Residents in a north Edmonton neighbourhood say they were blindsided by proposed extra units on single-family home plots

Residents of the Crystallina Nera neighbourhood in northeast Edmonton tell CityNews they did not expect the development in their community of single-family homes.

The land in question already has eight single-family detached homes with basement suites, but a developer is now looking to build an additional three dwelling garden suites in the backyard of each house, adding 24 additional units.

Residents told CityNews they invested their life savings into what builders promised to be single-family homes in a quiet, safe neighbourhood where children could grow up.

“I think it is a bit crazy, and I don’t think anybody would want this. If I had known that this project was going to go forward, I would have chosen a different street,” says Huruy Woldemicael, a resident who moved to the neighbourhood in November last year.

Woldemicael says he feels misled, ignored, and sidelined in decisions that will permanently reshape their homes and community.

“There will be no parking, and there are 40 units. Where will everyone park? The assumption would be at least a car or a car and a half per unit. So, you are looking at maybe 40, potentially sixty cars on the streets. Now you factor snow removal, garbage collection, and safety, all those will be impacted,” he says.

The neighbourhood’s city councillor, Karen Principe, told CityNews she was not aware of the proposal until CityNews brought it to her attention. She now tells us she shares the residents’ fears.

“I am also concerned about this overdevelopment. This is one of the main reasons why I voted against the zoning bylaw renewal in the first place, because of concerns over densification, and this is a prime example of that,” says Principe.

Home Alkemist Ltd. has applied for the development permits. CEO and owner of the company, Amy Kim, shared renderings of these garden suites on social media.

Kim says the project is aligned with the city’s current rezoning, adding that she believes “neighbours’ consultation is not required under the city’s process.”

Responding in an email to CityNews, Kim says, “We are committed to being good neighbours and ensuring that these homes contribute positively to Crystallina. Thoughtful consideration has gone into how the homes will be used and how they can support a vibrant, welcoming community.

“As part of the process, we consulted with the City to ensure compliance with parking requirements, fire services for safety, and waste management for garbage collection. In fact, we have provided additional parking above and beyond the current bylaw requirements to help address parking concerns. At the same time, we are not seeking to go beyond what the current zoning bylaw allows — the project remains fully within the existing regulations,” she added.

The City of Edmonton did not reply to repeated requests for comment, but online permits show the majority of the units are ‘in development review’.

Woldemicael says there is a need for more transparency from the regulators.

“These homes are not affordable either. To me, it seems that it is an investment greed and not necessarily trying to create more housing. There has to be more transparency from regulators,” he says.

The original homes were built by Pacesetter Homes. The builder, in a statement to CityNews, said, “They are not involved in changes made by homeowners after the sale has been completed.”

Residents say this development highlights a bigger issue in Edmonton. Families are sold on one vision of a neighbourhood, only to discover too late that high-density projects are being pushed next door. It raises urgent questions about transparency, accountability, and fairness in how communities are planned.