Calgary’s first garden-to-table community is a wonderful concept, but even a better reality. With bountiful and beautiful gardens for one to explore the many ways life can bloom, it is Rangeview’s roots that continue to inspire with a sense of place and history amidst natural wonders that just seem to grow together. Gardens, orchards, and food celebration may set them apart, yet it’s just the beginning.
Home to a collection of signature homes, modern amenities, multiple public squares, an inviting greenbelt and a natural wetland, all complemented by shared and private gardens—Rangeview is picking the very best from what community has to offer. “This is a place that provides residents the opportunity to be part of something truly unique,” shares Marion Murray, Senior Vice President of Section23 Developments, adding, “From food production to preparation and celebration, everything grown here connects residents to the land and to each another.”
A community a century in the making, Rangeview is grounded in a family legacy and today welcomes a new generation of families ready to cultivate a new way of life. Conceived by Robert Ollerenshaw, Founder and Executive Chairman of Section23 Developments, Rangeview resides on the land where his parents and grandparents Joe and Florence Ollerenshaw first broke ground with their self-sufficient farmstead in 1923.
Their son Fred and his wife Marjorie took over the family farm and expanded their holdings to include Section 23. And while Fred’s little schoolhouse has not endured, it’s name—Rangeview School— lives on as a fitting tribute by Robert to honour his father, while celebrating something new and exciting. Rangeview preserves the farming tradition of the Ollerenshaw family’s lands—a perfect balance of modern living with respect for a way of life that sustained generations.
“It’s unique for the developer to be the original homesteader” admits Murray, “Robert viewed Agricultural Urbanism, the practice of integrating local food growth in the design and programming of communities, as the ideal opportunity for RangeviewWe are the first community of it’s kind in Alberta to introduce the concept and only the second in Canada.”
“My sister June and I had a very special upbringing on the farm, working in the garden with our parents,” shares Robert Ollerenshaw. “Rangeview realizes our goal to create a place that honours Alberta’s agricultural tradition, while seamlessly integrating gardening with residential living.”
The community’s distinct garden-to-table lifestyle appeals to homeowners from all walks of life and Rangeview’s signature Farmhouse architectural styles are proving very popular with its family-friendly pricing and award-winning builders ready to celebrate a lifestyle in a community unlike any other.
The community’s first three home styles are townhomes from the high $400’s, laned homes from the low $500’s and front garage homes from the low $600’s with multi-family offerings from the $200’s anticipated to launch this fall. Design-forward show homes are now open to tour with models exclusively by Baywest Homes, Homes by Avi and Jayman BUILT. “Currently, we have front garage lots that back onto the naturalized wetlands that can be walkout homes from the low $700’s,” offers Murray.
Rangeview's vibrant streets will also be rich in character and diversity thanks to three distinct interpretations of Farmhouse architecture. Featuring Classic, Arts & Crafts, and Modern Farmhouse styles, each unique Farmhouse style exemplifies authentic forms and details inherent in each.
Community gardens will entice residents to lend a hand in the planting, nurturing, harvesting and preparation of fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs. A greenhouse, pollinator gardens, and fruit orchards support an even more varied and diverse agricultural ecosystem with an opportunity for new and experienced gardeners alike to learn and be included. “We hired an Urban Agriculture Educator to teach our community members how to grow food and host events and workshops,” shares Murray. “And by opening the community greenhouse as early as we did, people can see our vision come to life.”
Residents can expect food celebration in Rangeview to take many lively forms, from private dinner parties to community-wide farmers’ markets, harvest festivals, children’s activities, cooking lessons and much more. These year-round events and educational programs will be managed by its Home Owners Association, inviting everyone to participate as much, or as little as their social calendar will allow.
Rangeview’s garden-to-table lifestyle will be enjoyed in three key squares, natural areas, and a scenic west-east greenway. Market Square is on the horizon, offering an inviting area for farmers’ markets and seasonal celebrations, and will be home to Harvest Hall, Rangeview’s community building hub for events and programming. Also to follow, Central Greenway and Innovation Square is Rangeview’s greenhouse, and orchard, a community Food Hub structure designed for informal gatherings, play areas, pathways, harvest tables, and demonstration gardens. Further East on the Greenway and Harvest Square will be connected to Rangeview’s pathway system and will be home to large kitchen gardens, food forests, orchards, and demonstration gardens designed to teach urban agriculture. Themed play equipment and open lawn spaces will also be popular with the young at heart.
“Coming this summer, Butterfly Park will be our first area for community allotment gardens. Also opening soon, our outdoor classroom—an amphitheater overlooking the wetlands—will help host our next phases with much to follow,” states Murray. “We are still in the early days with about 10% developed of our total 320 acres here at Rangeview.”
Rangeview offers the best of both worlds—a quiet, close-knit village feel, but with access to southeast Calgary’s most beloved urban amenities only a short drive away. With Seton and Mahogany next door, restaurants, entertainment, conveniences, and the South Health Campus are just minutes from home.
“We are very close to Seton and its amenities and schools and adjacent to 52nd Street and 88th Street, which feeds to Stoney Trail. Everything is incredibly accessible with multiple access points,” affirms Murray. “We are smaller than Seton or Mahogany and really wanted to create a small town feel with an emphasis on community and relationships. Rangeview is already proving to be a close-knit and safe community with our HOA already in place and events well in hand.”
Currently, the food produced is shared directly at no additional charge with their residents. “We create harvest baskets and our homeowners drop by weekly while supplies last. We also have a beekeeper! Already there are so many ways to connect, learn, participate and get together,” continues Murray.
Communities like Rangeview are on the forefront of reconnecting and educating people about the growth, harvesting, processing, and preparation of the food we eat, creating more vibrant and more prosperous neighbourhoods. Driven by the demand for social, economic and environmental sustainability, the idea of Agricultural Urbanism is quickly gaining momentum across North America. “This concept really resonated with our early adopters and how they want to raise their families,” notes Murray. “It’s beyond gardening and is evolving quickly into a connection with nature, their neighbours, and community events.”
In Rangeview there’s plenty of room to grow, countless places to meet new friends, and all the amenities, events, and conveniences one would need to find happiness. “We have all one would expect from a new community including green spaces, future school sites, paved pathways, and playgrounds with much more to come, but layered on top of that is our community gardens and the support of our professional horticulturist,” explains Murray. “It’s a healthy place to live and grow.”