City Council Approves Blatchford Plan
June 11, 2014
City Council has approved the development plan that sets the direction for the Blatchford redevelopment, which will transform the former City Centre Airport lands into one of the world’s largest sustainable communities.
"Blatchford is an example of choosing to sensibly invest in a city-building project that will change Edmonton’s future. I am confident that the plan we approved yesterday will achieve Council’s vision to develop an environmentally and socially sustainable community in the heart of the city,” said Mayor Don Iveson.
“Blatchford will provide a unique and rewarding lifestyle for the over 30,000 Edmontonians who will one day call the neighbourhood home.”
The plan, approved by Council at its June 10, 2014, meeting, includes:
- Significantly higher park and open spaces than traditional developments, which will allow most future residents to be within a two minute walk of the central park
- Building a district energy system that will provide heating and cooling for the community
- Developing the local roadway system to emphasize active transportation, creating a highly walkable and bicycle-friendly neighbourhood with easy access to public transit
- Construction of high-performance homes and buildings that will require less power, heat and water than in conventional construction
- Connection to Edmonton’s leading waste management system and water and wastewater treatment facilities
Blatchford will also honour the history of the site throughout the development with naming of roads, parkways and other places. It will offer housing options that focus on the needs of families including townhouses, stacked townhouses and four to six storey apartments, along with a target of 20% affordable housing.
As well, Blatchford will be the first community in Edmonton designed to incorporate the City’s winter cities design principles. This will include open space design that promotes winter activities including skating, tobogganing, and cross-country skiing. The development will also feature boulevards for snow storage and building designs that maximize solar exposure.
The next steps in advancing the development include detailed engineering work and custom zoning to develop the unique urban look of the community. The City is expected to begin demolition of some of the buildings and runways this summer.
For More Information
Blatchford Project Office
| blatchford@edmonton.ca |
