If you haven’t been to the north side of Edmonton’s downtown in a bit, you just might be surprised at all the development that has happened here over the last few years, as the new community of Blatchford takes shape.

The former site of Canada’s first licensed airfield is being redeveloped into a modern community designed for the future, and that vision is quickly coming to life right before your very eyes.

With some 250 homes built or currently under construction and hundreds more on the way, Blatchford living is really taking shape. “We hosted a block party last summer that attracted about 400 people from outside the community. Many were pleasantly surprised at the amount of development and amenities that can already be found here,” says Tom Lumsden, Blatchford’s Development Manager.

It’s not often that an urban neighbourhood so near the city’s inner core can be designed basically from scratch. Not only that, Blatchford’s 536 acres is committed to achieving a healthier, more sustainable and enriched lifestyle where up to 30,0000 Edmontonians will live, work and learn. Not to mention, it’s within walking distance of the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT).

As Blatchford’s land developer, the City of Edmonton develops the land, bringing in infrastructure like sewers, utilities, streets, bike lanes, landscaping in public areas, parks, etc, and then sells it to homebuilders, who then build and sell the homes to homebuyers. It’s envisioned as a carbon-neutral community that sits on prime land just minutes from the downtown core, including the Ice District and Rogers Place.

New growth lifts off

After capping off a busy 2024 with almost 100 per cent of the land that’s ready for builder development in the first stages either sold, with a sale agreement in place or with active builder interest, there are even more exciting happenings coming down the Blatchford pipeline this year. Plans are underway to transform the base of the former airport control tower – already a distinguishing piece of architecture in the community – into a usable community space.

Work is also moving forward on land that will eventually be home to a vibrant market district (including retail) near the NAIT/Blatchford Market LRT station.

Homebuilders continue their momentum with purpose-built rentals, bungalow townhomes, and six-storey apartments on the way. And more greenspace is coming in, as construction of a new linear park is set to kick off this year. The new park space will bring even more green space and amenities to the community, which is currently designed to have about double the green space compared to a typical Edmonton neighbourhood.

“Residents and visitors already enjoy a playground, ice rink, community garden, apple orchard, recreational trails and a scenic stormwater pond with a view deck – and we’re excited to keep adding to that,” Lumsden says.

LRT access arrives early

January marks the one-year anniversary of the NAIT/Blatchford Market LRT station opening – and the momentum around it hasn’t stopped. A pedestrian connection has since been opened from the current Blatchford development to the station. What’s more – an art installation is on the way this year and land development work is moving forward on the areas surrounding the LRT.

“It’s about a 10-minute walk from the current homes in Blatchford to the station – which is just two stops from Rogers Place,” Lumsden adds. “When the station opened last year it did so a year ahead of schedule.”

Modern urban lifestyle

Blatchford will be made up of two primarily residential spaces on the east and west side of the site, along with a town centre that will be packed full shops and services, an 80-acre central park, plenty of additional green space and a civic plaza that will be designed to host festivals, events and markets in the community. With its connected pathways, pedestrian-only streets, bike paths and transit access, the community is designed to be able to meet your daily needs without needing to jump behind a wheel.

“Blatchford combines the best of urban living with local neighbourhood charm,” says Lumsden. “This master planned community will connect homes with shops, great parks, walkable streets and community amenities. By combining the best of ‘people-first’ design principles with leading sustainability practices, Blatchford will offer home buyers a truly unique lifestyle experience not available anywhere else in our city.”

Blatchford is designed to be a high-density development achieved through a diverse mix of housing types, including townhouses, secondary suites, stacked townhouses, and mid-to-high-rise apartments.

Encore Master Builder, Landmark Homes and NX Build all opened showhomes last year and more builders will be following suit in 2025.

Already, Blatchford is getting noticed. In 2023, the Canadian Homebuilders Association named it the Best New Community both regionally and nationally. Blatchford’s renewable energy system also won two international awards that year, and in 2020 the community received the Federation of Canadian Municipality’s Sustainable Communities Award in the neighbourhoods category, which recognizes inspiring environmental initiatives from across the country.

Building a resilient future

While approximately 40 per cent of Edmonton’s greenhouse gas emissions come from buildings. Blatchford townhomes will release fewer greenhouse gas emissions (about 75 per cent less) than homes in a typical community. Here’s a quick look into how: Residents receive their heating, cooling and hot water services from renewable energy sources through the community’s District Energy Sharing System (bonus: because the system provides both heating and cooling, there’s no need to install air conditioning!). Homes are also built for energy efficiency.

Homebuilders must agree to meet Blatchford’s custom green building codes, which go above and beyond what the industry requires for sustainability and energy conservation. Think highly insulated walls, roofs and floors, high performance windows and an airtight envelope to reduce heat loss – and homes that not only come with energy efficient heat pumps rather than furnaces, but also sustainable building features like solar panels to offset the annual energy consumed by appliances.

Blatchford is taking the time to get things right the first time. Instead of trying to shoehorn sustainability and ‘people first’ urban design principles in after the fact, Blatchford is integrating these concepts at all points of community development.

It emphasizes active transportation as an easy, natural choice and creates conditions where design can support and enhance everyday life. Well designed public spaces mean Blatchford residents will benefit from greater social connectivity in a more liveable, healthy community.

Depending on long-term housing markets, Blatchford’s full development is expected to be completed in 2042, at a pace typical of other neighbourhoods in Edmonton (remember, it’s 536 acres!). There’s no doubt though that it’s already taking shape as a unique neighbourhood that makes sustainable urban living both comfortable and easy.