A new multifamily development featuring 345 condominium units across two six-storey buildings is launching at Taza Park, as developers look to expand housing options and attract buyers to the fast-growing southwest Calgary community on Tsuut’ina Nation land.

Developers say interest in the project is also being fuelled by a more streamlined and timely approval process through the Tsuut’ina Nation’s development authority, with timelines significantly shorter than those typically seen in the City of Calgary.

Overall, Taza Park will offer a diverse mix of homes for all stages of life, including villas, townhomes and condominiums, along with purpose-built rental and senior housing, for a total of approximately 6,500 residences at full build-out and an anticipated population of roughly 16,000.

The latest project, Black Birch Heights by Crystal Creek Homes, will launch in the coming weeks.

Richard Daley, president of the multifamily Division for Crystal Creek, told RENX it’s all about location with Taza in a prime district in the southwest part of Calgary with direct access to the Ring Road and Glenmore Trail nearby.

“You’ve got faster connections to downtown, key employment areas around there. It’s adjacent to the Weaselhead Flats. You’ve got the Elbow River there. You’ve got the Glenmore Reservoir. You’ve got real nature versus, in the city, they have a lot more engineered-type ponds,” Daley explained, adding Crystal Creek joins Brookfield Residential and Homes by Avi as key developers on the site.

Crystal Creek is also currently building 94 bungalow villas in Juniper Ridge at Taza.

The attraction of Taza

“Arguably, over the past year, Taza has been one of the hottest-selling communities in Calgary.... We are pioneering right now, so it’s got a lower entry price versus comparable southwest Calgary communities. Basically, it’s more attainable for buyers right now without having to sacrifice location.”

Another draw is the number of amenities, including a shopping centre nearby.

“We have a unique cultural identity, which buyers have been very receptive to. It’s an Indigenous-led development with the Tsuut’ina Nation," Daley said. "We’re kind of on the sidelines for approvals and that kind of stuff. One of the biggest advantages of Taza Park, especially when you’re doing multi-family, is the faster approval timeline.

“The DP approvals are not governed by the City of Calgary, so it’s a faster, more streamlined development approval process.”

For a builder, that helps reduce delays and carrying costs.

“Whenever you can turn your product quicker, that’s a huge advantage.”

He said the Black Birch Heights project will be a mix of one-bedrooms, two-bedrooms, larger two-bedrooms, two-bedrooms with den.

Pricing at Black Birch Heights

“Taza wanted somebody to come in and do some build-and-sell product so that we could get a lower entry-level price point into the community and provide more affordable housing as well,” Daley explained. “We’ll be releasing our one-bedrooms from the low $300s, and we’ll be into the low $600s for our biggest units on the sixth floor. So we’re pretty excited about it.”

Daley said Crystal Creek has a contract with Taza on an adjacent site to the bungalow villas to build more there, and has first right of refusal for land directly north of the apartment site to do more six-storey apartments. 

“We’ll continue with the work we’re going to do on Black Birch Heights, and it’ll be a nice segue into that as well.”

Property on the Indigenous land is leasehold ownership. At Taza, homeowners own everything on the land, except the land itself.

Maureen Henderson, vice-president community experience, Taza Development Corp., said as the development continues there will be more product mix.

“You’ll likely see some duplex, you’ll likely see purpose-built rental, you’ll see more condominium. There’s going to be a variety. So it’s a combination of style and also whether it’s rental or for purchase,” she said, adding the majority of it will be purchase.

Henderson trumpted ne other aspect of the project, the involvement of the First Nation itself.

“More importantly, with the partnership with Tsuut’ina Nation, there is a unique capacity for this development to create something special.

"We are able to work from the very beginning in a collaborative fashion with the Nation to have an authentic representation of culture, art, and placemaking considerations that will allow for a unique look and feel of the development.”