Kevin Nielson wishes he could take credit for the spectacular view from Spring Valley Estates, but he can’t deny who should take a bow.

“Good old Mother Nature,” he says with a smile as he gives a visitor the tour, “has given this a five-star rating.”

Nielson, marketing co-ordinator for the housing development, is standing at this remarkable location on the western edge of Calgary, enjoying his thousandth look at the panoramic view of the foothills, the awe-inspiring Rocky Mountains and the twists and turns of ancient green valleys.

It still takes his breath away.

This is what clients get when they purchase a lot and build an estate home in one of the city’s premier developments. House prices start at about $675,000.

The homes at Spring Valley Estates take advantage of the panoramic view of the foothills and Rocky Mountains.

Situated just west of 77th St. S.W. and north of Springbank Drive S.W., Spring Valley Estates blends classic architectural styles and beautiful natural materials with state-of-the-art amenities and high-quality finishing. The houses also satisfy the estate-home buyer’s expectations of roomy living space.

Lots measuring one-third to one-half acre range in price from $214,000 to $350,000. On them will typically be a home costing two to three times the lot price.

The $1.3-million showhome by Legend Developments gives prospective buyers a taste of what’s possible, from roomy decks and an appealing natural-stone exterior to maple woodwork and high-end tiles on the interior.

It’s all bathed in natural light from expansive windows. Builders at work in Spring Valley are Legend, Newcastle, Granville, DaVinci, Larrata and Homes by Wallace. Three showhomes are open for viewing, from 4 - 8 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays and from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

“We’ve got an architectural control process, whereby clients and builders submit their floorplans to us,” Nielson says.

“Our guidelines are meant to be high quality, but we don’t want to constrain the homeowner.”

Phase 1 of the five-phase Spring Valley project is completed, and two others are under way. So far, you’ll see a kind of Canadiana style to the architecture with a little French country influence in some of the rooflines.

“We definitely emphasize quality products and materials, that’s what we’re more concerned about,” Nielson explains.

“No vinyl siding, no vinyl windows, real stone on the outside. Stucco is allowed in moderation, and there are steep roof pitches, a minimum of five-in-twelve” – a vertical rise of five inches for every 12 inches of horizontal run.

All the homes must be at least 12 feet apart. That condition, plus the large lots – and the fact that natural trees are retained as much as possible – gives the area a decidedly rural feel.

Nielson believes that for too long, dwellings were designed as if we were all at war with Mother Nature – houses with small windows and yards, huddled together like squinting cattle braving a storm. Streets and lots bulldozed clear of mature trees, with every square foot paved that wasn’t seeded with grass.

Little or no use of natural stone. Cookie-cutter designs.

“All these homes are custom-built,” he says, waving his hand at Spring Valley’s gorgeous landscape. “Each builder and each client will have their own specifics.

“Each home is unique, and they are surrounded with spruce, pine and trembling aspen.”

Walking trails abound.

“The whole philosophy, and part of the mandate from the City of Calgary when they gave us the ability to develop this, was to be very natural, try to keep the trees, try to do minimal grading,” Nielson says.

And yet the city is close by.

You can drive to the downtown in 14 minutes from this hidden jewel of a community. Going west, lunch in Bragg Creek is only a bit longer drive.

Or swing north and you’re soon at the Trans-Canada Highway, heading toward world-class ski hills, Kananaskis hiking or a little Banff sightseeing.

The region west of Calgary offers a few other housing choices, but one of Spring Valley’s major selling points is its connection to the City of Calgary’s services. No worries here about clean water or sewer hookup, or firefighting services.

That last advantage brings down home insurance rates considerably, compared with more far-flung districts.

Spring Valley’s clients tend to be doctors and other professionals, oil executives and business owners.

They see this estate development as an opportunity to build their final dream home and, frankly, they aren’t bothered by the high stature these homes proclaim to passersby.

“These people have worked hard,” Nielson says, “and they want to let you know they’ve made it.”

For further information, go to www.springvalleyestates.com (which displays a road map), e-mail Kevin Nielson at kevin@springvalleyestates.com, phone 403.269.1161, fax 403.266-8036 or call him on his cell, 403.617.8305.