But in the executive enclave of Currie Barracks — the city’s newest and most promising inner-city neighbourhood — Birchwood Properties has cornered the market for these prized lots. And the much-renowned home builder is making the most of the opportunity by coming up with a home design that maximizes the unique positioning of these exceptional parcels of land.

Their newly opened show home, The Monarch, is as regal as it sounds — and at $1.3 million including lot, GST, it is still the most affordable of its kind. “To build a home in an inner city neighbourhood from the ground up will already be in the $1.2 million range and you may still not get everything you want with it,” says Birchwood area manager Amy Koehn.

Not so with Birchwood, Koehn says, as they have “big builder abilities and custom home sensibilities” that allows them to offer uniquely designed homes at much more affordable prices than a traditional renovating company can hope to match.

There are only three corner lots left, she says, and the way Birchwood has become the top-selling single-family home builder in Currie Barracks, Koehn is confident that those won’t last long either. “Especially when they see what the Monarch show home has to offer.”

The show home, at the corner of Murmansk Way S.W., is an elegant Colonial style with brick façade and big, tall windows that give it a very commanding street presence. At over 2,000 square-feet, The Monarch is a majestic example of suburban comfort in an inner- city setting. The beauty of it is Birchwood also offers The Monarch in Prairie and Tudor elevations.

“The Prairie style is inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s design with flat roof lines, while the Tudor has higher pitched ones, but no matter which one you choose, it will still be the most visually arresting home on the street,” Koehn says.

“No matter the elevation, you are virtually assured of having both a porch and a second storey verandah or terrace, and along with your deck in the backyard you will have plenty of private outdoor space to enjoy.”

The interior design is as dramatic and full of character as the exteriors suggest. The open-to-above-foyer at the entrance set in the middle of the home sets the tone for the undoubted majesty of The Monarch.

It has an open concept design at heart, but vastly different from anything you might see in the suburbs, as the main floor components still retain their own individuality but without the use of walls. There’s a living room, and formal dining room on one side of the house and the kitchen, nook and family room on the other.

“There’s a sense of formality, there are distinct spaces where the adults can gather during parties and where the kids can keep to themselves,” she adds.

The big galley kitchen is so wide and inviting, it deserves a cooking show of its own. It’s also very functional with lots of storage spaces and the wide counter space in gleaming granite gives one all the workspace needed to inspire cuisine creativity.

The best thing about The Monarch is that it can be built with a detached garage, on top of which you can build a nanny suite. “It’s a fully functioning suite with kitchen and bath where you can house guests or rent out to supplement the mortgage,” Koehn says. “And we can do this on any lot in Currie Barracks.”

The Monarch also adheres to the stringent sustainability standards enforced in Currie Barracks, which is the first Canadian community to receive LEED-ND gold certification. Every aspect of the community is planned to adhere with LEED-ND criteria, and is recognized for its commitment to growth and new urbanism.

“Currie Barracks is a real jewel and the homes we offer here reflect every aspect of this fascinating community,” Koehn says. She mentions that Birchwood has a special on one of their spec homes here that’s a perfect family-friendly home with a February 2012 possession.

“And at $999,999, it’s way more affordable than doing your own inner-city renovation project,” she adds.

FAST FACTS:

Builder: Birchwood Properties

Area: Currie Barracks

Developer: Canada Lands Company

Style: Two storey with detached garage

Size: 2,116 sq. ft.

Price: $1.3 million

Address: 5 Murmansk Way S.W.

Directions: North on Crowchild Trail S.W., west on 33 Ave., left on 29 St. to Sarcee Road and follow the signs

Hours: Monday to Thursday, 2 to 8 p.m.; weekends and holidays, noon to 5 p.m.

Web:  www.birchwoodproperties.ca