Harmony in The News

RCMP celebrate one year at the Springbank Park For All Seasons

October 2011

A full year has come and gone with the new RCMP office up and running at the Springbank Park for All Seasons. Harmony was honoured to be involved in this great community initiative through our sponsorship of the construction of the office. We wish to thank the RCMP for their hard work every day and look forward to working with our neighbours more in the future.

Progress...

September 2, 2009

It's been a while since we posted any news to the site but the Bordeaux Developments team has been working hard in the background despite a turbulent year in the economy. There are many technical, financial, civil and governmental elements that must fall into place in order to build a community of this scope. The bulk of our efforts lie in working on the technical and engineering elements in order for us to launch the subdivision approval of stage one. The development team continues to engage studies and analysis on engineering and transportation matters as part of our preparation before we are ready to service the land. Check back from time to time for future updates.

Rocky View Approves Harmony's First Phase

November 25, 2008

From the Municipal District of Rocky View, Alberta, Oct 10, 2008

The Harmony Concept Scheme comprises approximately 1,748 acres northwest of the Springbank Airport, and the Neighbourhood Plan offers detailed policy guidance, site-specific land uses,and implementation strategies for the first phase of development.

Reeve Lois Habberfield said Harmony is a development that promises to set a new benchmark for planning in Rocky View, as Council strives to create sustainable, complete communities.

“Harmony is a unique development in Rocky View,”said Reeve Habberfield. “By providing a diversity of housing, recreation, and economic development opportunities, Harmony reflects both Rocky View’s and the broader regional vision of creating truly sustainable development.”

The Harmony Concept Scheme and comprehensive Phase 1 Neighbourhood Plan is the result of extensive community consultation over five years. Incorporating “smart growth” principles, Harmony offers a holistic and comprehensive planning approach that focuses on sustainable land-use, architectural design, and servicing.

Division 2 area Councillor Mitch Yurchak commended both the developer and the community for their engagement throughout the process.

“While there are still some details to be worked out before the subdivision stage, I’m confident, based on the consultative process undertaken to date and interest expressed by both groups to continue to work together, that these concerns will be addressed,” said Councillor Yurchak.

Harmony aims to create a sustainable community that provides live, learn, work, and play opportunities for people of all ages, preserves the natural environment, and enhances the greater Springbank area.

The community will be constructed in six phases over 15 to 20 years, and will eventually be home to 3,500 residential units, with an estimated 1,200 to1,500 in this first phase.

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Bordeaux Developments contact:
Birol Fisekci: (403) 215-0802

Join us for the next Open House!

June 6, 2008

When: Thursday June 19th, 2008
Time: 5:00 – 8:00 pm (drop in)
Location: Calgary Flying Club (Hangar) at the Springbank Airport at 155 A MacLaurin Dr.

On February 13, 2007, the Conceptual Scheme for Harmony was unanimously approved. This Conceptual Scheme reflects more than four years of collaboration among partners, the project team, the community, regional stakeholders and the Municipal District of Rocky View.

Since February we have been working hard to further advance the details within the plan based upon the continual feedback we have received. This information was recently displayed at our January 16th open house. We hope you will once again join us at our upcoming open house to review the status of Harmony’s design and provide your further feedback.

We look forward to seeing you there. Harmony’s representatives will be available to answer questions at the open house. If you are unable to attend the meeting but are interested in learning more about Harmony please visit www.liveinharmony.ca

Should you require more information regarding the Open House, please contact Bordeaux Developments at (403) 215-0800

Ames puts designs on crafting a Legacy

May 27, 2008

(George Johnson, Calgary Herald)
From Calgary Herald Golf Weekly- Page D10- May 19, 2008

His designs for the moment are centered on Torrey Pines and theU.S. Open, three weeks from now, and then Royal Birkdale, that lovely old Claret Jug and the British Open a month after that.

But down the road a piece, Stephen Ames has designs on...well, designs.

A virtual who's who of golf has veered off in that direction, from shot-making to course-building. Bobby Jones. Arnie. The Bear. The Shark. Why, even the omnipotent Eldrick is horning in on the action. They all segued neatly into the logical extension of - and the ever-booming business of - design.

So many of the game's most accomplished on-course architects who've thrilled us by conquering other people's creations wind up blueprinting their own; their name,their fame, their accomplishments a signature stamp of authenticity, of prestige. Two years ago, Stephen Ames was granted charter membership in an exclusive club by blowing golf's toughest field to tiny bits in walking away with The Players Championship at Sawgrass.

Now he's put in an application for the design club, too. The Legacy Club at Harmony is scheduled to be a 500-member, 36-hole private layout-18 championship holes and an additional 18 for the less accomplished-located on a 1,012-hectare piece of land out Springbank way.

"Ten minutes," says Ames, "from my house."

The inevitable housing development will not actually ring the course, as has been the case with so many of the newer developments, but be built off to one side of the layout.

Ames says the original plan was to break ground this fall, but a more likely timetable pushes that back to next spring. "It's an exciting adventure, a real challenge. We're hoping to stage a Canadian Open there in the future. That's one of the reasons I'm involved. The immediate competitive goal, a tricky proposition, is to make the track as user friendly as possible, without eliminating the need for imagination and shot-making."

"So many golf courses today are not built for the people who play them day and day out. They're way too difficult. That just frustrates people. I think we can do a better job at that. The average golfer is a 10 to 15 handicap, remember. Before you build a golf course, you'd better understand who you're building it for. So that means you don't put in a hole that requires a 200-yard carry over water or 3-irons into greens on Par 4s with a trap running all the way across the front."

Which means a challenging four hours out on the links, but not impossible enough to make the mid-range handicapper chuck the clubs in the nearest, deepest lake.

"We plan on installing six tee boxes on every hole, to allow people to play to their level and get more enjoyment out of the game. If you're this handicap, we recommend you play from this tee. You can go all the way to the back and hit from there if you want, but this is where we recommend you play from."

What are the differences between the courses the pros play and the average golfer, anyway? They're longer, the rough is thicker and the greens are firmer and faster. So you take that into account and try to blend the two concepts together. The Calgary Country Club is perfect example. "I love playing that course. It's a little short for me, I can hit 3-irons off every tee, but the fairways are only 20 yards wide, so that's challenging.The point is that a professional can have fun on it, and the members can, too."

Ames' design partner on the Legacy project should be familiar to most of you. "Yes, The Johnny Miller," he laughs. "We're bringing him out of the broadcast booth for a while. Johnny designed his first golf course with Jack Nicklaus. Not bad, huh? Johnny learned from working with Jack and I'll learn working with Johnny."

Hard to believe that someone as opinionated as Stephen Ames will merely sit meekly back and absorb the intricacies of the job. You can wager large he'll be in the thick of the evolution. "Oh, I think I can add a few things, some ideas, that can help the project along. The way I look at it, this is a great opportunity. To work with Johnny on a course here in Calgary, where I live. Couldn't be better."

Don't anticipate the market being flooded with Stephen Ames tracks just yet, though. This is merely dabbing a toe into the course-design waters to gauge the temperature. He has designs on other, more pressing issues at the moment. Torrey Pines. Royal Birkdale. That elusive Major win."It's nothing I plan on really pursuing right now. My priority, my focus, is on playing golf, improving my game and winning tournaments. But sometime down the road, yes, definitely, I can see myself getting more involved in that end of the business."

"We all have our opinion on what makes a good golf course. It'll be fun to put that into practice. And this is a start."

New Calgary course casts eye on Canadian Open

February 27, 2008

(Lorne Rubenstein, The Globe and Mail, Source Article)

The background here is intriguing. Calgary-based Windmill Golf Group hired Miller's design firm to do a course as part of a new community at Harmony, on the northwest corner of Springbank Airport, in the city's western suburbs. Windmill has done a few well-received courses in the province.

"We pride ourselves on doing master-plan communities," Miller's son, Scott, who works in his father's firm, said during a telephone interview this week. "We feel it's fairly unique, our ability to take a project from raw land to the end."

The Millers have visited the site twice. They weren't considering a course that could stage the Canadian Open until Ames suggested the idea. He was aware of Windmill's other projects in Alberta, including the Elbow Springs course near his home. He got wind of the project, contacted Miller and offered to get involved.

"We heard about it through the grapevine," Ames said the other day while having breakfast at a restaurant in Calgary. "My guy [Kim Koss] looked into it and approached Johnny. He just wanted to build a course, but I asked about a course that could hold the Canadian Open."

Miller liked the idea, and Ames came aboard. Ames said, "It's been a treat working with Johnny and Scott. Johnny's been very obliging. For me, I want to learn to build courses. When I mentioned the idea of a Canadian Open, their eyes opened up."

Ames said plans are to build a course that can stretch to 8,100 yards. Calgary's altitude, along with how far players are hitting the ball today, means that's not a ludicrous length. It doesn't mean the course will play that long should the Canadian Open come there. But it doesn't hurt to have the yards available.

Ames will be involved in the design.

"It's in the best interest of the project to have him involved." Scott Miller said. "His group feels it's possible the course could host the Canadian Open. We would be very excited to have that happen."

As it happens, the RCGA's chief operating officer Rick Desrochers and its chief financial officer Dave Lafleur met with Ames and Koss in Calgary yesterday. Desrochers heard of the Miller-Ames collaboration when James Kinnear, the president of the Calgary-based Pengrowth Corp., informed him of it.

"Jim is not an insignificant person in Canadian golf," Desrochers said. Pengrowth is a sponsor, or premier partner as the RCGA terms it, of the Canadian Open, for which RBC is now title sponsor.

"He suggested I speak with Stephen and his associate. We'll listen to what they have to say."

Meanwhile, the RCGA has an agreement on another Calgary course with Gord Stollery, the owner of Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont. Stollery has business interests in Calgary. Desrochers said the agreement calls for a course capable of holding the Canadian Open to be ready for play by 2010. Nothing is in the works now. Desrochers said the contract expires in 2010.

Ames said construction at the Windmill course, to be called The Legacy at Harmony, will start next year, with an opening planned for 2012.

The Canadian Open will be held this year and next at Glen Abbey in Oakville, Ont.

And Calgary? "We would love to have the Open in Calgary at some point," Desrochers said.

That could happen in a few years, perhaps at the course where Miller and Ames are collaborating.

Open House displays Springbank's Harmony

February 27, 2008

(Enrique Massot, Rocky View Weekly, Volume 35 - Number 4)

The developer of the largest residential project ever attempted in the MD of Rocky View is confident a livable community with various densities, a mix of housing types and a strong commercial sector will create a complete community and avoid becoming a suburban bedroom community.

"One or two suburban offices is not really trying," said Birol Fisekci, president and CEO of Bordeaux Developments Corporation. "You have to be sure you have enough land dedicated for a corporate campus, and secondly, you need purpose."

Fisekci said the Harmony Conceptual Scheme, approved by Rocky View in February 2007, would have enough space to attract large corporations.

The concept proposal was displayed Wednesday at an open house at the Springbank Airport and there was a high turnout of residents.

The plan proposes to turn 11 sections of land adjacent to the north and west sides of the Springbank Airport into a country residential community comprising 3,500 houses at full build out in 10 to 15 years.

Its population could reach 10,000 people, the equivalent to the Town of Strathmore.

Harmony would include business nodes around the airport, where most open areas would be located, a central village intersecting with a planned 120-acre lake, and residential areas separated by green belts and connected by trails.

The developers vow to plant five trees per house, resulting in approximately 17,500 new trees in the area. After receiving feedback from those who attended the open house, Fisekci, expects to refine the proposal and be in front of council in July.

Fisekci said the company wants to add value to Springbank by proposing a model that complements existing communities.

"Springbank is beautiful," he said. "How do we complement and contribute to people's lifestyles?"

More than 600 acres would be dedicated to trails and other open space uses such as a lake and an 18-hole golf course which will be included in the first phase.

Overall average density will be two homes per acre, with a core village containing higher densities and a lower density on the periphery.

"One of the comments from the neighbours was ‘we have seen developers making big promises,'" said Fisekci. "But we want to make sure in each stage, amenities are built first."

The lake will serve as reservoir for water pumped from the Bow River that will go to a treatment plan before serving the development.

"People will have access to the lake in stage one," said Fisekci. "Fishing, swimming, skating, all those amenities will be there."

The plan states that up to 75 per cent of residential units will be located either in the village or within 400 metres of the village core edge, and 90 per cent of the homes would be located no farther than 800 metres away from the village core.

A variety of housing forms would include single-family detached, semi-detached, townhouses and apartment style residential units.

"If you are aging or physically impaired, you should be able to circulate within the community as effectively as anybody else," Fisekci said.

Roberto Binda, engineering consultant with Urban Systems, said pedestrian trails, horse trails and bike trails will provide exercise opportunities.

Monica Kohlhammer, president of MK Strategy Group, said the design of the community will promote a healthy lifestyle in Harmony with emphasis on prevention.

"Seniors will be part of that," she said. "There is ability for walking throughout the community." Senior independent assisted living will be available for those who need it.

Fisekci said the mix of different housing types while avoiding segregation and including 10 per cent of affordable housing will be key to form a healthy community.

"Your affordable product looks very attractive and nobody notices it's affordable," he said.

Residential areas surrounded by green belts would help create a sense of small neighbourhoods.

Harmony proposed to set aside 600 acres, or 33 per cent of the total land base, as an open space system.

"Because our school will be located inside the community, people will be able to go have lunch at their place and interact with their kids," said Fisekci.

'Village' project planned

February 27, 2008

(Kathy McCormick, Calgary Herald)

A couple of definitions of harmony fit with the vision for the latest development concept in the rural Municipal District of Rocky View.

Harmony is an "apt or aesthetic arrangement of parts; agreement or concord," says the Oxford Dictionary of Current English.

"We want to create a village where people want to belong," says Birol Fisekci, president of Bordeaux Developments. The company recently held an open house to further explain plans for its comprehensive development of Harmony adjacent to the Springbank airport.

"It's a lifestyle statement," says Fisekci. "We're not creating a bedroom or satellite community of Calgary, but a full village, with one-third of the area remaining as green space or water."

The master-planned community will be 700 hectares, and includes a lake system of about 48 hectares that will be the hub of the village setting.

Small shops and services will help create an ambience and allow residents to stay at home for entertainment and relaxation.

"The amenities will be for the whole Springbank area and the fundamentals include changing the proposed 18-hole golf course to 36 holes," says Fisekci.

The community, which has already obtained a water license, will also include a light commercial segment adjacent to the airport, where some businesses are already set up close by.

By completion, the community should have as many as 3,500 housing units of all types, including aging in place.

The key ones to the area's success will be the developer's partnerships with different organizations specializing in various aspects of holistic living, says Fisekci.

The company is working with groups such as WaterSmart, a non-profit organization that provides water conservation and technology.

It's also working with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) leaders in green building practices, where it will take part in a LEED for Neighbourhood Development pilot study.

The developer will also be working with GE Canada, which will help Harmony create the first "Ecomagination" community project of its kind in Canada.

Ecomagination is a GE program aimed at improving energy efficiency and sustainability.

Monica Kohlhammer, president of MK Strategy Group Inc., is also working with Bordeaux as a consultant in creating a wellness aspect to the community's development.

"There are nine pillars to development that will enable the community to work for residents," says Kohlhammer. "It's how communities should rise from the ground."

These are varied and include such things as organic food stores with a dietician in place to assist people, yoga classes and other fitness services, and a farmer's market to encourage fresh produce for consumers. But it goes deeper, says Kohlhammer. The neighbourhood pathway systems encourage a healthy lifestyle.

The retirement facility will be centralized and Kohlhammer is working on determining how seniors will be able to interact with the community and with schools in the neighbourhood.

"We're trying to focus on serenity through the community infrastructure with such things as open spaces and green spaces," she says. "I think that's the direction we're going to help communities be stronger in supporting health and well-being."

The first step in creating the community of Harmony -- the conceptual scheme -- was approved by the Municipal District of Rocky View last year. One more open house will take place, then the subdivision plan will go back to Rocky View council this summer for approval.

Tentative plans call for grading to start next year, with the first show homes on site by 2010.

GE Canada and Bordeaux Developments Partner to bring first ecomagination Homebuilder Program to Canada

September 18, 2007

CALGARY, ALBERTA. GE Canada and Bordeaux Developments today announced the signing of the first GE ecomagination Home Builder program in Canada. The proposed 1750+ acre Harmony project located west of the City of Calgary in Rocky View will incorporate sustainable development practices including leading edge environmental initiatives designed to promote healthy life styles and smart land use.

The family of Bill and Harriette Copithorne have partnered with Bordeaux Developments to ensure that the history of the region is respected, while making a positive sustainable contribution to the Municipal District of Rocky View.

"Harmony embraces environmental sustainability. It's unique characteristics will improve the quality of life for residents while minimizing the impact on the environment. Partnering with GE ecomagination Homebuilders program brings together an exciting portfolio of innovative and imaginative solutions to address environmental concerns", notes Birol Fisekci, President and CEO of Bordeaux Development Corporation.

GE launched the ecomagination Homebuilder Program in June, 2007. Harmony is the first ecomagination Homebuilder program outside the United States.

"We are delighted to launch the ecomagination Homebuilder program in Canada with an exceptional partner such as Bordeaux. Residents of Harmony will enjoy the benefit of lower utility costs as well as knowing they are living and working in one of the country's most sustainable communities", notes Elyse Allan, President and CEO of GE Canada.

The ecomagination Homebuilder program enables homeowners to view and interact with their indoor environments in a new way. The program simplifies the building of new homes with dramatically reduced energy usage, indoor water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Homebuyers will be able to track their use of energy and water via the new GE SmartCommand Dashboard. Harmony will also feature advanced GE lighting products and Energy Star appliances.

The project's infrastructure plan will incorporate leading technologies for conservation, in particular water reuse and management. Advisors on the conceptual approaches to Harmony are industry specialists, and Alberta WaterSMART.