Project to turn Blatchford into sustainable community well behind schedule
Posted October 15, 2022 1:38 pm.
The city’s attempt to transform the old City Centre Airport property in central Edmonton into a sustainable community is well behind schedule.
It was predicted 2,750 homes would be built by now in the new Blatchford neighbourhood. Instead, only 45 townhouses have people living in them.
Margo Bissett, one of Blatchford’s first residents, says she was expecting more progress since she moved into her home.
“We thought there would be more but we are not worried about the timeline because this is our future home,” said Bissett. “I’m looking forward to what it’s going to accomplish.”
Edmonton’s Blatchford neighbourhood under construction on Oct. 13, 2022. (Credit: CityNews/Laura Krause)
Living in Blatchford doesn’t come cheap. Developers estimate the price of a carbon-neutral townhouse is about $300,000 more than other areas in Edmonton.
“This really shrinks the number of potential buyers, which increases the expected length of the development timeframe for this community,” said Susan Keating with the Urban Development Institute.
The high cost is something the city is hoping to change. More affordable homes could speed up the pace of development and allow different people to live in the neighbourhood.
But Bissett says the homes practically pay for themselves.
“A lot of places come with one or two-income suites so you have that option as well, so it makes your mortgage affordable,” she said.
While pushing for more affordable housing, Coun. Anne Stevenson says she doesn’t think council should compromise on their original vision of a sustainable community powered by renewable energy.
“We are in a climate emergency, it is imperative we do as much as we can in this community not only to make Blatchford sustainable and successful, but to take learnings from that and apply it to the city,” said Stevenson.
A report looking at demand and affordability for the Blatchford neighbourhood will be due to council by June 2023.
