University District brings a fresh solution to Nor

CALGARY, Alberta, Sept. 26, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- West Campus Development Trust (The Trust) and Save-On-Foods announce the latest addition to Calgary’s University District development plans, unveiling a first look at the community’s new 38,000-square-foot grocery store. This Northwest location marks Save-On-Food’s sixth store in Calgary, breaking ground at the end of 2017 and anticipated to open in 2020.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/Attachm...90a0f92edd

Save-On-Foods is joining University District as one of the major anchor tenants and part of the first mixed-used development block within the project. The Trust is excited to introduce such an integral amenity within the community in the early phase of development — the grocery store's opening will take place shortly after University District welcomes its first residents.

“We are excited for Save-On-Foods to be a part of University District,” says James Robertson, West Campus Development Trust’s president and CEO. “It is a natural fit and the company shares common principles about lifestyle with our vision for the community.

We identified an opportunity to be market leaders with this development and set a new benchmark in Calgary. A grocery store is a cornerstone in any neighbourhood, and it is important for our residents to move into a complete community from day one – to have access to a day-to-day service that changes the quality of life. Residents can enjoy a true urban village and we are excited that Save-On-Foods agreed with our vision.”

Expected to meet a growing need for more grocery shopping options in the Northwest, Save-On-Foods will tailor services and products to the needs of local community members. The company has shown a commitment to going above and beyond for its community members – from in-store accessibility for the blind, partnerships with more than 2,000 local growers and producers, and leading-edge energy-efficient stores and practices for handling organics, waste and recycling. Similarly, the concept aligns with how The Trust has focused on serving Northwest Calgary with a collaborative, people-first design process, resulting in the master-planned urban community.

“Save-On-Foods is about building relationships with our communities and University District is no exception,” says Save-On-Foods president Darrell Jones. “We are excited to start customizing this location for the urban Northwest communities and to be a part of this unique, lively development that goes the extra mile for its future residents. We’re more than a grocery retailer; we want to be considered as a community member and good neighbour.”

Similar to the University District planning approach, townhalls will be held prior to starting the development to learn what piques residents’ interests and what they are hoping to see in the new grocery store. Dates for the townhalls will be announced in the coming months.

Above the grocery store, the mixed-use rental building, built by Gracorp Capital Advisors Ltd. (Gracorp), will feature 288 units of residential space. The units are anticipated to be one to three-bedroom floor plans that range in size from 528 square feet up to 1,130 square feet, meeting the needs for single-family living in a multi-family variety.

“The vision for University District is for it to be one of Calgary’s most livable communities, offering mixed-use residential and retail opportunities, giving residents everything they need in one central location,” says Barry Poffenroth, director of real estate at Gracorp Capital Advisors Ltd. “We are offering housing options with size, space and flexibility in a more compact form with easy accessibility to the grocery store and other retail services along the main street.”

Nine additional retailers will be part of the grocery store block, and have been carefully chosen to meet a host of community needs and interests—from neighbourhood coffee shop and specialty restaurant, to pet store and wine merchant. In the coming months, The Trust will be announcing some of those retailers, and the newest hotel resident and builder, located across the street from the grocery store.

To celebrate the latest grocery store announcement, The Trust, Save-On-Foods and Gracorp are launching an in-store campaign for the upcoming holiday season, a Thanksgiving Feast for Families in Need. From September 27 to October 6, the partners welcome Calgarians to donate to I Can for Kids , a local charity combating childhood hunger. For every dollar donated, the partners will match the donation, and customers who donate will receive a ballot to enter to win a harvest basket with a $100 gift card. Join the partners on October 6 at the Save-On-Foods Panorama location as we ‘carve out time for families, friends, food and fun’.

About Save-On-Foods Save-On-Foods is committed to Going the Extra Mile for customers in every community served, every day. Known for its unique approach in customizing each store to best suit the needs of the neighbourhood by carrying more than 2,500 locally-made products from more than 2,000 local growers and producers, the company has been innovating and putting customers first for over a hundred years.

About Gracorp Capital Advisors Ltd. Gracorp is a merchant-style, private market real estate developer with offices in Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto. It is a subsidiary of the Graham Group, one of Canada’s largest and most respected construction companies. From office, retail, hospitality, industrial and institutional to multi-family residential, Gracorp partners with a variety of landowners, developers and investment firms to deliver real estate investment opportunities to the marketplace. Gracorp is currently involved in developing seven projects in Canada and the Pacific Northwest totaling approximately $760 million. About West Campus Development Trust West Campus Development Trust (the Trust) is the community developer for Calgary’s University District. Setting a high standard for sustainable neighbourhood design, the Trust has created and led a progressive community Master Plan for 200 acres of land. With quality, design and expertise at the forefront, its team and 14-member board of directors are dedicated to creating the city’s premier urban residential community. True to fundamental values of transparency, collaboration and mindful progress, the Trust is creating a community for all Calgarians to experience and enjoy.

About University District To the west of the University of Calgary and overlooking the Bow River and Rocky Mountains, University District is a comprehensive 200-acre community with a bold new vision for urban life in Calgary. Through a collaborative, people-first design process, the master planning and thorough engagement program forged strong respect between local stakeholders and the Trust. The neighbourhood applies the best ideas in city design and incorporates the wants and needs of surrounding legacy communities – weaving current aesthetic, technology and lifestyle options into the strong social fabric of the city. For more information about University District, visit its Discovery Centre at 4410 University Ave. N.W., Calgary (just north of the Alberta Children’s Hospital) or go online: myuniversitydistrict.ca and visit Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook , #UDLife.

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