15 years after Edmonton closes City Centre Airport, only 90 homes occupied in Blatchford

Mayor Amarjeet Sohi is predicting “Blatchford will eventually be home to 30,000 Edmontonians.”

But at the rate seen so far? That would take more than a thousand years.

Edmonton city council decided to close the City Centre Airport and turn Blatchford into a residential neighbourhood in 2009.

Fifteen years later, just 90 homes are occupied; roughly 300-400 residents live there, at the most.

The mayor is defending the city-developed project, saying the pace will pick up now that much of the slow, preliminary work is done.

“This was an active airport,” Sohi said. “A lot of asphalt has to be removed, a lot of contamination has been dealt with. A lot of supporting infrastructure has to be built. And that takes time.”

Sohi was in the neighborhood Wednesday to formally accept $23.7 million in federal funds that will be used to expand Blatchford’s renewable energy system.

“Because we’re building more homes than at any point in recent history, and unlocking new developments every day, we need to make sure that we’re keeping pace with our carbon footprint,” said Liberal MP Randy Boissonnault.

Blatchford is centrally located and environmentally friendly. But it is not cheap. Prices range from $400,000 to $650,000 for attached units.

City officials are nevertheless expecting a relative population boom in the neighbourhood soon, with hundreds of more units being sold and multi-family homes – expected to be priced at under $400,000 – in the works.

Mayor Sohi is happy to see apartments and condos on the way, and says families can save money by walking, biking, and eventually taking the LRT.

Jessica Culling bought in Blatchford because it’s central and sustainable. She says Blatchford is “absolutely” worth it. “I love it here,” she told CityNews. “It’s a beautiful community.”

Culling says Blatchford’s environmental features are unique and important to the planet, and she’s OK with city officials taking time to build it right.