Seven new multi-family buildings, ranging from four to six storeys, are set to add approximately 700 residential units to Edmonton's Blatchford community, more than doubling the 500 units already existing or under construction, according to city officials.
Construction Underway on Two Buildings
Construction has already begun on two of the seven buildings, with the remainder in planning stages. Cheryl Mitchell, acting project lead for Blatchford, said builders are planning the first multi-storey structures in the community, many of which will include retail space on the ground floor.
“We have a number of builders that are planning to bring the first multi-storey buildings to the community,” Mitchell said. “And what’s exciting about this is that a number of them are also planning to put retail into the base of the building, bringing mixed-use to the community.”
Mixed-Use Development Key
Mitchell emphasized that mixed-use development is critical for Blatchford's vision. “It’s really critical for what we’re trying to do in Blatchford,” she said. “It starts to bring those amenities closer to people. It allows the residents and visitors to the neighbourhood to have those types of amenities that they need in their daily lives.”
Blatchford is built on the former municipal airport site, which closed in 2013. The 536-acre site includes 276 acres of developable land, with the remainder dedicated to roads, parks, and public utilities like stormwater ponds and energy centres.
Sustainable Growth
The community is designed with sustainability in mind, featuring homes connected to a District Energy System that uses a geo-exchange system for heating and cooling, or built to net-zero standards. Beyond the seven new buildings, the City of Edmonton, Blatchford's developer, plans additional low- to mid-rise buildings and taller high-rises.
“And then on the east side, this is where we’ll start to see some of the more higher density product,” Mitchell said. “So we will see additional four- to six-storey sites as well as a new zone that we have, which will be about six to 15 storeys.”
2026 Development Status
As of 2026, 63 per cent (174 acres) of developable land is either fully constructed, under construction, or in the planning stage, up from 57 per cent at the end of 2025 and 42 per cent at the end of 2024. No land parcels remain on the market for sale to home builders, though several builders have expressed interest in parcels not yet released.
Affordable housing is also coming to Blatchford. Metis Capital Housing Corp. is working on the first affordable housing development, planned as a low- to medium-rise building.
Crimson Cove Development
Crimson Cove Homes is one of the builders involved. CFO Wade Grabeldinger said the company sees Blatchford as the future of Canadian development. “Where Blatchford is building now, I think all of Canada will be in the next 10 years,” Grabeldinger said, referring to mitigating climate change effects. “We truly believe that’s where it will be and so it gave us an opportunity to start building in Blatchford to that specification.”
