This former airport’s 2025 flight path included a leap in land development, working with homebuilders on their plans for the first multi-storey apartments with ground-floor retail space, and marking the renewable energy system’s sixth operating year.
As the year comes to a close, the Blatchford redevelopment has landed an impressive milestone – approximately 57% of the 536-acre site’s developable land is now constructed, under construction or in the planning and development stage. That’s up from about 42% this time last year and included work on a new 19-acre stage that will add nearly 200 townhomes.
Where else did Blatchford see momentum in 2025?
First, a quick refresher:
- The City of Edmonton is Blatchford’s land developer, responsible for developing the land and selling it to homebuilders. Land development includes strategic plans and policies, rezoning and subdivision, planning and engineering design, and oversight of infrastructure construction like utilities, streets, bike lanes, landscaping in public areas, and parks.
- After developing a stage of land, the City sells land parcels to homebuilders. These sales generate revenue for the Blatchford redevelopment, allowing the community to grow without affecting the property taxes of Edmontonians. There is no direct tax levy support for the Blatchford redevelopment or for the Blatchford District Energy Sharing System — the renewable energy system that provides homes with heating, cooling and hot water.
- Homebuilders are responsible for building their homes according to their construction timelines and for setting the sale prices of their homes – just like they do elsewhere in Edmonton.
And now, a run-down of 2025 in Blatchford
Our work (City of Edmonton’s Blatchford Redevelopment Office)
- Approximately 57% of the 536-acre site’s developable land is now constructed, under construction or in the planning and development stage. That’s up from about 42% this time last year and included work on a new 19-acre stage that will add nearly 200 townhomes.
- Nearly 100% of the land that’s ready for builders in the first stages is either sold, has a sale agreement in place or has active builder interest.
- Designs were completed to transform the base of the former airport control tower into a community space, with construction anticipated to start next year.
- Progress on Blatchford’s renewable energy utility includes: reaching its sixth year of operation, connecting more floor space than anticipated, advancing design work on two new renewable energy centres (sewer heat recovery and geoexchange), and preparing for new, larger building connections like the recently opened Blatchford Fire Station No. 8 and upcoming multi-storey apartment buildings.
Blatchford homebuilder updates
- Blatchford’s first apartment-style building is under construction, bringing with it the community’s first main-floor retail space. Sale agreements have been signed or are underway for six additional 4-6 storey buildings – several of which will also have main-floor retail space. This includes the community’s first affordable housing development.
- Blatchford’s first purpose-built rental project – Pilot, a 90-unit rental townhome development – is now leasing units.
- There are now nearly 400 homes (units) either completed or under construction. That’s an increase of about 150 homes since this time last year.
- Homebuilders have another approximately 780 units planned on land that’s been sold, is pending sale or has active builder interest.
Track Blatchford’s progress
As you can see, it’s certainly been another busy year in Blatchford! You can track the site’s land development progress on this regularly-updated map.
