Campers spark mini land rush west of Calgary
Last Updated: Thursday, May 3, 2007 | 11:52 AM ET
CBC News
The growing demand for high-end real estate in Calgary has families camping out in RVs and tents in hopes of buying lots in a new community west of the city.
A group of more than 20 is camping for a week in a field off Highway 8 at the Elbow Valley West site to ensure they get the lot they want.
Marketing it as a "land rush," the developer is selling the lots on a first-come, first-served basis. The site has just over 50 lots ranging from a quarter acre to two acres, with the best lots selling for more than $500,000.
Stacey Martin has been calling an RV home since Monday.
"This is the best land in Calgary. The best view, and we want to have a shot at getting a lot. I wasn't expecting to stay in a camper, but you do what you got to do."
David Aaron, a homebuilder, is hoping to buy 10 of the lots.
"It's been nice even meeting the other people. There's some other home builders here, there's families here as well. I think I'm even going to move into this community ... myself."
Ajay Manning is living in another RV next door with her 13-month-old son.
"This is his first camping experience," she said. "And mom here has definitely had to be creative being in an RV with him all day and all night."
But the campers don't have long to wait. The lots start selling on Saturday.
"There could be some disappointed people because they're just simply not going to have the opportunity to get one of those lots," said Jim Doucette, manager of land sales for Elbow Valley West.
