Forget Portland or Vancouver - Calgary Selected for Site of First-Ever Downtown Apple Orchard

Survey of Canadians and Americans shows choice of Alberta city for project surprises everyone, even Calgarians

TORONTO, July 15, 2014 /CNW/ - An innovative condo development anchored by a one-acre apple orchard is poised to put Calgary on the map in terms of creative city planning. And a survey of Canadians and Americans shows the city is not top of mind when it comes to progressive real estate developments and innovative urban design.

When shown an image of the condo design, including the orchard, 16 per cent of Americans guessed the project will be built in eco-friendly Portland, followed by 11 per cent saying Vancouver and 11 per cent New York City. Calgary ranked 12^th, with 4 per cent, barely beating out Boston, which ended up last.

A third of Canadians guessed Vancouver, followed by 21 per cent saying Toronto and 9 per cent NYC. Calgary was in the middle of the pack with 7 per cent. Only 11 per cent of Albertans envisioned the project in Calgary - with their top guesses Vancouver and Portland.

"Calgary has a hard-earned reputation as a hub for a wide range of creative, successful people and businesses," says Brad Lamb, CEO of Lamb Development Corp. "I hope our project helps showcase the city's hunger for imaginative design that puts urban lifestyle front and centre."

The survey, which polled more than 2,000 Americans and Canadians, also found that the two country's share a common demand for more liveable urban neighbourhoods.

• 93 per cent of Canadians and 90 per cent of Americans want more green space downtown;
• A similar number (93 per cent of Canadians and 91 per cent of Americans) say cities must be more creative with green space;
• Growing food downtown would be a welcome trend, with 90 per cent of Canadians and 88 per cent of Americans supporting the idea.

Younger people on both sides of the border are more attracted to living downtown, especially if there was ample green space and walkable areas. Of those polled who are 18 to 34, 70 per cent of Canadians and 64 per cent of Americans would choose living downtown as opposed to the suburbs. That rate drops as they get older, with only 48 per cent of Canadians and 41 per cent of Americans 55-plus willing to live in the heart of the city if it meant more green space, walkable areas, and convenience.

"Condo developers must start thinking more courageously when it comes to designing downtown projects," says Lamb. "City living has so much to offer. Now is the time to start reinventing the way we envision downtown communities, especially the integration of shared green space."

OVERALL RANKING OF CITIES -

The table below shows the rankings of cities that Americans and Canadians guessed as the site for the condo development with a one-acre apple orchard.  The actual city - Calgary, AB.

AMERICANS	CANADIANS
1. Portland, OR	Vancouver, BC
2. New York, NY	Toronto, ON
3. Vancouver, BC	New York, NY
4. Chicago, IL	Los Angeles, CA
5. Miami, FL	Chicago, IL
6. Toronto, ON	Austin, TX
7. Austin, TX	Calgary, AB
8. San Francisco, CA	San Francisco, CA
9. Los Angeles, CA	Portland, OR
10. Raleigh, NC	Miami, FL
11. Las Vegas NV	Las Vegas, NV
12. Calgary, AB	Raleigh, NC
13. Boston, MA	Boston, MA

The Orchard on Twelfth is a planned, two tower condominium project at 3rd Street and 12th Avenue in Calgary, AB, Canada.  The approximately 61,000 sq. ft. land parcel will include the two 31 storey buildings separated by a blooming apple orchard featuring two variations of quality, edible apples. The Orchard will be designed to specific conditions needed to grown and sustain the food source. The one-acre Orchard will be a focal point of the neighbourhood, integrating the project within Calgary's downtown and creating a walkable and exciting public destination.

SURVEY METHODOLOGY
These are findings of two Ipsos Reid surveys conducted between June 27 to 30^th, 2014 on behalf of Lamb Development Corp. A sample of n=1,005 Canadian, from Ipsos' Canadian online panel were interviewed, and a sample of n=1,006 Americans from Ipsos' US online panel were interviewed. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics to ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to Census data for both countries, and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. The precision of Ipsos online surveys is measured using a credibility interval.  In this case, the total sample is accurate to within +/-3.5 percentage points had all Canadians or all Americans been surveyed. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error and measurement error.

ABOUT LAMB DEVELOPMENT CORP (LDC):
Lamb Development Corp. was founded in 2001 by Toronto's top condominium broker, Brad J. Lamb, to directly participate in the development of stylish, urban condominium projects. Lamb Development Corp. has become one of the country's busiest development companies, with each project pioneering up-and-coming locations and delivering a stylish, urban solution to each property.

Video with caption: "Video: Brad Lamb's Vision for Calgary the Orchard on Twelfth ". Video available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_fw-ongDGY&feature=youtu.be

Image with caption: "The Orchard on Twelfth (CNW Group/Lamb Development Corp.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140715_C7684_PHOTO_EN_42088.jpg

SOURCE: Lamb Development Corp.

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