Blatchford Development | ?m | ?s | City of Edmonton

[policyenthusiast]

There seems to be some 'Blatchford derangement syndrome' going on, particularly from those corners who opposed this development from the start. I dunno what all the fuss is about. When I drive through here in person I think this place is starting to look pretty damn cool and if I had the patience to wait for larger trees I would definitely buy into the neighbourhood. If you want a new-build anywhere near downtown for less than 800k, this is probably your best bet. Of course there are still lots of holes and it looks like a construction site at the best of times, but that's any new neighbourhood. Now haters gonna hate, but I am confident this will turn out to be a cool 'hood (as it's already starting to be).

Likewise, if it wasn't for the high prices I would consider buying there. I also wonder where everyone parks their cars.

 

[Coprolite]

I can envision a new train station beside Blatchford Gate. Become the first multi modal station in the city. Close the current VIA station, turn the tracks into a MUP from 118th Avenue to across the Yellowhead, and add an avenue crossing of the MUP around 120 or 122 Avenue to connect to Prince Charles. Then build residential where the current VIA station and the empty land NW of it.

It'd be seriously overlooking the low-hanging fruit for other places such a station for the hypothetical rail services intended to be outlined in the September 2025 rail plan, like somewhere over by Coliseum where there is already a rail right of way from the old line to downtown, complete with overpasses and significantly higher frequency of LRT service from the get-go. It also would not have the complexity of trying to put connections to the CN line into this mess below where there isn't really room to do the kind of points and bridges to link to the CN line that were done further west to accommodate the original downtown connection.

 

[Coprolite]

Likewise, if it wasn't for the high prices I would consider buying there. I also wonder where everyone parks their cars.

We just park our car in our garage beside our bicycle herd. Our renters park their vehicle on street. It seems to work out.

 

[Coprolite]

There seems to be some 'Blatchford derangement syndrome' going on, particularly from those corners who opposed this development from the start. I dunno what all the fuss is about. When I drive through here in person I think this place is starting to look pretty damn cool and if I had the patience to wait for larger trees I would definitely buy into the neighbourhood. If you want a new-build anywhere near downtown for less than 800k, this is probably your best bet. Of course there are still lots of holes and it looks like a construction site at the best of times, but that's any new neighbourhood. Now haters gonna hate, but I am confident this will turn out to be a cool 'hood (as it's already starting to be).

The other half and I were definitely not finding what we wanted for any cheaper anywhere in the city. And it is indeed turning out to be a nice enough place to live and it keeps getting better. But yeah, mid-winter drone footage of construction sites set to depressing music is not exactly a great genre for conveying that.

 

[YEG imagineer]

It'd be seriously overlooking the low-hanging fruit for other places such a station for the hypothetical rail services intended to be outlined in the September 2025 rail plan, like somewhere over by Coliseum where there is already a rail right of way from the old line to downtown, complete with overpasses and significantly higher frequency of LRT service from the get-go. It also would not have the complexity of trying to put connections to the CN line into this mess below where there isn't really room to do the kind of points and bridges to link to the CN line that were done further west to accommodate the original downtown connection.

Without the current Yellowhead upgrading I would agree with you. But with elevating the Yellowhead at the new interchange of 115 St there is an opportunity to put at grade rail from the CN line directly to Blatchford Gate. Coliseum would be a second choice. You would still need to build a new western turn line to come etc as well as putting in new lines all the way to Coliseum station. Whereas Blatchford is an open brownfield site. Easier to build and in terms of the perception of downtown seems closer by being directly north of it.

 

[Coprolite]

Without the current Yellowhead upgrading I would agree with you. But with elevating the Yellowhead at the new interchange of 115 St there is an opportunity to put at grade rail from the CN line directly to Blatchford Gate. Coliseum would be a second choice. You would still need to build a new western turn line to come etc as well as putting in new lines all the way to Coliseum station. Whereas Blatchford is an open brownfield site. Easier to build and in terms of the perception of downtown seems closer by being directly north of it.

The actual LRT ride from Coliseum is usually quicker, and the whole area is about to undergo redevelopment. There is already a spur line connecting from near the CN junction to SW of Coliseum to facilitate unloading of LRT vehicles delivered by train, and the land to add a turn west is wide open.

 

[David A]

Without the current Yellowhead upgrading I would agree with you. But with elevating the Yellowhead at the new interchange of 115 St there is an opportunity to put at grade rail from the CN line directly to Blatchford Gate. Coliseum would be a second choice. You would still need to build a new western turn line to come etc as well as putting in new lines all the way to Coliseum station. Whereas Blatchford is an open brownfield site. Easier to build and in terms of the perception of downtown seems closer by being directly north of it.

And there is a LRT line and stations in the area, so if the rail station could be located and designed to connect with them, that would be a big improvement to the rail station seeming so isolated.