There’s a strong sense of community in the west Edmonton neighbourhood that lines the North Saskatchewan River with a mix of affordable homes and palatial residences. Each winter, residents on an eight-block stretch of 148th Street deck out their houses and yards for Candy Cane Lane, and year-round they share Crestwood Park with curling and tennis fans. A small commercial hub with a wine bar, bakery and boutiques feeds shopping desires.
This century-old east side neighbourhood has a golf club backing onto the river valley and its own shopping district along 112th Avenue that includes a used bookstore and cafe, a popular brunch spot and an antique store. It was recently named by This Old House magazine as one of the Canada’s 10 best neighbourhoods of old homes, and no wonder – some of these gems start at just $250,000.
Between 114th Street and the North Saskatchewan River, lies Belgravia, where residents not only jaunt to the river valley, cafes and boutiques, but also to an LRT Station that connects them to other parts of the Capital. Not that there’s much reason to leave the neighbourhood. Everything they want is here,including a botanical arts park maintained by residents through a Partners and Parks agreement with the city.
Before development took off in 2004, this southwest subdivision (even south of Anthony Henday Drive) was home to 80 people. Like many new neighbourhoods, the decade has seen rapid building in Windermere, but it simply has more to offer with lots of commercial infrastructure and distinct amenities such as the outdoors megastore Cabela’s, a full-service and licensed Cineplex and 140-acre 18-hole golf course and country club.
In 2009, the Parkallen residents took part in an “eco-mobility” challenge and many were able to change their travel routines to be less car-dependent. With the nearby South Campus LRT station and walking access to Whyte Avenue and the university, this neighbourhood is ideal for anyone without a car, with houses ranging in prices as high as $600,000 and condos as low as $145,000.
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