A Different Kind of Developer’s Vision for Cranbrook
River Valley Estates is committed to meeting Cranbrook’s growing needs through responsible development.
Bird’s Eye View — The River Valley Estates master plan includes 46 executive homesites located on the Shadow Mountain Golf Course, nestled alongside the St. Mary River.
Andrea Warkentin isn’t conventional. Upon meeting her, with her easy smile and friendly, casual manner, you may not guess that Andrea is one of Canada’s most successful self-made women in real estate development, with a career built on belief in herself and a resolve to not let the fear of making mistakes stand in her way. From her gentle, welcoming demeanor, you may also not guess Andrea was a member of the Vancouver Police Department before moving to Red Deer, Alberta in 2006 to focus on parenting from home while educating herself on creative approaches to real estate that would allow her more freedom.
She started buying and renovating distressed properties to help make home ownership achievable for people unable to qualify for traditional mortgages through a rent-to-own program that allowed 50 renters to become owners, literally opening doors to more secure futures. She’s also built a large portfolio of multi-family rental properties throughout Central Alberta that provide quality, affordable housing in areas with low rental availability. Andrea has a new local project that she believes will not only bring much needed affordable family housing to the area, but also firmly place the Cranbrook/Kimberley region as a top all-year lifestyle destination.
River Valley Estates is a master planned community nestled between Shadow Mountain Golf Course and St. Mary River. The project will be multi-phased and is created for residents of all stages of life, beginning with townhomes starting from $499,900 in its first neighbourhood, Elk Crossing.
“The benefit of living in Cranbrook is that everything is here: the airport, shopping, schools, the hospital, and of course, incredible recreation, “says Warkentin, “but what’s needed is affordable housing for families and people working in areas like education, health care, and law enforcement. So that’s what we’re addressing with our first neighbourhood, Elk Crossing.”
Her assessment agrees with the City of Cranbrook’s Housing Needs Report, which projected that by 2031, the city will need 1,400 new homes to meet demand, with 900 of those units being more affordable options. “To keep attracting the kind of workforce that Cranbrook needs for sustainable growth, affordable and high-quality housing needs to be available,” Warkentin comments.
Creating Community - Previously a member of the Vancouver Police Department, and currently a real estate developer and ballroom dancer, Andrea Warkentin is a woman with a vision and a plan.
The master planned community is currently offering homesites backing onto the golf course, ready to welcome those seeking to build their dream home surrounded by top alpine resorts and the recreation lifestyle found in our part of the Kootenays.
From Vancouver to Red Deer to Cranbrook, from police officer to stay-at-home mom to self-taught real estate investor and in-demand real estate coach, Andrea even found time to tick another box off her bucket list in 2021, competing in her first (of many) ballroom dancing competitions. “When I believe in something, I just move forward with it,” she says, “If you're afraid to make a mistake, you’ll always be sitting still.”
To learn more about Warkentin’s vision for River Valley Estates, visit rivervalleyestates.ca.
~ Sylvia McNamee, Ace Project Marketing Group
Find this full-length story and more in The Trench’s Spring + Summer 2024 edition: