RE/MAX Real Estate Blog

The communities of Garneau, Strathcona, and Bonnie Doon neighbor each other from West to East, all bordering 82 Avenue to the north. Known to be exceptionally vibrant and culturally rich areas of Edmonton they are always trendy spots to visit, and make for lively neighborhoods to live in. With easy access to south-side amenities, the University of Alberta campus, and river valley and ravine trails, there’s something for everyone.

Garneau runs along 82 Avenue from 107 Street to 112 Street, spanning to it’s northern border of Saskatchewan Drive. Formerly a community in the city of Strathcona, it was adopted by Edmonton in 1912, making it one of the oldest south-side communities. Garneau takes it’s name from an original inhabitant of the time, Laurent Garneau, a consort of Louis Riel and successful trader with the Hudson’s Bay Company.

Garneau is notable for the trendy shopping district of Whyte Avenue; dotted with boutiques, cafes, and a plethora of nightlife venues. In the summer months it is a bustle of activities and festivals, when shoppers flood the sidewalks, and cafes and bars open their patios.

Whyte Avenue at night. Image Credit Travel Alberta

Garneau properties are comprised mostly of rental units predominantly occupied by Univerisity Students living in the hi-rise apartments so popular to the area. There is also a mix of single family dwellings, and homes considered Heritage Sites by the City of Edmonton.

Click here to view properties for sale in Garneau.

With Whyte avenue shopping spilling over into Strathcona, one of Edmonton’s oldest conversions, the area maintain a freshness and vibrancy as a major cultural center for Edmonton’s arts community. The area is home to the Edmonton Arts Barns which houses the popular Old Strathcona Farmer’s Market as well as the Fringe Theatre Company, not to mention the scores of restaurants, coffee shops, and boutiques running along Whyte Avenue.

Old Strathcona Farmer’s Market. Image Credit where.ca

The former city and it’s many communities were incorporated into Edmonton in 1912, and this area in heart of Strathcona maintained it’s original name. Like Laurent Garneu, Lord Strathcona was an important figure in the Hudson’s Bay Company.

Strathcona neighbors Garneau to the East, picking up where it leaves off at 107 Street and continues until it’s natural border ending at the Mill Creek Ravine. It too spans 82 Avenue to Saskatchewan drive, meaning a majority of its boundaries lead to scenic river valley walking trails. Around three-quarters of the residences in this area are apartment style buildings, mostly rentals, while the remainder are comprised of single-family dwellings, row houses, and duplexes.

Click here to view Strathcona properties for sale.

Bonnie Doon neighbors Strathcona on the eastern side of Mill Creek Ravine, carrying on until Connors Road/83 Street. Interestingly, the land was named for Premier Ruthorford, but rather than taking his name his Scottish heritage was honoured; the name Bonnie Doon recalls the “pleasant, rolling countryside” of Scotland.

Bonnie Doon is home to Edmonton’s exciting French quarter, La Cité Francophone, a cultural centre for the Francophone community of Edmonton. Including the University of Alberta’s Campus Saint-Jean, and the trendy Cafe Bicyclette, where you can comfortably order your latte in English or in French.

Cafe Bicyclette, Campus Saint-Jean. Image Credit University of Alberta

Bonnie Doon has a more residential feel to it, as the bustling livliness of Whyte Avenue tapers off a few blocks before the ravine. There are more owner occupied residences of the area, which is comprised of more single family dwellings. It centers around the convenience of Bonnie Doon Shopping Centre, providing all the necessary amenities for living in the area.

Click here to view properties in Bonnie Doon.

Bigger and better was the theme for Re/Max Western Canada in 2013. The results have been tallied and Re/Max Agents had an incredible year, from growth and productivity, to welcoming newcomers to the industry, to opening up offices all across Western Canada.

Diversity, ecology, proximity, family: these are the values cited by the extensive Grovenor community website . An unexpectedly old neighborhood, considering its relative distance from the city’s core, the original dwellings bordering the ravine were built around 1907. The community borders 149 Street to 142 Street on the east and west, and 107 Avenue south to the Mackinnon Ravine.

In the area’s extensive history it has changed names (formerly Westgrove) and spurred on by the railways passing through was almost completely industrial up until the 1940’s. Then a transformation began, completed in 1980, to an entirely residential community save a few bordering shops on it’s main thoroughfares.

Grovenor School

A tight knit community known for it’s elaborate Halloween houses, success in the sport of shinny, and it’s focus on family values, the community emphasizes the desirability of the area for raising children, noting it’s elementary school, historic church, and community league programs.

Bordering Grovenor to the east is the historic community of Glenora, which naturally falls just south of the community of North Glenora. Glenora extends from 142 Street to Groat Road and the River Vallery, and north until 107 Avenue. North Glenora resides on 107 Avenue to 111 Avenue and 142 Street to Groat Road.

It may not be surprising to learn that the area of Glenora was part of an 1860’s river lot owned by Malcolm Groat, namesake to much of the area’s landmarks and of course Groat Road, which at the time demarcated the outer city limits.

Glenora Bed & Breakfast. Image Credit: Darren Kirby

This sprawling riverside area is notable for the Royal Alberta Musuem and it’s surrounding parkland, as well as Alberta Government House and the local hidden gem, Glenora Bed and Breakfast. Glenora is also home to 4 schools; 2 public, 1 Catholic, and 1 private. The area is considered relatively affluent, according to recent census statistics, with 4 out of every 5 homes being owner occupied.

North Glenora is geographically one of the smaller residential areas in the city, occupying less than 87 hectares, and also made up part of the original parcel of land owned by Malcolm Groat. The residential boom of North Glenora occurred in the years following World War II when just over 86% of it’s residences were constructed. Before this time, much of the area was undeveloped land, trees, and dirt trails, save for a few residences.

Noted for it’s beautifully maintained, tree-lined streets, the area is especially picturesque in the autumn months. It’s residences surround the sprawling North Glenora Park, where recreation is facilitated year-round, with amenities that include a skating rink, spray park, soccer field, basketball court, and renovated community league hall.

Search for homes in Grovenor, Glenora, and North Glenora.

Just outlaying Edmonton’s original core, is the area of Westmount. It’s 1910 boundary establishment makes this neighborhood one of the city’s oldest and most established. A strong history of growth and development contributes to the cultural richness of the area and it’s vibrant community spirit.

Westmount Homes. Photo Credit: Avenue Magazine

Westmount has some of the most desirable real estate in the city, with an abundance of appealing  character homes. Over 25% of it’s residences were constructed prior to the end of World War II. The strong sense of historical pride in this area can be seen in these immaculately maintained, period houses.

Bordered by thoroughfares of 111 avenue, Stony Plain Road, Groat Road and 121 Street, this neighborhood has all the charm of downtown living without, well, actually living downtown. It’s cornerstone is the bustling 124 Street, dotted with cafes, boutiques, art galleries, and the newly popular 124 Street farmer’s market (open Thursdays in the spring and summer).

Reflecting the liveliness of Westmount is the younger community of Meadowlark Park.  Though it wasn’t established as a community until much later, it has certainly made up for lost time in it’s short but interesting history. Now this neighborhood, with an increasingly youthful demographic, is notable for it’s young families and abundance of children being raised in the area.

The Edmonton neighborhood originally belonged of the town of Jasper Place, and at the time lay far outside the city limits. However, as Edmonton continued it’s rapid expansion, many smaller towns became absorbed into the metropolis. In 1964 Jasper Place became one o f these annexed locations, including of course, it’s small area of Meadowlark.

Located in the west end of the city, the community spans from 156 Street and 87 Avenue to 163 Street and 95 Avenue, just a stones throw from West Edmonton Mall, the Valley Zoo, and the vast network of the river valley trail system, ideal for it’s young families and those with on-the-go lifestyles.

Jasper Place Library

Meadowlark is known for strong involvement in it’s community league, including year round fundraising, fitness programs, and children’s recreation programs. The flagships of Meadowlark Shopping Centre and the beautifully renovated Jasper Place Library branch showcase the recent economic growth of the area.

While Edmonton’s new downtown arena development has garnered much attention, the accompanying boom of real estate development in the city’s core is the latest topic of conversation.

The previous abundance of surface parking lots allowed for the land space needed by developers to add more condominium towers to the downtown area, with around 27 proposed towers expected to go up in the next 3 years. At the forefront of these residential developments is the Fox Two, a project by Langham developments (of Icon Towers notoriety). 171 units will comprise this 33 storey colossus on the corner of 102 Avenue and 104 Street; a site you may remember as the old greyhound bus garage. This project began after the Fox One sold out most of it’s 142 units. Upon completion, both Fox towers are expected to place in the top 20 list of Edmonton’s tallest buildings, alongside the Icon I and II.

Mockup of the Fox Two tower.

The following chart outlines some of the major condo development projects in central Edmonton:

Understandably, residents and employees who work in the core have expressed concern over an increase in traffic congestion due to construction and closed thoroughfares, as well as decreased parking availability. According to Edmonton Journal Reports the city is on top of these issues, with a comprehensive website in development to keep citizens aware of route changes and parking availability, maintaining Downtown’s travel efficiency.

Has the Edmonton housing market made a full economic recovery?

Insider sources seem to think so.

Reports from the Edmonton Journal, the Edmonton Real Estate Board, and the Bank of Montreal, have determined this spring could mean some of the highest sales rates we’ve seen in recent history.

Alberta is emerging as the country’s leader in real estate sales, with the major markets of Edmonton and Calgary topping the charts. According to BMO Reports, Alberta is leading the provinces in retail sales, employment rate, and real GDP. These strong economic indicators, combined with a soaring population have created an ideal climate in which the housing market can not only survive, but thrive.

With 2014 numbers already on the rise, it’s difficult to dispute these speculations. According to the Edmonton Real Estate Board listings sales have increased more than 24% since this January with a slight increase in residential property prices, while residential listings increased by more than 10% in the same period.

However, a moderate increase in home prices is not expected to deter buyers explains  EREB president Greg Steele,

“confidence in the strength of our local economy and a shortage of attractive properties at the lower end of the price range are both moving consumers to consider higher priced properties if their budgets allow”

Steele concludes “sales activity will continue to increase as they do every spring.” This should leave Edmontonians, especially those looking to sell their home, with an optimistic outlook for the coming months.

The numbers are in for 2013

…and true to form, Re/Max Real Estate has exceeded fundraising expectations.  Canadian and U.S. offices raised over $8 million dollars last year for the CMN through various campaigns.

Re/Max’s lasting partnership with the Children’s Miracle Network includes many campaigns in place to secure necessary funding for this important organization, including the Miracle Home Program.

Every minute 62 children are treated by a CMN network hospital

What does this program involve, you ask? You may have experienced driving past the familiar red, white, and blue of a Re/Max “FOR SALE” sign and noticed the often-accompanying CMN hanger. What you may not have realized is that this sign represents a commitment by that individual agent to donate a set percentage of each and every sales commission directly to the CMN.  Commitment to the Miracle Home Program is in addition to the hours of fundraising events attended throughout the year, by brokers, agents, and staff members alike.

This is a show of agents going above and beyond, and making a difference in their own communities.  Next time you see a Re/Max sign be sure to look for a CMN hanger, you may start noticing them a lot more often, and start to see the signs of Re/max agents making meaningful differences all over your neighborhood.

Through the strength of this partnership, Re/Max has been able to provide over $130 million to 170 children’s hospitals since it’s humble beginnings in 1983. When known achievers set their sights, they truly make miracles happen.

The largest CMN contributor is Re/Max of Western Canada