Airdrie House and Home: Lanark Landing, the community that has it all

 When shopping for a new home, location is everything.

If you’re looking for a community with nearby schools and playgrounds, easy access to the Queen Elizabeth II Highway (QEII) and a host of services and shopping options, then Lanark Landing in Airdrie should be your first and only stop.

With nearly 100 years in operation, Melcor Developments Ltd. has extensive experience building communities that homeowners are excited to live in. Honing its knowledge of land development, Melcor is the name behind numerous master-planned communities.

The thoughtful consideration and planning of Lanark is evident in everything from the community’s name to its architectural control elements.

Lanark Landing draws on the name of Airdrie itself – derived from a Scottish town of the same name located in the historic county of Lanarkshire – and the Gaelic origin of the word Lanark, which means “a clear open space.” Melcor felt Lanark Landing was a fitting name due to the expansiveness of the land where the community was laid out.

“A place with a diverse array of housing; master-planned architecturally around thoughtfully integrated park space; giving families and individuals room to grow and live their best life. The waterwheel on the entry feature of Lanark Landing is inspired by one of the earliest examples of a master-planned community – New Lanark,” states a Melcor poster outlining the story behind the name.

“New Lanark saw the construction of not only well-designed housing but also public buildings and open spaces designed to improve human health in response to the challenges presented by industrial society. Today, New Lanark is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an important historical milestone in the development of the garden city movement and modern urban planning.”

Lanark Landing pays a respectful homage to the rich historical roots of its namesake community through its waterwheel – a nod to the massive waterwheels needed to power the cotton mills in New Lanark – its intentionally developed open spaces and Melcor’s commitment to planning communities for a lifetime.

Alan Boucher, Melcor’s Regional Manager of Calgary Land Division, said the recognition of achievements from the past, paired with the trends homebuyers desire, is brought to life in Lanark Landing’s architectural control elements. The clean mid-modern architecture throughout the community is seen in the “detailed entrance features, masonry features and lighting, and even the landscaping of the pergola and traffic circle.”

“[The] carefully selected builder group in Lanark Landing has curated a portfolio of prairie, farmhouse, brownstone housing styles with clean and modern mid-century features,” the story behind the name poster states. “Melcor is very pleased to partner with our builder group to create a master-planned community worthy of its namesake in Scotland.”

With everything Lanark Landing has to offer, it is no wonder homebuyers are choosing to call the community home.

Located in Airdrie's southeast quadrant, adjacent to King’s Heights and Ravenswood, Lanark Landing has it all. 

“The amenities from King’s Heights blend into the community of Lanark Landing. Miles of walking paths connect the communities to trails around the storm pond wetland area,” Boucher said. “The outdoor skating rink is right next door, with playfields and open spaces to roam.

Thoughtfully designed with the needs and wants of residents in mind, the community supplies ample opportunity for homeowners to explore and enjoy the area. A working waterwheel on the entry feature welcomes visitors, and roundabouts are decoratively lit and landscaped to tie the community theme together.

Parks can be found on every block connected to local and regional pathways, as well.

“These parks feature lounge chairs, benches, playground equipment, pergolas, lush plantings and lighting for your night-time stroll,” Boucher said. “There are also amphitheatres, picnic tables, a basketball court, a four-season gathering space with shelter, community gardens and orchards and a community fire pit – so many ways to meet your neighbours.”

 A new bike pump track amenity is in design adjacent to the community garden.  A community plan with detailed design concepts will be released later this fall. 

The kilometres of pathways that intersect Lanark Landing and its neighbouring communities will give parents ease of mind as their children walk to school without crossing any major traffic corridors. Students living in Lanark are just minutes away from Heloise Lorimer School (K-5), Francophone d’Airdrie (K-12) and the private non-profit school Footprints for Learning Academy (currently K-10, with plans to expand to Grade 12). Additionally, a future school site – geared for the separate system – is located directly beside the community’s first phase and includes sports fields, a pump track and a boarded outdoor rink for four-season fun.

Another incredible perk for residents living in this sought-after community is how close Lanark is to Kingsview Market and Kingsview Industrial Park. Kingsview Market offers everything from Save-On-Foods to Fulton’s Home Hardware, medical and health services to banking options, and Dollarama to Plantlife Cannabis – everything a resident could need is within walking distance of their home.

Kingsview Market also boasts a plethora of dining options, including everything from fast-food, pubs and sushi to Airdrie favourites like Abe’s Modern Diner and the Toad ‘n’ Turtle Pubhouse & Grill. Having so many options so close to home makes supporting local businesses easier than ever.

Residents will find more dining options, a doggy daycare, a car wash, Magic Mountain Daycare and more amenities just south of the market along Kingsview Boulevard. The community also boasts two nearby off-leash walking areas and a post office.

If access to numerous amenities isn’t enough to entice homebuyers, the site of the future 40 Avenue highway bridge and interchange makes Lanark irresistible. Located just a short drive down Sharp Hill Way, the interchange – expected to open to traffic in October 2024 – will make Lanark the most accessible Airdrie community to those returning north off of the QEII. Whether heading to Calgary or the nearby CrossIron Mills mall and Costco, the new interchange will help residents complete their to-do list in no time.

“Melcor plans communities for a lifetime with emphasis on building not just a subdivision of houses, but building a community designed for ageing in place,” Boucher said. “This means there is a variety of product and price point available so no matter at what age or stage in life, you can stay in the community you plant your roots into.”

From finding a starter home to moving up or downsizing, there is something for each stage and price point in Lanark. With semi-detached duplexes and townhomes starting in the low $320s, Lanark offers an attainable dream for first-time homebuyers. Laned Single Family homes start in the $370s, while front-drive single-family homes are available from the mid $470s. 

“We have an exceptional builder group including Castellano Custom Homes, Douglas Homes, Homes by Avi, McKee Homes and Pacesetter Homes,” Boucher said.

Showhomes in the first phase of Lanark opened in the spring of 2020 – a tough time for almost everyone as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold of Alberta. The initial plan, according to Boucher, was to have all showhomes opening at that time.

However, pandemic-related restrictions limited crews, naturally extended timelines and the development’s official grand opening took place in September 2020 instead.

When the going got tough, Melcor got creative. Lanark Landing was one of the first communities to have a complete set of virtual tours online, according to Boucher. The company hosted virtual scavenger hunts where answers were found within the virtual tours of available showhomes.

“Given all the COVID impacts, sales activity has been very strong,” Boucher said. “Perhaps a positive result of COVID for smaller communities is that they are increasingly attractive to homebuyers looking to escape the city and get more value for their money.”

 “Whether you’re gaining square footage or downsizing, you’ll be maximizing lifestyle, whatever that looks like for you,” states the community’s website, liveinlanark.com