Young couple finds a home that fits at Meridian in Seton, by Logel Homes.
For Addy Smart, 25, and Isaiah Pelly, 26, the dream of buying a first home has always been about more than owning property. It’s about staying close to family, building a future together and putting down roots in southeast Calgary, an area of the city that they have long called home.
After two years of house hunting, countless hours spent researching online, comparing floor plans and amenities, and weekends driving past constructions sites, the couple finally found the place where they can picture the next chapter of their lives unfolding. They purchased a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment-style condominium in the latest multi-family community within the thriving and award-winning community of Seton, Meridian in Seton by Logel Homes.
“It’s always been both of our dreams to live in Seton,” says Isaiah. “We wanted to be close to family, so living in the south was a huge for us.”
The pair has been together for eight years and has spent much of their relationship living just minutes apart. Isaiah’s family moved to Copperfield in 2011, while Addy’s family had put down roots nearby, leaving the couple only a five-minute drive from each other.
So that connection to southeast Calgary made Seton an easy choice.
When the couple became engaged while on a trip to New York in January, the couple moved into Addy’s parents’ basement and turned on the afterburners on their house hunt.
“We are pretty fortunate that we both have family who will support us as we get our ducks in a row and save some money,” says Isaiah, who had been living with his family prior to moving in with Addy’s family.
Beyond its location, Seton’s growing urban district checked every box. Addy is finishing up nursing school this fall and hopes to begin her career at South Health Campus, just a short walk from their future home. The couple loves the area’s walkability, restaurants, amenities and active lifestyle.
“We have a beautiful friend group,” says Addy. “And, the location was a big plus. It will be so great to go out to the restaurants with them.”
“And to play basketball and pickleball at the community centre; it’s just steps away from our house — The Block. It’s got a gym, too,” says Isaiah. “We’re so set.”
The couple says that it was kind of random that they found Logel Homes. “But it also wasn’t,” says Isaiah. “We did a lot of research.” Part of their research involved talking to two family friends, one who is a realtor and the other who is a mortgage broker. Both recommended Logel Homes, giving the couple confidence that they were making the right choice.
“They just spoke so highly of them,” says Addy.
At first, they considered Logel Homes’ Seton West project, which is nearby to Meridian in Seton, but possessions would have been too soon for the couple’s time line. But when they began to explore the company’s newest project, Meridian in Seton, which is slated to break ground this fall, they fell in love. “It all just kind of snowballed,” says Isaiah.
Meridian in Seton is a collection of one- and two-bedroom apartment-style condominiums, spread across 10, four-storey buildings. Architecture is West Coast Contemporary with plenty of timber frame details. The buildings grace a 10-acre site located between Seton Way and Water Street and within a three-minute walk of Seton’s High Street.
“We created Clocktower Green to integrate our development into its surroundings, where people can walk around ponds, connected pathways, and then come home to an outdoor amenity space with bocce courts, outdoor dining, barbecue, and fire pit areas, all surrounding our clocktower landmark,” says Reilly LePage, director of sales and marketing for Logel Homes.
The couple initially went online to check out the project and its various floor plans — it offers 15 home plans with square footages ranging from 527 to 1,118 sq. ft. Drawing from the online images, they had their eyes on the Jackson model, a two-bedroom, two-bathroom design. “But once we toured the show suites and saw the Atwood 4ES, it was love at first sight. We were like, ‘Yes! This is it. This is the one we are going to be buying.’ “
The Atwood floor plan delivered everything on their wish list: two bedrooms, two bathrooms, an open-concept layout, generous natural light, a big kitchen with lots of counterspace, built for entertaining. Double sinks in the primary ensuite and a walk-in closet were high priorities, while the oversized island, which with the option can be up to 10 feet long, immediately caught their attention.
“We are very close with friends and family. So, if someone came over and wanted to stay overnight, we wanted room for them and we also wanted to future proof for a child eventually, that was quite important for us,” says Addy.
Then they met the sales team. “They were very comforting and supportive. All of the questions that we had they had great feedback for us at all hours of the day. For us we are first time buyers so it was intimidating and they were great. The show suites were amazing. Lots of bonuses.”
“Our vision is to provide something for everyone as affordability continues to be a challenge for Calgarians,” says Logel Homes’ LePage. To that end, buyers receive $20,000 in design credits and work with an interior designer to choose from 2,000 upgrade and standard options.
The couple chose a second-floor corner unit measuring 1,106 sq. ft. with an open-concept layout, large windows and nearly 200 sq. ft. of outdoor terrace space.
“We’re so excited to have people over,” says Addy.
For Isaiah, who works in the construction industry specializing in architectural glass, the quality of construction was another deciding factor. “Logel Homes sent us home with a binder with the details about how they construct their buildings,” he says.
He was impressed by the company’s attention to details such as sound attenuation and airflow systems.
“Logel Homes made our choice buying in Seton a breeze. They gave us such great guidance. They just made it obvious that they were the builders,” says Isaiah.
The home is designed to suit the life they’re already building together. Their two vehicles will fit comfortably in the underground tandem parking stall, and the adjacent underground storage locker will fit all of their camping gear, bikes and Isaiah’s hockey equipment.
One of the non-negotiables was a pets-allowed policy.
“It’s the first thing I asked,” says Addy. The couple is already planning to add a fur baby to the family. “I think it will be some kind of Doodle,” she says, although they haven’t fully decided yet.
Until construction begins in the fall, Addy and Isaiah have made a habit of driving by the site every weekend.
“Have they put the shovels in yet?” has become a familiar question.
“We’ve been to the show home probably 1,000 times, too,” says Isaiah. “We’ve been showing everyone. Our parents. My little sister. Everyone.”
“And we’ve been looking at furniture. We have so many wish lists and so many things picked out. Pinterest. Ikea. We’re so excited,” says Abby.
THE DETAILS
DEVELOPMENT: Meridian in Seton, a collection of one- and two-bedroom apartment-style condominiums, spread across 10, four-storey buildings. Buyers can choose from 13 home plans ranging in size from 527 to 1,118 sq. ft.
DEVELOPER: Logel Homes
COMMUNITY: Seton, developed by Brookfield Residential
HOME: The Atwood 4ES, a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment-style condominium, with an oversized island in the kitchen and double sinks in the primary ensuite. The home offers generous square footage, coming in at 1,106 sq. ft. plus a very large outdoor terrace.
PRICES: Homes start at $209,900, including GST. The Atwood 4ES starts at $394,900.
SHOW SUITE: The show suites are located at 200 Seton Circle SE. They are open Monday to Thursday from 2 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from noon to 5 p.m. They are closed on Fridays.