When you think of a lake town, the image you get is usually of a peaceful, bucolic place where one can relax with the gentle lapping of the waves in the background. But in Mahogany – Calgary’s newest lake community – the idyllic setting is certainly there, but there is renewed emphasis on the active, fun lifestyle that makes the most of what is now the city’s largest residential water feature.

The squealing laughter of children enjoying the wide swath of beachfront, the soft whoosh of canoes and kayaks gliding across the lake’s shimmering surface during the warmer months, and the excited shouts of hockey players and skaters in the winter. This is the vision for Mahogany – an easy-living, fun-loving lake community that won Calgary’s new community of the year in 2010.

This master planned community in the southeast has the biggest lake in Calgary at 63 acres, and combined with its wide beachfront, offers a stunning 84-acre year-round outdoor playground. Its location just on the southern edge of the city by Highway 22X and Deerfoot Trail gives it a distinct advantage of being close enough to all amenities, but maintain its distance as a world of its own.

Opened in September 2008, this latest development by Hopewell Residential Communities took home last year’s best new community prize at the annual SAM Awards. The developer says almost 350 homes have already been purchased in this exciting 1,200-acre community, which is projected to eventually see some 25,000 homes on build out.

“It will have and extraordinary mix of home collections, unique shops, restaurants, 265 acres of open space and parks, wetlands and beautiful streetscapes,” Hopewell’s Carlie Leask says.

“Other lake communities offer a sleepy, ‘cottage living’ atmosphere, but Mahogany can truly offer active lake lifestyle living, where homeowners and families can retreat to the comfort of their lakeside or lake area home, or fill their day with lake-centered activity,” she says.

“Eventually this will include being able to access areas like the Urban Village and Main Beach by kayak or canoe, while also being able to walk from their home to the shoreline, huge urban Central Park, and shopping and nightlife. As ‘Calgary’s lake’ the Mahogany lifestyle offers a more dynamic way of life for a broader range of homeowners – all centered around their own, private lake-amenity.”

It certainly is off to a good start, as its second parade of Lakeland Collection of homes opened to great acclaim last fall with a terrific collection of innovatively designed front garage homes from Jayman MasterBUILT, Sabal Homes, Stepper Custom Homes and Trico Homes. 

Two highly anticipated new show home parades are scheduled to open April 9th featuring a second Lakeland Collection of laned homes exclusively by Sabal Homes and the introduction of Mahogany’s newest Collection, the Reserve Collection- featuring lakeside estate homes by Baywest Homes, Calbridge Homes and Morrison Homes.

The Reserve Collection’s upscale estate residences enjoy premium home sites with private Mahogany Lake access, and combine generously-sized floor plans with luxurious appointments and character-rich architecture to create executive-sized family homes of enduring value. Mahogany’s Lakeside Estate Homes are the ideal choice for those who seek an incredible location and a larger home with estate-level refinement.

“Mahogany will eventually be home to a variety of different housing options that will cater to a wide range of consumers. Everything from condos and townhomes to luxury island estate homes on the Island of Mahogany Lake,” Leask says. 

Currently, Mahogany is home to seven award-winning builders featured in three collections and four different housing options, ranging in price from the $330,000s to $650,000s.

The Mahogany lifestyle, homes and collections, and community as a whole will attract a wide variety of buyers- from those looking to purchase their first home, those looking for more space for a growing family or anyone looking to live life to the fullest in a community that is all about ‘living life’.  

“Mahogany’s popularity has really gained momentum as more and more people discover it and share the discovery with their friends, families, and colleagues,” she adds. 

Mahogany began years ago as a vision for the future, when Hopewell Residential Communities set out to create Calgary’s first truly ‘complete’ community.  Undeniably a groundbreaking community, whose lifespan will last between 15 and 20 years, Mahogany is like no other- created, designed and constructed with vision and innovation, and sets a new standard for urban living by reinventing and redefining the meaning of community. 

“We at Hopewell view it with tremendous pride as we believe it sets the standard for Canadian suburban communities in terms of offering a deeply enriching and diverse community experience. Our pride is matched and exceeded only by the residents who now call it home,” Leask says.

For more information on Mahogany, visit the show homes or information centre or check out www.mahoganyliving.com

Mahogany’s Collection of homes and their builders:

Boulevard Collection:

Attached Homes exclusively by Sabal Homes- priced from the $330,000s. Homes range in size from 1,300 sq. ft. - 1,600 sq. ft.

Lakeland Collection:

Laned Homes exclusively by Sabal Homes- priced from the $350,000s. Homes range from 1,300 sq. ft. to 1,800 sq. ft

Front Garage Homes by Jayman MasterBUILT, Sabal Homes, Stepper Custom Homes and Trico Homes - priced from the $450,000s, size range from 1,800 sq. ft. to 2,500 sq. ft.

Reserve Collection:

Lakeside Estate Homes by Baywest Homes, Calbridge Homes and Morrison Homes - all with private Mahogany Lake access- priced from the mid $600s