The social features of LIDO cannot be overstated — its location in the heart of Calgary’s hip and vibrant Kensington area creates an instant community for its residents who can readily enjoy the numerous restaurants, cafes and boutique shops that abound nearby. Its mobile function is defined by its ease of accessibility to the downtown core — you can walk to work or hop on a train at the nearby Sunnyside/Hillhurst LRT station. As for its local attributes, how much more local can you be when the developer is one of Calgary’s own.

This mixed-use, transit-oriented-development is going up on the corner of 10th Street and 2nd Avenue N.W., it is an all-concrete, eight-storey building that will have 60 residential units. There will be unique commercial opportunities at the street level, as well as a hotel component that makes it one of the most innovatively designed developments in the city.

But Battistella sales and marketing manager, Traci Wilson, says it is the relaxed urban lifestyle that LIDO offers that is its biggest appeal. “We have already sold 50 per cent of the units, and people are really excited to live here,” she says.

It is a follow-up to Battistella’s sold-out PIXEL condo, an enormously successful development that’s on the same block facing 9A Street. “People who missed out on PIXEL couldn’t wait for LIDO to begin, and the bigger suites we have in this new development are certainly attracting a lot of buyers,” she says. 

One-, two- and three-bedroom units are available, most range from 780 to 1,500 square-feet and come with one parking stall. “These are the biggest suites that Battistella has ever designed,” Wilson says. Smaller one-bedroom units are also offered from 430 to 500 square-feet with no parking. 

Regardless the size, all the suites reinforce the theme of comfortable living for the building. After all, “lido” in Europe can mean beach or shore, but has a broader meaning as “a place for relaxation,” Wilson says. “It’s also a way of honouring the Italian heritage of the Battistella family.”

Battistella Developments is indeed a rarity, as it is one of the few Calgary-based builders actively engaged in the booming condo market. “That is definitely something that is important to our clients and sets us apart from the competition,” Wilson says.

As a local developer, Wilson says Battistella is more attuned to the wants and needs of Calgary’s condo buying public. But more than that is the solid reputation they have built. “Battistella has been building for over 30 years in the inner-city. We only build one project at a time, and have never had to stop or cancel a building because of the economy. Our building practices are another thing that sets us apart from the competition.”

A telling indicator of their workmanship and repute is that the owners of the mechanical contracting company and the envelope engineering firm, both of whom have worked with Battistella in several past projects, have personally bought at PIXEL as their primary residence. “Because they are firm believers of Battistella Developments,” Wilson says.

LIDO adds to their reputation as a high-quality developer with the top-notch design packages they offer. They have three mid-century modern interior designs to choose from Glam, Bauhaus, and Classic — all sporting a polished, sophisticated look where Don Draper of Mad Men fame wouldn’t look out of place.

“Each one is designed around the LIDO lifestyle, including nine-foot ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows and a new hybrid vinyl plank flooring, which we’re introducing in North America for the first time,” Wilson says. The flooring fits well with LIDO’s pet-friendly design.

Interested parties can get a feel of LIDO’s richly sophisticated palette in Battistella’s recently opened, newly renovated show suite on Kensington Road.

LIDO’s one-bedrooms start in the $280,000s; two-bedrooms start in the $520,000s; while three-bedroom are from the $900,000s.

Battistella is partnering with the renowned Calgary-based Dobbin Group to build LIDO. The Dobbin Group has been instrumental in the revitalization of Kensington and their involvement with LIDO ensures that the design will fit with the overall look of the neighbourhood, Wilson says.

The 20-suite hotel component on the second floor will be run by a different managing company. They will cater to more long-term clients like visiting business executives, but can be handy for residents to put up their guests as well.

The retailers on the ground level will be more specialty boutique shops rather than chain stores, according to Wilson, and there will be a public parkade level, adding more public parking options to the area. The hotel and public parkade will have a separate entrance from the residential units.

The rooftop patio is the only shared amenity at LIDO to keep condo fees down. “It’s a great feature to have and helps build camaraderie among neighbours, and it is the only common amenity you will need here, as everything else can be easily found in and around Kensington,” she adds.

Fast Facts
Community: Hillhurst/Sunnyside
Project: LIDO
Developer: Battistella Developments
Style: Apartment-style condos, mixed-use building with public parking, retail and boutique hotel
Size: From 430 to 500 sq. ft (no parking), and 780 to 1,500 sq. ft (with parking)
Price: One-bedrooms from $280,000s, two-bedrooms from $520,000s, and three-bedrooms from the $900,000s
Sales Centre: 1120 Kensington Road N.W.
Website: http://www.battistella.ca/lido