The new lake and golf community of Harmony
Halfway between Cochrane and Calgary in the rural community of Springbank lies an exciting new community that is creating a lot of buzz. It’s called Harmony, and if your family is looking for a quite lifestyle similar to what the Town of Cochrane offers, it might be worth checking out.
It’s a brand-new community, built just west of the Springbank airport above the Bow River Valley. Recently at the Sales and Marketing (SAM) Awards, it captured the top spot for Community of the Year in the Calgary Region, among others.
The Developers Behind Harmony
It’s being developed by two different companies who are collaborating on this innovative country community – Bordeaux Properties and another well-known Canadian developer – Qualico Communities. People who work in real estate and the construction industry in Calgary and Cochrane obviously approve of what’s happening there.
The ground was first scraped in 2014. The first residents are out there, even in the early stages of this community which encompasses 208 hectares of land (514 acres). About 30% of the land in Harmony is dedicated to open green space. Things like sports fields, wetlands, storm ponds and 25 km of pathways keep that open feeling in the community. After all, if you’re out in the country, the last thing you’re interested in is density which is what Calgary, following the new urbanism movement, is all about.
When the neighbourhood is finished, there will be 3,500 households in Harmony, mostly in single-family homes. Although there will be some multi-family projects constructed and some villa communities.
Yet Harmony will offer some of those urban benefits that homeowners want. A central village square with stores, services, restaurants, ice cream and coffee shops. Gathering places where you can have a community barbecue or soccer practise.
The big park in Harmony is called Paint Brush Park and there is already spring rugby happening in this space.
A New Golf Course Next Door
Another big drawing feature of the community is the addition of an 18-hole championship golf course. Dubbed the Mickelson National Golf Club, the developers are working with Phil Mickelson who won the PGA Tour 42 times, to build this fantastic amenity.
The other big amenity in the community is the Discovery Centre. It’s currently the sales centre and the building when visitors can learn about the history of the area, why it’s being developed, how its taking shape and the types of homes people can build or purchase in the community. It’s also being used by the community and when sales are completed, the entire building will be turned over to residents as a community hall or Resident’s Association building.
The design and concept for the building also won Harmony a SAM Award for 2017.
Later this year, the duo of Bordeaux and Qualico will start to release Phase 3 of the development. The lake area of Harmony will have a Beach Club built alongside and an outdoor play area which they’re calling the Adventure Zone.
Getting Around
With no public transit available just yet, Harmony buyers will almost certainly require a car to get kids to school, to sports and to shop outside of the community. There are good schools in the Springbank district and a private school almost next door at the Edge School for athletes just south of the airport.
There are schools in the Rocky View school division in Cochrane for Harmony students as well.
Where to Find Harmony
Harmony is easy to get to from Calgary or Cochrane. From Calgary, take the Trans Canada west to the Calaway Park exit, turn north then west at the white church and follow the signs. From Cochrane, take Highway 22 south to the Trans Canada then head east to the Calaway Park exit, turn north then west at the white church.