Lakewood experiencing significant construction projects

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Lakewood of Strathmore has officially announced the ongoing construction of what will come to be the 18-acre manmade lake within the growing neighbourhood. 

“This is a milestone that we have been working towards as the new group, since we took over the community of Lakewood,” said Scott Silva, director of sales and marketing with Lakewood of Strathmore. “I always like to use the joke, ‘we are not called Pondwood, we are called Lakewood for a reason,’ so getting to this milestone is not only the centerpiece of the project but it means that so much more is happening.”

In order to set the stage for the lake’s construction, the area must first be excavated in order to prepare for the foundations both for the water body to exist, as well as for the infrastructure which will maintain it. 

Silva added among other avenues which may attract people to reside within Lakewood, one goal within the community is to offer a dramatically more affordable opportunity to reside adjacent to a significant body of water. 

“If you look at our close neighbors like Calgary where anything on a lake community is going to run you close to $2 million and up, we are planning on being at least half that and even under in a lot of areas with what we are building,” said Silva. 

“Imagine living on a lake similar to Lake Mahogany or Lake McKenzie where you have year-round activities (such as) skating in the winter, non-motorized recreational activities in the summer, and you are talking half the price of what you see in Calgary.”

With the onset of the lake construction, other amenities and residential construction is closely following in its wake.

Further developments that are not to be watered down include additional pathways throughout the community, and a new road along the west boundary of Lakewood. 

Excavation for the lake officially started shortly prior to the new year. Current projections for the construction of the lake estimate a timeline of approximately two years until it is completed. 

“All of the water is managed through several regulatory bodies here in Alberta. The primary one I think that everybody is going to want to look at is how the water maintained, and that is done through several different steps working with those regulatory bodies,” said Silva. “It is a full recreational lake … which covers a large general swath of activities but ultimately non-motorized is what we are looking to achieve, so that means swimming, paddleboarding, and canoeing.”

Additional residential developments

Also on the horizon for construction in the community of Lakewood are 51 residential townhome units.

These units are described as projected to each be between 1,300 and 1,500 square feet of living space for future residents. 

Silva, who, regarding this development, spoke as the director of marketing for Lakewood Towns, explained the project will be broken down into several phases. Phase 1 will consist of 12 of these units. 

“Out of these first 12 units, seven of them … are going to be sold at a loss. The developer is wanting to not only accelerate activity, but get the project moving as fast as possible,” he said. “The developer of this land acquired the title in 2024 based on the demand not only in Strathmore, but also the progress of Lakewood … these units right now are being sold at a value that does not account for a lake being built.”

Among the construction options being made available are contingencies for those who may wish to create suites for seniors and extended family.

These units are not being proposed as something to be a first-time home purchase, nor to be thought of as contributing to local affordable housing options.

“I would not call these units ‘entry level,’ because of their finishes and whatnot, but they do allow for an affordable lifestyle by combining family members or having in-laws or to be inserting a potential rental,” said Silva.

The current goal is to potentially see people moving into newly constructed homes by the end of 2025, or in early 2026.