Melcor Developments is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year and has played a significant role in shaping the urban and suburban landscape of Alberta, including Airdrie, since it was founded in 1923.
The company has been developing new communities in Airdrie over the past 25 years, including Lanark Landing, Kings Heights, Stonegate and its newest master-planned community – Cobblestone Creek, which is located in southwest Airdrie.
“At Melcor, we are constantly striving to create sustainable, attractive and well-functioning neighbourhoods that will endure and thrive over time,” says Erin Cripps, marketing project co-ordinator at Melcor. “A master-planned community revolves around creating a carefully-curated environment that addresses the needs and desires of its residents while promoting a high quality of life and a strong sense of community.”
Cripps says a master-planned community is one where factors such as land use, infrastructure, amenities, transportation, green spaces and overall layout are considered to create a balanced community. They often include a mix of residential properties, including single-family homes, townhouses and even commercial and retail areas.
Amenities can include parks, playgrounds, sports fields, walking trails, pump tracks, pickle ball courts, skating rinks and community gardens. Because there is so much thought put into master-planned communities, they are rolled out in phases and can take years to complete.
“The design often encourages social interaction and community engagement, facilitating neighbourly relationships,” says Cripps. “Melcor’s master-planned communities are built with a long-term vision in mind.”
The company is passionate about community involvement and plans to host various events this fall, including a new showhome parade in Lanark Landing in September. Most recently, Melcor held a builder event in Cobblestone Creek with food, games and prizes for residents and an open house showcasing some of the company’s builders – Excel Homes, Shane Homes, Rohit Communities and Douglas Homes.
Melcor was originally founded as a real estate company with the intent of helping people become homeowners, according to Cripps. Over the next 50 years, Melcor grew to be the largest real estate brokerage in western Canada, until that part of the business was sold to A.E. LePage (now Royal LePage) in 1976.
Louis Timothy Melton founded the company in 1923 and serviced west Edmonton, selling lots for $100 with a down payment of $5. Cripps says this was the business model until 1942, when it changed to a corporate structure and the company’s name became L.T. Melton Realty.
Today, there are still multiple members of the Melton family involved in Melcor, including Andrew, Tim, Graeme, Kathy and Pat Melton.
“Integrity, the honour of your word and the belief that relationships are the cornerstone of our business have been consistent through the years,” says Tim Melton, executive chair and chief executive officer of Melcor. “Adhering to the golden rule of treating others as you would like to be treated has been the guiding principle for interactions and decision-making for 100 years.”
For its first 50 years, Melcor’s primary business was real estate until land development and asset management were added to its portfolio. Since the 1970s, in addition to planning and developing communities, Melcor has planned, built and managed income-generating commercial assets.
The company has built more than 140 residential communities and millions of square-feet of commercial properties. It currently manages more than 4.8 million square-feet in commercial properties.
“Melcor has evolved several times over the past century, but its values, purpose and foundation have never changed. The connection to real estate and helping young people achieve the dream of home ownership remains constant,” says Melton. “Our strong values and the relentless pursuit of excellence are what define us.”
