxury living is so subjective. Luxury can
mean a lot of things — it can be an estate home on a large lot or a
little jewel box of a house with beautiful finishes.”
From a developer’s perspective, luxury is really all about amenities and architectural controls.
“What we have discovered is that luxury is a combination of
large lots, many amenities and beautiful homes,” says Ackerley.
“We didn’t set a minimum square footage for the homes in Dressage because of that shift in thinking.”
To that end, the developer paid close attention to the community’s
details, from location to lot sizes and neighbourhood landscaping. “There is enhanced detailing in the parks and the street scapes
with the pathway connections and pergolas and custom benches.
It is just about those little extras,” says Ackerley.
Dressage offers 26 estate-style lots of one-third to one-half of an
acre carved into picturesque cul-de-sacs that back onto a nature reserve and wetlands. The western edge overlooks the rolling hills and
swaying grassland across to Spruce Meadows and the foothills.
Luxury also follows the old adage, it’s all about location, location,
location.
“People are realizing that they don’t have to have the biggest
house in the neighbourhood — it has to do with finishings and setting up your environment to suit your needs,” says Ackerley.
Take Andy and Joanne Lapins. This upwardly mobile couple
recently built a 3,500-square-foot, two-storey home with walk-out
basement in Discovery Ridge. But with two teenage daughters at
home, they are finding the layout just doesn’t flow.
“We are looking for a bungalow that we will use every square
inch of the space so that there are no rooms that sit empty,” says
Joanne, recalling that in her last home, the only family member
who sat in the living room was the cat.
“It made me crazy. I just want to use every single space and
have beautiful quality.”
For the Lapins, it’s all about lifestyle — the right home design,
combined with amenities and location. Location-wise, they are
torn: with both girls involved in sports, there are huge advantages
to living in the inner city, but the country estate lifestyle is pulling at
their heartstrings.
One thing the couple knows for sure is they want a jewel box —
a beautiful and thoughtful design — with uber high-end finishes;
a home where the kids can grow and eventually the couple can
enjoy being empty-nesters. So far, they haven’t had much luck.
“It looks like we will have to build, so now it is all about finding the
right lot in the right location,” says Joanne.
Main photo: Luxury neighbourhood of Dressage near Spruce
Meadows, courtesy Qualico Communities; above, inset: Andy and
Joanne Lapins are house hunting as the couple finds the layout of
their two-storey home is not suitable for their family’s needs, photo
by Andrea Cox.
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Luxe additions
Luxe location
Golf mecca
Space to roam
Recent additions to the dealership
include the 2014 Maserati
Quattroporte, 2014 Maserati Ghibli.
Ferrari Maserati of Alberta is preparing
to move into a new flagship facility at
Blackfoot Trail and Heritage Drive.
Heritage Pointe, ranked among
Canada’s best courses, is just a
short drive from Artesia.
Artesia is interlaced with pathways and
anchored by a community gathering
space designed for family fun.
Ferrari, Maserati of Alberta
Heritage Pointe
Dealership is bringing a taste of Italy to Calgary’s streets, one supercar at a time
Offering the perfect balance of city and country, Artesia is close to the action but you’d never know it
When you think of Italy, four things come to
mind: fine wine and food, incredible fashions,
fascinating history and superior automobiles.
Since 2008, Calgarians have had a small
taste of Italy thanks to Ferrari Maserati of
Alberta, which started bringing two of Italy’s
signature luxury vehicle lines to the city after
dealer principal Remo Ferri, president of Maranello Automobile Dealers Inc. of Ontario,
and his client-now-partner Carlo Galasso
saw a growing demand for the two brands in
Alberta.
“There were so many Ferrari and Maserati
enthusiasts here travelling to Remo’s Ferrari Maserati of Ontario (located in Vaughan,
near Toronto), that it just made sense for
Carlo to open a dealership here,” says Ferrari
Maserati of Alberta general manager Tony
L’Amarca.
“Even today, people don’t realize you can
buy Maseratis in Calgary. It’s an exclusive
brand. It doesn’t matter where I go, people
are in awe of these vehicles.
Several models will be increasing the classic line’s presence in the Canadian market
this coming year: the 2014 Quattroporte, a
reinvention of Maserati’s flagship four-door
sport sedan dating back to 1963, as well
as up-and-comers such as the Ghibli luxury
sport sedan and the rumoured Levante,
Maserati’s entry into the SUV market.
“Maserati plans to increase its production
eight-fold for the world, up from only about
4,000 cars per year,” says L’Amarca. “To
date, it has already passed the 16,000 unit
produced mark due to orders on the new
Quattroporte and Ghibli models.
“They’re really getting into the game, with
the increased production and their four-year,
80,000-kilometre warranty.”
Ferrari Maserati of Alberta, meanwhile, is
getting ahead of the game. This fall,
construction begins on a 45,000-squarefoot showroom at Blackfoot Trail and
Heritage Drive S.E., overlooking Deerfoot
Meadows.
L’Amarca says the new location is set
to become the brand’s flagship store for
Canada.
The growing Maserati brand is exciting,
says L’Amarca, adding the vehicles’ signature sound, superior service record and luxury appointments appeal to men and women
who have attained success in their lives and
want a vehicle to reflect this.
The 2014 Quattroporte comes in two models: a 3.8-litre V-8 twin-turbo rear-wheel drive
pushing 530 horsepower (the Quattroporte
GTS), and the S Q4 all-wheel drive model
(perfect for Calgary’s climate), with 404-h.p.,
three-litre V-6 Twin Turbo.
“The Quattroporte has been totally redesigned for 2014, with new motors developed by Paolo Martinelli, the man who
built the engines for Michael Schumacher’s
winning Ferrari Formula One team,” says
L’Amarca.
“It’s got a large cabin that seats five, fully
appointed Italian leather and you can have up
to two laptops built into the car.”
The MSRP on the 2014 Quattroporte
starts at $124,390.
For those looking for a smaller four-door
sport sedan, the 2014 Ghibli will start at
$75,000 and come with many of the same
appointments.
The rumoured Levante will launch next
spring and summer, marking Maserati’s entry
into the sport utility market.
“The Levante will be another exciting addition to our line because we know Calgary
buyers love SUVs,” says L’Amarca.
The Ferrari brand, meanwhile, is making
waves with the 2014 F-12 Berlinetta.
“The F-12 Berlinetta is a true supercar,”
says L’Amarca. “It’s the most powerful roadgoing car Ferrari has built to date, with 740
naturally aspirated horsepower out of a
6.2-litre, V-12 engine. That’s with no turbo
and no supercharger ... it’s a very exclusive
vehicle.”
The ever-popular 458 line continues to be
a sell-out.
“We also have other models, called the
California and the Maserati Gran Turismo
Cabrio, with retractable hard and soft tops,
which offer drivers the best of a coupe and a
convertible” says L’Amarca, himself a Ferrari
enthusiast since Galasso got him into his first
one back in the 1990s.
“There is also the Ferrari FF, which is our
ultimate year-round road going Ferrari. It’s a
12-cylinder, 660-h.p. hatch version of a Ferrari — and people can drive them year round
because of the all-wheel drive.”
Experience this luxury for yourself at the
Ferrari Maserati of Alberta showroom at
204 Meridian Rd. N.E., just off Barlow
Trail, call 403-273-6060, or visit
ferrariofalberta.com.
BEING IN CONTROL
HA S N EVE R B E EN M O R E E XC ITING
Jane Austen once said, “There is nothing
like staying at home for real comfort.”
Our home is our sanctuary. It’s our escape
from the hustle and bustle; it’s our shelter from
the elements; it’s where memories are made
and life happens.
And for developer Heritage Pointe, it’s a
homeowner’s personal oasis.
As soon as you arrive at the doors of Artesia, you know you have ventured into a very
special place. Offering the perfect balance of
city and country, the quaint rural community
prides itself on being a place where you can
have vista views all to yourself, where you
can take a walk with the clouds as your only
companions and still have neighbours close
enough to call on for a cup of sugar. It’s a
place where you can emerge from a forest of
poplars and find yourself just in time for happy
hour at the golf course patio.
“Artesia is having the rush of the big city
minutes away, but judging by the view from
your living room, you’d guess it was hours,”
adds Bill MacDonald, project manager of
land development for Heritage Pointe Properties. “It’s the place where the best the city has
to offer, and the best nature has to offer, come
together.”
Located along Calgary’s southern edge,
next to Pine Creek Valley, Artesia is within
minutes of an abundance of amenities. Access to Calgary’s two main arteries and LRT
stations are mere moments away. In addition,
with Deerfoot Trail and McLeod Trails to the
west, there is no shortage of nearby shopping
and restaurant options, not to mention the
fact that downtown Calgary is just a
30-minute drive.
Guided by the architectural and landscape
guidelines for Artesia, each home is designed
and constructed with quality and care in the
Heritage Pointe tradition. Homes in Artesia
aren’t restricted to one design. In fact, you’ll
find Georgian, English, French Country, Tudor and Craftsman architectural styles in a
variety of single-family, bungalows, two-storey
and custom homes.
With homesites ranging from 65 to 90 feet
in width, and award-winning builders working
to execute each buyer’s unique vision, there
are endless possibilities for a new home.
The Villas of Artesia feature all the luxurious
qualities of a high-end home but require none
of the exterior maintenance.
The Quattroporte S Q4 combines exhilarating Maserati performance with the sure-footed agility of intelligent all-wheel drive.
Its powerful twin-turbo V6 engine delivers 404 HP through an advanced AWD system that achieves unprecedented handling
and precise control in all weather, with an 8-speed automatic transmission designed for maximum acceleration and fuel
efficiency. Also available in rear-wheel drive with a 523 HP V8 engine, the Quattroporte blends unmistakable Italian design,
a spacious interior and engineering excellence — a celebration of performance, luxury and driving pleasure that is pure Maserati.
The Quattroporte S Q4 with intelligent all-wheel drive, including scheduled maintenance, starts at $124,390.*
MASERATI OF ALBERTA
“They’re perfect for anyone interested in a
'lock-and-leave' lifestyle, or those just looking to keep things simple,” says MacDonald.
MacDonald says the homes at Artesia rival
those in any luxury neighbourhood in the Calgary region — and they should considering
Heritage Pointe’s builder partners are three of
Calgary’s most awarded.
“From our true estate-sized homes to our
luxury villas, Artesia has a home to meet the
needs of any lifestyle,” he says. “But what sets
an Artesia home apart is the space surrounding it. Every home in the community backs onto
a natural amenity, be it green space, a park,
or a water feature. With 1.9 homes per acre,
Artesia is the lowest density neighbourhood
compared to any Calgary community.”
Adding to the long list of reasons why
Calgarians are choosing to call Artesia home
L I V E
O P E N
*MSRP $124,390, PRICE INCLUDES FREIGHT, PDI, GREEN TAX AND ALL FEES. GST EXCLUDED. AMVIC LICENSED. ST# 900MC.
©2013 MASERATI NORTH AMERICA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. MASERATI AND THE TRIDENT LOGO ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF MASERATI SPA. MASERATI URGES YOU TO OBEY ALL POSTED SPEED LIMITS.
Client: Maserati of Alberta
9.04.13
is the fact the community keeps the environment and sustainability in mind at all times —
from the design to the mechanics residents
use to water their lawn.
Created to function in tandem with its
natural surroundings, Artesia features low
lighting at night so residents can stargaze
on a whim. Narrow-winding roads work to
naturally slow traffic, and state-of-the-art
bioswales collect rainwater that is used to
irrigate the entire community.
“And most importantly, we’ve simply left
nature alone, and provided the residents of
Artesia with the space to simply be,” says
MacDonald.
Single-family homes start in the mid
$800.000s and villas start in the low $800’000s.
With Phase 1 being a huge success and
more than 80 per cent sold, Heritage Pointe
has accelerated Phase 2, which includes a
total of 68 home sites.
Show homes are open Monday to Thursday
from 2 to 8 p.m. and noon to 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
W I T H
A RT E S I A
AT
H E R I TAG E
P O I N T E
FIVE SHOWHOMES IN SOUTH CALGARY’S MOST EXTRAORDINARY ADDRESS
OUR AWARD-WINNING BUILDERS
204 MERIDIAN ROAD NE, CALGARY, ALBERTA T2A 2N6
Schedule your test drive: 1-888-747-1573
www.maseratiofalberta.com
GET THE MASERATI PASSION APP
Attention: Account Executive: Rob Handley / 403.235.7186 / [email protected]
We’ve simply left nature alone, and
provided the residents of artesia with
the space to simply be.
WELCOME TO A PLACE WHERE YOUR HOME
EXTENDS FAR BEYOND THE PROPERTY LINE.
THE ALL-NEW QUATTROPORTE. THE JOURNEY BEGINS AT MASERATI OF ALBERTA.
STAY IN TOUCH
seven
OUR DETAILS
MONDAY TO THURSDAY: 2PM—8PM
WEEKENDS & HOLIDAYS: 12PM—5PM
FRIDAY: CLOSED
albihomes.com
astoriahomes.ca
calbridgehomes.com
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT LIVEATARTESIA.COM
eight
calgaryherald.com/luxury
Lincoln Grill
Sure thing
Try the Lincoln Grill’s popular ground-toorder coffee, which gets rave reviews
from service customers.
Woodridge prides itself on making sure
customers are able to make an informed
decision about the vehicle they want to buy.
A CALGARY HERALD ADVERTISING PUBLICATION
AUTO
Woodridge Ford Lincoln
•
•
OCT. 23, 2013
•
SECTION TWO
•
WWW.CALGARYHER ALD.COM/LUXURY
LUXURY
REAL ESTATE
•
HOME DECOR
•
FURNITURE
•
FASHION & ACCESSORIES
Where luxury is synonymous with safety and service
There are just some words that pair well with
the word “luxury.” One is the word “safety.” Anis
“service.”
Yet another is a name that’s been connected
with luxury for decades: Lincoln.
All three come together at Woodridge Ford
Lincoln Ltd. in southeast Calgary.
“It’s all about the quality the vehicle offers,”
says Lincoln brand specialist Dimitri Anastasakis
when asked to define the Lincoln magic that
distinguishes vehicles such as the flagship MKX
luxury crossover SUV.
“The MKX offers everything that Lincoln does
best: safety, luxury, handling and power at a
great price.”
With features such as 305 horsepower under the hood, a
six-speed SelectFAST FACTS
Shift automatic
transmission with
WOODRIDGE
paddle activaFORD LINCOLN
tion, superior fuel
economy and inPRESIDENT
telligent all-wheel
GERRY WOOD
drive, it’s hard to
GENERAL MANAGER
argue the point.
TRAVIS EADE
But Anastasakis
and general
SALES MANAGER
manager
Travis
RORY WOOD
Eade say Lincoln
NEW VEHICLE SALES MANAGER
isn’t resting on
DIMITRI ANASTASAKIS
its laurels. In fact,
it’s in the midst of
BRAND SPECIALIST
reinventing itself,
BLAIR JARVIS
beginning with
a new branding,
Lincoln Motor Co., and the introduction of the
MKZ luxury sedan, which Eade says reflects a
new direction for Lincoln.
“For some time, a Lincoln used to be seen
as a dressed-up Ford. Now, they’re attracting a
younger buyer, a more upwardly mobile buyer,”
he says.
Adds Anastasakis: “They’re redesigning the
vehicle, going in a complete new direction from
what they did before. All the technology you can
pack into a vehicle today — that’s something
that attracts the buyers.”
These days, a luxury vehicle is as much
about intuitive design and safety as it is about
plush leather seating and ample legroom. The
MKZ, for example, comes with features such as
adaptive cruise control that senses if vehicles
in front have slowed down; a lane-departure
system that reads the lines on the road to help
keep the vehicle on the straight-and-narrow;
and blind-spot monitoring.
“It also has a voice-recognition system — you
can tell the car what temperature you want,
what radio station you want to listen to, you can
enter an address for the navigation system, all
using your voice,” says Anastasakis.
Lincoln offers a number of incentives to make
buying a vehicle even more attractive, including generous delivery allowances and loyalty
credits.
“All of these offers provide value-added propositions,” says Eade.
“You can get a comparable vehicle, say
a BMW, sometimes with less options than
the MKX or MKZ, and end up paying at least
$15,000 more.”
Being a Lincoln dealership requires Woodridge — a member of the Wood Automotive
Group — to meet certain standards. All sales-
people need to be Lincoln-certified, and a separate showroom has been built to display Lincoln
models, says Eade.
Bring your Lincoln in for servicing, and you’re
provided with another Lincoln as a loaner. If you
prefer to wait, you can access a business centre with Wi-Fi, workstations and a printer, or enjoy breakfast or a snack in the exclusive Lincoln
Grill café (be sure to try the coffee).
Want to experience a Lincoln before
you buy? Contact brand specialists
Anastasakis at [email protected] or
Blair Jarvis at [email protected] and
sign up for the Lincoln Date Night promotion.
“You can take an MKZ on an extended
test drive, usually over the weekend, and we’ll
give you a $100 gift certificate so you can take
your spouse or date out for an evening on the
town, on us,” explains Anastasakis.
Drop by Woodridge Ford Lincoln at 11580
24 St. S.E., just off Deerfoot Trail, call 403-2532211 or visit woodridgeford.com.
IT’S IN THE DETAILS
From precious stone to exotic woods Calgarians are putting their unique stamp on their luxury homes
Marty Hope
L
There's Never Been a Better Time to
Experience Lincoln.
THE ALL-NEW 2013 LINCOLN MKZ
ALBERTA
MOTOR VEHICLE
INDUSTRY COUNCIL
LICENSED
SAVE UP TO $6,500 IN FACTORY CREDITS
ON REMAINING 2013 AND 2014 LINCOLN VEHICLES
MKS
MKZ
NAVIGATOR
MKX
WOODRIDGE LINCOLN
AT DEERFOOT TRAIL AND DOUGLASDALE BOULEVARD
(403) 451 - 6185
www.WOODRIDGELINCOLN.ca
PLEASE READ. All offers OAC. All offers end October 31st, 2013. Dealer inventory may vary versus offers listed above and factory order/dealer trade may be required. See dealer for full details.
MKT
uxury is a relative word.
It's dictionary definition is a “state of
great comfort or elegance, especially
when involving great expense.”
Allan Klassen, president and managing partner of Albi Homes compares it to
beauty: “It's in the eye of the beholder.”
For 31 years now, Albi has been working closely with some discerning clientele
to create urban masterpieces, winning a
number of awards along the way, but always responding to the wants and needs
of its buyers, says Klassen.
“We’re in the business of building luxury
homes,” he says. “Albi has been built on
a solid foundation of Old World value,
European craftsmanship and timeless architecture.”
Klassen says there are many elements
that go into a luxury home.
“Size matters, of course. But it’s also the
providing the quality of craftsmanship buyers expect in a luxury home," says Klassen. “It’s about fit and finish, providing the
little extra details, the completeness of the
product.
Barb Kelly, Albi’s director of interior
design, echoes Klassen’s vision of luxury
by talking about the passion for timeless
elegance — whether it be wrapped in
traditional, contemporary or more modern
design — that Albi creates with each of its
homes.
“At Albi, luxury is about the sense of arrival,” says Klassen.
Albi builds in three distinct price cat-
egories. Its jewel-box homes are priced
from about $600,000 to $750,000; luxury
homes range from around $800,000 to
$1.3 million; while what Klassen calls the
“uber-estate” homes can reach into the
$3.5-million range. This year, Albi will build
about 150 homes with an average price of
just under $1 million.
So, what do the buyers want in their
luxury homes? Is the sky the limit?
Not really, says Klassen. While they
know what they want and need — and
have a wish list — they also come in with
a budget. From Albi’s perspective, the design of the home is limited by the size of the
lot it is working with.
Today’s buyers are looking for a combination
of looks, size, sustainability, eco-friendliness
and front-line technology that cater to their lifestyles — and designed to fit into a home likely
3,500 to 4,000 square feet in size.
Depending on lifestyle, the homes could
have three or four bedrooms with large
walk-in closets or dressing rooms, and 3.5
to 4.5 bathrooms, says Kelly. They could
also have completely finished lower or
walkout levels with games room, bedroom
and ensuite spaces.
On the main floor, typical luxury homes
could feature a home office, formal or casual dining area, gourmet kitchen outfitted
with professional-grade appliance package, walkthrough laundry and likely a walkthrough pantry from the front-drive or sideslung two- or three-car garage that has
been designed to hold some family toys.
Addition goodies could include a media
room, spa or steam shower, wine cellar,
and fireplaces in the master suite, as well
as on the main floor and lower level.
While many of these areas can also be
found in less expensive homes, it’s the
level of finishing and materials used that
make a home luxury.
Dana George of Cielo Interiors says there is
no end to the design ideas in the marketplace.
“People are still doing a lot of granite, but
I’m seeing more with precious stone like
agate or topaz in the slabs.
“People are also getting away from
carpeting altogether and going into
handscraped, exotic woods with customdesigned woven area rugs.”
Lighting fixtures are also becoming customized, almost sculpted, pieces, says
George, noting smart home technology,
with no visible wires is also popular.
“Wall fabrics are back in vogue,” adds
George. Choices include silk fabrics that
have been made into a one-of-a-kind wallpaper.
Despite the complexity of today's luxury
homes, Klassen says the time from the first
meeting to writing up the agreement typically takes just 60 to 90 days.
“During that time, the customer gets a
pretty good idea of what we have to offer
as the builder, and also lets them visit our
Galleria design studio where a lot of their
design questions are answered.”
The delivery time for the home can vary
from nine to 12 months, depending on the
complexity of the project.
Above: The Carrara kitchen by Albi Homes;
below Thinkstock photos
Today’s buyers
are looking
for a
combination
of looks, size,
sustainability,
eco-friendliness, and
front-line
technology
that cater to
their lifestyles.
ten
calgaryherald.com/luxury
calgaryherald.com/luxury
eleven
Strong backing
To name a few
In the family
Iconic brand
ATS, XTS and SRX come with six-year,
110,000-km powertrain and four-year,
80,000-km full-service warranties.
Other acclaimed vehicles at GSL GM
City include the Chevrolet Impala,
Silverado and GMC Sierra half-ton.
The Schotanus family has owned
Universal Lincoln since 1981, but
the dealership dates back 70 years.
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidential
vehicle, the Sunshine Special, was a
modified 1939 Lincoln V12 convertible.
Universal Ford Lincoln
GSL GM City
Family-owned-and-operated dealership is offering a shopping experience to match its rides with unique standalone Lincoln showroom
Customer experience earns Cadillac multiple top honours
Nothing says luxury like driving a vehicle
dubbed Car of the Year by Esquire Magazine.
That’s just one of the accolades the 2013
Cadillac ATS has received, and one of the
reasons why the ATS has become a flagship
model at GSL GM City, one of Calgary’s oldest and most-established dealerships.
The ATS is Cadillac’s first entry into the
small-car luxury sedan market, placing it
head-to-head with the likes of the BMW 3 and
Mercedes-Benz C-class.
For 2014, the ATS has been upgraded to
include Turbo, Turbo Premium and Turbo
Luxury models.
The Turbo Luxury offers features such as fine
leather upholstery, heated steering wheel and
front dual-zone air conditioning. The two-litre,
four-cylinder
engine pushes
FAST FACTS
200 horsepower.
GSL GM CITY
But it’s the
General Manager
Cadillac User
Ashley Wolfe
Experience
(CUE) system,
General Sales Manager
available in the
Joe Cuckow
ATS, along with
Sales Manager
the XTS and
Steve Deery
SRX crossover
models, that
sets the vehicle
apart, says general manager Ashley Wolfe.
“CUE is the brain of the car,” she says.
“It’s like a mini-iPad that fits in the dash and
everything is slide-controlled. You can tell
the vehicle to go to a radio station or make a
phone call or find a destination — everything
is voice-activated.”
Up to 10 Bluetooth-enabled devices can
be paired with CUE. It’s even possible for two
phones to be activated at once.
The system also features Pandora music
streaming and access to GM’s groundbreaking OnStar driver-assistance service. Wolfe
says, CUE turns the Cadillac’s dashboard into
one big smartphone.
“My phone will be in my purse and I’ll get in
and within 10 seconds CUE has picked up all
of my music and all of my contacts instantaneously,” she says.
With amenities like this, no wonder the 2013
ATS was also awarded Vehicle of the Year by
the Motor Press Guild, North American Car of
the Year and even Luxury Car of the Year from
Popular Mechanics.
But the price point is also award-worthy;
there are still 2013 models available for less
than $40,000, Wolfe says, with 0.9 per cent
financing on both purchase and leasing. It’s
possible to lease an ATS for less than $200 a
month.
Also making waves at GSL GM City is the
2014 XTS Twin Turbo Vsport Platinum, which
Wolfe describes as the “big brother” to the
ATS.
Featuring a 3.6-litre, direct-injection V-6
engine pushing 410 h.p. and available in
interior colours from platinum to jet black,
the XTS is a luxury sedan that even makes
parking easy with the new Automatic Parking Assist feature. The XTS also comes
along with other five-star-rated safety
features such as adaptive forward lighting
that automatically switches from high to
low beam if it senses an oncoming set of
headlights.
The SRX crossover SUV, in front- and
all-wheel drive configurations, also with a
3.6-L V-6 engine and more than 300 hp
with dynamic stability control and blind-spot
monitoring system.
Cadillac describes the 2014 model as providing “equal doses of refinement and exhilaration,” with features such as backup camera
and optional Bose surround sound system.
“Cadillac and GM have stepped up their
game this year,” says Wolfe. “We’ve really
excelled in the safety features (like) blindspot alert, lane departure and adaptive
cruise control.”
Cadillac also offers full-coverage maintenance packages that include free detailing
once a year. When you bring in you Cadillac for service, a Cadillac will be loaned
to you and dropped off at your home or
business.
GSL also offers an on-site all makes collision centre and free shuttle service.
To learn more, come down to the GSL GM
City showroom at 1720 Bow Tr. S.W., call
403-265-7690, or visit gslgmcity.com.
It has been the vehicle of presidents, countless successful businesspeople and established families for generations. It’s a brand that
truly says you have arrived.
For decades, Lincoln has been synonymous with luxury. Universal Lincoln is poised
to help the classic brand move into a new era
of comfort and superior design.
“Lincoln is truly an iconic brand,” says vicepresident and general manager Darin Schotanus. “Today, it’s a modern, sleek and highly
intelligent vehicle.”
Nowhere is this more vividly illustrated than
with the new MKZ luxury sedan, which Schotanus says is a game-changer for the brand.
“It’s the new flagship design for Lincoln,
showcasing what Lincoln has become and
will continue to be in the future,” he says.
“It’s been redesigned from the
FAST FACTS
ground up with
technology unmatched within the
UNIVERSAL
industry.
FORD LINCOLN
Schotanus notes
DEALER PRINCIPAL
the MKZ has nextScott Schotanus
gen features such
as lane-keep assist,
VICE-PRESIDENT AND
adaptive cruise
GENERAL MANAGER
control, parking asDarin Schotanus
sist and a heated
LINCOLN SPECIALISTS
steering wheel.
Bruce Blough
Another feature is
Bryce Harrison
MyLincoln Touch,
which allows drivSERVICE MANAGER
ers to synch their
Darryl Agnew
smartphones with
the onboard computer and have hands-free access to navigation, climate control, entertainment choices
and even a selection of apps.
“With the traffic in this city, and with so many
people spending more time in their cars, the
more seamless a transition we can make for
the executive, the better,” says Schotanus.
The MKZ joins other classic lines such as
the bestselling MKX compact SUV and Lincoln Navigator SUV, which has proven that
the words “luxury” and “family vehicle” are not
mutually exclusive.
Lincoln also offers the MKT, a seven-passenger, all-wheel-drive crossover wagon.
“There’s a lot of choice within the Lincoln
brand, for whatever your lifestyle is,” says
Schotanus. “There is a Lincoln that will fit any
budget out there.”
Schotanus adds the range of buyers interested in the brand continues to widen as
more diverse clients embrace the classic lines
of these vehicles, their technology and their
classic name.
“It’s getting tougher to categorize the demographic,” he says. “We have loyal customers
on their sixth or seventh Lincoln, from the old
Continental to the new MKZ. But we’re also
seeing buyers getting a little younger, and
you’re seeing it reflected in the designs.”
For example, on the horizon is the all-new
MKC, a crossover SUV aimed at attracting
younger buyers. It’s expected to sport everything from soft, leather-wrapped interiors to
top-of-the-line technology such as MyLincoln
Touch and push-button gearshifts.
THE
2013 Lincoln MKZ...
IN
CADILLAC LUXURY
fall in love all over again.
BY G.S.L.
INTRODUCING THE ALL NEW
2014
STARTING
FROM
LEASE
FROM
0.9%
SRX
$42,289
2014
STARTING
FROM
XTS
58,095
$
2014
ATS
$41,835
STARTING
FROM
1720 BOW TRAIL SW, CALGARY
403-265-7690
w w w. g s l g m c i t y. c o m
GREYHOUND
BUS DEPOT
Visit our showroom
for complete details
2800 Barlow Trail NE
Calgary, Alberta T1Y 1A2
403-291-2800
“It’s aimed at a segment we’ve never targeted before,” says Schotanus.
Universal Lincoln, a family-owned dealership, has been in business for 70 years.
Schotanus says staff members knows that
a Lincoln buyer expects a higher standard of
customer service, from the first sale through
to the final maintenance visit.
All of this is the reason behind Universal Lincoln featuring the only fully standalone Lincoln
showroom in Western Canada.
“We have a separate waiting room with coffee and snacks, a business centre, a beautiful
fireplace, a TV — it’s a nice place to relax and
continue on with business while you wait for
servicing,” says Schotanus.
“You are not surrounded by the noise and
business of a traditional dealership.”
And if clients need a loaner vehicle, they are
provided with another Lincoln.
“With our standalone showroom, we want
our luxury buyer to really distinguish that
they have a Lincoln versus a Ford — a more
relaxed atmosphere where there is no pressure,” says Schotanus.
Universal Lincoln is located at 2800 Barlow
Tr. N.E. For more information, call 403-2912800 or visit myuniversal.ca.
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thirteen
Price is right
Rich history
Namesake
Proximity plus
On average, Canadian pricing for
Porsches has decreased every year
since 1999, compared to the U.S.
Porsche was founded in 1931 in
Stuttgart, Germany by Austrian
engineer Ferdinand Porsche.
Cooper’s Crossing is named for the
Cooper family, which settled the land in
1892 and farmed it for the next century.
Cooper’s Crossing is close to Chinook
Winds Park, the Sierra Springs retail
area, and it’s just north of Calgary.
Porsche Centre Calgary
Cooper’s Crossing
From the 911 to the recently redesigned 2014 Cayenne SUV, there is a luxury Porsche for every lifestyle
Buyers are finding their dream homes at the most prestigious addresses in Airdrie
Parked in the middle of Porsche Centre
Calgary’s Macleod Trail showroom is an
Aston Martin DBS, the type James Bond
drove in Casino Royale and one of the most
prestigious brands in the world.
So why is it here?
“We just took it on trade — the client
traded it in on a new Porsche 911,” says
general manager Craig Shostak.
Nearby, a sales associate chimes in that,
last year, they took in two Ferraris on trade
from customers who also would rather be
driving a Porsche.
If that isn’t illustration enough of Porsche's
appeal, nothing is.
From the 911 to the recently redesigned
2014 Cayenne SUV, there is a luxury
Porsche for every lifestyle.
“We don’t just offer one or two different
packages;
there are literFAST FACTS
ally hundreds
of options,”
PORSCHE CENTRE
says Shostak.
CALGARY
“Specific interior trim, leathGeneral Manager
ers, titanium
Craig Shostak
strips, carbon
Sales Manager
fibres are very
Lawrence Romanosky
popular on the
Pre-owned Sales Manager
inside. It really
Josef Figel
comes down to
the customer’s
AFTER Sales Manager
preference, esDerek Rush
pecially with our
service Manager
new Cayenne.”
Casey Connor
The Cayenne, available
starting as low
as the $60,000 range, is available in configurations from the 300-horsepower sixcylinder up to the sportier GTS model and
the 500-h.p. eight-cylinder turbo model.
“This sport utility is a race car, pure and
simple,” says Shostak as he shows off the
five-passenger Cayenne’s features that
include a centre control console, black
leather interior, automatically opening rear
hatch and heated seats. “You can take this
on the track and compete quite nicely with
the 911. It can go off-road … it’s probably
the truest sport utility out there.”
The new Cayenne is also powerful
enough to tow up to 7,000 lbs, making it
perfect for taking the boat out to the coast.
“The Cayenne has been on the road
since (about 2003), and they redesigned
it two years ago, so today it’s a completely
different vehicle,” says Shostak. “It’s been
made a little sportier and we’ve been selling
them like crazy.
“You can get a base model starting
at only $60,000, all the way up to a fully
loaded Cayenne for around $185,000. But
certainly the base price is right in the ball
park when you are comparing it to our competition as a great starter luxury vehicle.”
The Cayenne and the 911 are only two of
the iconic models available at Porsche Centre
Calgary, alongside the classic Boxster twodoor convertible with its innovative mid-body
engine placement (allowing roomy trunks at
both the front and rear), the four-door Panamera luxury sedan and the 2014 Cayman
two-door hard top which recently won a rave
driving review in the National Post.
One appeal about Porsche is you won’t
find millions of them on the streets.
“Porsche is not a volume dealer,” says
Shostak. “They want to sell cars, yes, but
they’re not chasing numbers. Porsche
doesn’t play the ‘zero per cent’ game.”
And this exclusivity – the type of thing that
might even make someone eschew Aston
Martin for a 911 or Ferrari for a Cayenne – extends into the sales and service experience.
“Our management team talks about customer service all the time,” says Shostak.
“Clients who buy Porsches are used to being pampered and treated well, so we have
to follow suit. And part of that is maintaining
communication with the customer – listening to what they want.
“Servicing is pretty much the same as
on the sales side. We used to have our
Porsche servicing done a few blocks away,
but it’s now all in one building. We provide
loaner vehicles and shuttle service … it
is all about treating the customer right.”
Porsche Centre Calgary is located at
5512 Macleod Tr. S.W.
For more information, call 403-319-0000
or visit porschecentrecalgary.com.
©2013 Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd. Porsche recommends seat belt usage and observance of all traffic laws at all times. *Fuel economy based on Transport Canada estimates. Actual mileage and range will vary.
The new Porsche Cayenne Diesel redefines what it means to be an SUV. It comes equipped with a 3.0L V6 turbodiesel
engine with common rail injection system that turns out 406 lb.-ft. of torque giving you exhilarating acceleration and
superior towing capabilities. Even with all this power it remains remarkably fuel efficient -- 6.7 L/100km highway and
over 1,400 km cruising range* in a single tank. It sets new boundaries in a category all its own. Porsche. There is no
substitute.
It may feel like the accelerator, but that's boundaries you're
pushing.
The new Porsche Cayenne Diesel.
South Centre Fine Cars
5512 MACLEOD TRAIL SOUTH
CALGARY AB T2H 0J5
(403) 319-0000
http://south-centre.porschedealer.com/
Porsche recommends
Located just north of Calgary, Airdrie has
truly come of age, attracting home buyers
looking for a more affordable alternative to the
fast-paced city.
Cooper’s Crossing in south Airdrie continues to raise the bar for quality homes and lots
in this growing city.
Since work on the neighbourhood began in
1999, developer WestMark Holdings Ltd. and
its builder group have worked hard to establish
a community filled with superior homes of every
housing type, from single- to multi-family.
And now a new phase of 24 front-drive
estate home lots has been launched on Cooper’s Park, which development manager Paul
Gerla calls “Airdrie’s most prestigious street.”
All back onto linear parks and pathways on a
quiet cul de sac, and range from 48 to 62 feet.
Gerla says similar-sized estate lots might set
buyers back $600,000 before even building
the house. In Cooper’s Park, home prices start
in the $800,000s, including the lot.
On nearby Cooper’s Crescent, WestMark’s
building partners have built show homes valued at between $900,000 and $1.2 million.
Canterra Custom Homes, Harder Homes,
and Crystal Creek Homes have pulled out all
the stops to show the dream home buyers
can have built at the most prestigious address
in Airdrie.
“Our front-drive estate home community is
comparable with the best areas in Calgary,”
says Gerla.
And it’s all about location. Cooper’s Park is
literally in the heart of the community, less than
a block from a beautiful central pond, boardwalk and a future school site.
Cooper’s Crossing features an extensive
park system with a network of trails that connect every corner of the community. It’s these
parks that add natural beauty to the community and provide a place for people to meet
and get from place to place safely, says Gerla.
“Kids love exploring the different trails, active
people use it for exercise — the parks are a
major reason why Cooper’s Crossing is such
an outstanding neighbourhood,” he says.
It’s a short walk to major retail to the east,
there’s easy access to Highway 2 for quick
commuting to Calgary or CrossIron Mills, and
the community pathway system will soon link
to a boutique shopping centre.
“You’ll be able to follow the park system
right into a central plaza – you can imagine the
cooper’s crossing
continues to
raise the bar for
quality homes
and lots in this
growing city.
cafes and restaurants right on the plaza, a real
Main Street feel,” Gerla says. “We envision the
people living in Cooper’s Crossing will want to
be out and about and active — and we know
that where you choose to live has a huge impact on how you live your life, as well as how
the value of your house will be sustained.”
Also coming soon is a phase of 27 reardrive estate home lots on Cooperstown Court
that face a beautiful central park and include
the option of building a “carriage house” off
the back lane.
“Essentially, they’re an oversized garage
with a developed loft — ideal for a home office
or studio,” says Gerla. “Vesta Properties will
be offering these homes later this fall.”
Gerla says Cooper’s Park, the first phase of
which was acclaimed by buyers and is home
to some of the finest estate homes in Airdrie,
is an eclectic street not tied to a specific architectural theme.
“We encourage diversity,” he says. “Strict
architectural guidelines ensure each individual
design is executed extremely well. At a time
when cookie-cutter neighbourhoods are
typical, people seem to really appreciate the
great variety of charming custom homes in
Cooper’s Crossing.
The great-looking homes make for interesting streetscapes. Residents are as proud of
the community as they are of their own home.” To get to Cooper’s Crossing, head west on
Yankee Valley Boulevard from the QE II Highway and turn left at Cooper’s Crossing Gate.
Follow the signs down Cooper’s Drive until
you find the estate show home parade at 616
to 624 Cooper’s Crescent (hours are 2 to 8
p.m. Monday to Thursday, noon to 5 p.m. on
weekends and holidays).
Visit cooperscrossing.ca.
fourteen
calgaryherald.com/luxury
calgaryherald.com/luxury
fifteen
Reap rewards
Luxury arrives
Cadenza buyers have access to a
premium customer call centre, and
get a special Kia rewards card.
Upcoming premium brands from Kia
include the Quoris sedan in 2014, and
possibly a future new sports car.
Eastside Kia
Dealership takes it to the next level with top designation and introduction of premium brands
Many
homeowners
have tastes
that can be
quite diverse
so designers
often work
with them to
create spaces
with decors
that are a
reflection
of their
experiences.
Blurred
Blurred lines
lines
Luxury decor is taking on a theme of its own mixing traditional and contemporary
Joel Schlesinger
W
hen money is no object, the options are limitless. This is certainly the
case when furnishing Calgary’s highend homes.
No one style dominates what’s ‘in’ for
luxury decor home furnishings.
It’s all about being unique, thoughtful,
creative and meaningful, says Darcy Lundgren, a longtime residential designer with
DaDe Art and Design Lab, an art gallery
and designer furniture store in Calgary.
“High end can be such a generic term.
To me, it doesn’t really equate to a dollar amount, but has to do more with the
thought process that goes into making
something.”
Today’s luxury homes feature styles that
straddle a variety of motifs.
“It’s all across the board, though. Some
spaces can be minimalist, open with clean
lines. They’re contemporary and uncluttered,” says Lundgren, who co-owns
DaDe with Greg Fraser.
Other homes focus on paying homage
to the past.
“You can go to another client who loves
antiques and blown glass. There may be
a collection of certain items that have a
‘curated space’ sensibility, designed specifically to showcase those pieces.”
Certainly, the long-term trend for luxury
decor continues to move toward a more
contemporary and modern flair — and
flexibility and functionality aren’t just the
requirements for a budget-conscious
homeowner.
“Having flexibility in pieces is important,
even in larger homes. People want their
spaces to be transformable,” Lundgren
says.
“People like to be able to have a formal
area that can easily be transformed into a
laid-back feel for being with just family.”
The Calgary market has been moving
toward modern, clean lines for the last two
decades, notes Stan Eisenberg, co-owner
of Eisenbergs’ Fine Furniture with his
brother Cliff and father Jack.
“When we started carrying luxury furniture in 1991, it was very hard to sell a
contemporary piece of furniture, but that’s
certainly evolved since then,” he says.
“Today, contemporary furniture is a big,
big chunk of our business.”
Two decades ago, luxury consumers in
Calgary were a conservative bunch. They
bristled at the idea of glass and metal,
preferring more ornate styles that wouldn’t
look out of place in a grand old mansion.
These days, luxury buyers are usually
more eclectic, often reflecting the city’s
multicultural and cosmopolitan growth.
One of the store’s more popular items is
a dining set from Century Furniture’s Milan
Collection. The table features a top made
from a large slab of wood cut from a large
tree with chrome or brass legs.
“It’s a contemporary piece of furniture
with a very earthy feel,” Eisenberg says,
adding demand is so strong for the piece
the store orders it months in advance to
ensure it’s available for customers.
Other popular styles are a cross of
contemporary and traditional styles, such
as Baker Furniture’s Thomas Pheasant
Collection.
“It’s hard to describe the style because
it’s so unique. One chair he has designed
has been labelled ‘iconic’ by Architectural
Digest,” he says. “It’s not traditional. It’s
not contemporary. It spans both.”
In fact, blurred lines are an increasing
trend for high-end design.
Many homeowners have tastes that can
be quite diverse so designers often work
with them to create spaces with decors
that are a reflection of their experiences.
“For me, as a designer, I work to build a
space that suits them and not necessarily trying to dictate the space for them,”
Lundgren says.
Many start with a centrepiece-type item.
That can be a sectional that cost several
thousand dollars or even a piece of art,
and they build the design from there.
For many, a high-end piece of furniture
is the focus of the room. It’s really a work
of art unto itself.
“I call them investment pieces because
you invest your money,” says Lundgren,
meaning it’s not just the fabrics that reflect
the quality—like silk or velvet, both of
which can push the price tag up substantially.
It’s the bones.
“The fabrics aren’t going to last forever,
but when you’re paying for the bones of
that sectional, the cost of reupholstering at
the end of the day really isn’t that burdensome because you’re getting a whole new
piece,” Lundgren says.
Eisenberg says many buyers want solid
patterned fabrics for furniture using throw
pillows to add a splash of colour and
texture.
Despite the growing taste for contemporary, Calgary’s market for ornately
designed pieces remains strong.
Baker’s Stately Homes Collection
features exact replica pieces of unique
furniture from some of the world’s most
historic and wealthy families.
“These pieces are exactly like the
original reproduced under licence from
the current owner of that piece,” says
Eisenberg.
One example is the Port Eliot Sofa — an
English Regency sofa with a serpentine
back and scrolled tapered arms. It’s an
exact copy of a piece that resides at
Broughton Castle, home to a family whose
history includes signing the Magna Carta.
Eisenberg says some luxury home
Nappa leather interiors, retractable side
mirrors, hydrophobic front door glass, an
exclusive call centre to discuss your vehicle
needs — these perks and many others are
set to become the hallmarks of Kia Canada’s
new line of premium vehicles that starts this
fall with the introduction of the 2014 Kia Cadenza sedan.
“Kia Canada has always been looking for
cars with more standard equipment, but a
lower entry price,” says Eastside Kia dealer
principal Kelly Temple.
“Our new ‘Premium Brand StratFAST FACTS egy’ shows our
customers they can
go to the next step
EASTSIDE KIA
without losing sight
Dealer Principal
of what made Kia
Kelly Temple
successful.”
PRESIDENT
Eastside Kia is
Jim McManes
one of only 38 dealPartner
erships across CanMike McManes
ada to earn Premium
Brand dealership
NEW VEHICLE
designation.
Sales Managers
“Not every Kia
Kirk Temple
dealership
makes
Jarett Schneider
the grade,” says
Pre-owned Managers
Temple.
Shawn Dinner
“You have to
Mike Wispinski
qualify based on
Service Manager
volume of sales,
your customer
Kirk Onrait
service index and
Parts Manager
size of your facility,
Bob Konschuh
and the ability for
your staff to handle
the specialized
training that comes with the designation.”
As southern Alberta’s largest-volume Kia
dealership, Eastside Kia has answered the
call. A new premium brand area is being built
in the showroom, with its own seating and
information area, digital displays, information
on Kia’s competitive premium-brand leasing
programs and, of course, the Cadenza. It will
be joined next year the Quoris, a rear-wheeldrive luxury sedan.
The Cadenza, created by Kia Canada’s
chief designer Peter Schreyer, aims to take
on other premium brands such as the Ford
Taurus and Chrysler 300, but at a lower,
“more vehicle for your dollar” price point
(starting at $39,280 for the base model, or
$46,480 for the loaded premium model).
“The Cadenza is for those who want to
step up to a luxury brand, but are valueoriented and don’t want to sacrifice luxury,”
says Temple.
The Cadenza is the most technologically
advanced vehicle Kia has ever produced,
notes Temple. Sophisticated and elegant,
the premium model has state-of-the-art
features such as HID headlights with
adaptive front lighting, upgraded premium
leather with heated and cooled driver seats,
12-speaker premium infinity sound, lanedeparture warning and blind-spot detec-
tion, push-button start, panoramic sunroof,
puddle lights and a hands-free UVO entertainment centre.
The premium model includes innovative
hydrophobic glass on the front side windows,
designed to repel water for better visibility.
Temple expects the new Premium Brand
showroom at Eastside Kia to be open by
Christmas, adding the Cadenza and the Quoris are only the beginning of Kia’s luxury lines.
One thing that isn’t changing is Eastside
Kia’s commitment to superior customer service, says Temple.
“We have a strategy called ‘Family-Like
Care,’” he says. “We want our customers to
feel like we’ll treat them like a member of our
family when they come to us.”
Learn about Kia’s new luxury brands at
Eastside Kia’s showroom, 2256 23 St. N.E.,
beside Barlow Trail. You can also call 403250-2502 or visit eastsidekia.ca.
2014 Kia
CADENZA
PREMIUM
$
46,480
FEATURES:
buyers are willing to spend hundreds of
thousands of dollars for their furnishings,
while others may be looking to invest in
just one piece that will the pride and joy of
a room.
What the style will be is largely up to
their sensibilities.
It’s about that personal touch, says
Lundgren.
“A space should feel like it’s been put
together carefully over time with meaning,
as opposed to designed in a matter of a
couple of weeks,” he says.
“There should be a sense that there’s
been a deep thought process put into
every piece as to why it’s there.”
Above: Darcy Lundgren, co-owner of
DaDe Art & Design. Main photo: Today's
styles straddle a variety of motifs including this traditional and contemporary chair
design at DaDe Art & Design. Photos by
Adrian Shellard.
• 293 HP
• HID headlights
• 19” alloy wheels
• Premium leather – heated & cooled drivers seat
• Infinity sound
• Rear window shade
EASTSIDE KIA
A PREMIUM BRAND DEALER
• Hydrophobic door glass
• Blind spot detection
• Lane departure warning system
• Smart cruise
• Panoramic sunroof
• Push button start
2256 23rd St NE • www.eastsidekia.ca
403-250-2502
.CA
Price include fees but not GST. Vehicles may not be exactly as illustrated. See dealer for details.