There is an imminent need for more seniors housing in Edmonton. Recent reports have indicated the number of seniors aged 80 and over will increase by 266% over the next 30 years, while the number of those aged 55 to 64 will more than double.

Using these sites for seniors’ housing will help increase housing options available to seniors throughout Edmonton. By enabling seniors to downsize to smaller facilities within communities they know, existing housing stock becomes available to younger families with children.

This helps to diversify neighbourhood demographics, making existing housing stock flexible for the changing needs of community members. Seniors don’t need to move away, and housing becomes available for younger families to move in. This makes a neighbourhood more stable and sustainable over the long term.

While the site was originally planned for a school, school boards have now confirmed they no longer need this space to build a school. City Administration proposed to City Council that undeveloped building sites be used for seniors’ housing instead. The change required amending the Neighbourhood Structure Plan and changing the zoning. Public meetings and a public hearing were held October 15 and 16, 2012. Council heard from Edmontonians, both in favour and opposed to the recommendations. Council decided seniors’ housing would be an appropriate alternative land use for the building site.

The City owns the land and  will negotiate the terms of the land sale, between the City and the builder to:

1. Ensure that only seniors housing will be built and;
2. That the builder will be required to collaborate with the community on matters of architectural features, building mass, colour, etc., to ensure “fit” within the neighbourhood.

These terms will be reflected in the legal Sales Agreement reached between the parties.  City Administration will closely monitor development on the site to ensure compliance with these conditions.

Community engagement will give residents an opportunity to provide feedback on proposals. This may include feedback on considerations such as the appearance of the seniors’ accommodation, its size and height, and features that will help it complement its surroundings.

The intent is that the seniors’ residence fit with, and become part of, the community. The City and builders will maintain an open dialogue with the community throughout the process.

There are no specific timelines for development of sites at this time. Development timing will be influenced by a variety of considerations, including market factors and the availability of funding assistance from the City and the Province. The City will maintain an open dialogue with the community as the projects move forward.

City assessors have analyzed available sales information and there is no significant difference in value of properties adjacent to multi-residential complexes (such as a seniors’ development) than had a school facility been built.

Visit our City Assessment site to learn more, or call 311 to pose your question to one of the City’s assessors.

The roads in these neighbourhoods were designed to handle traffic created by a future school site. Traffic for seniors’ housing is anticipated to be less than a school building would have generated.