Once a part of CFB Edmonton, Griesbach has evolved into a quaint residential neighbourhood
Army base transformed into multi-use infill community
When you hear the word infill, you usually think of an average city lot in a mature neighbourhood. The small 1950s bungalow comes down and a new two-storey house goes up.
But what if the infill was an entire 620-acre neighbourhood?
That’s exactly what’s happened in Griesbach, Edmonton’s former army base. It’s undergone a remarkable transformation since 2003, when the property was transferred from the Department of National Defence to Canada Lands Company (CLC), a federal Crown corporation responsible for developing surplus government properties.
The Village at Griesbach, as it is now called, has blossomed into a modern urban community that is leading the way in innovative design and sustainability.
Spanning the area from 137th Avenue to 153rd Avenue, between 97th Street and 113A Street, Griesbach will eventually be home to about 4,000 housing units and 15,000 residents.
The 250 hectares will incorporate a number of different land uses and housing styles, from starter homes to estates homes, plus multi-family units. Because of the various housing options — including the McCrae Mews seniors centre and the Rosedale Assisted Living facility — people won’t need to leave if their lifestyle changes over time.
Eclectic housing choices add interest to the streetscape. Duplexes are mixed with single-family homes, starter homes sit next to move-ups. Inspired by turn-of-the-century architecture, many homes fall into a neo-traditional style, where front-attached garages are replaced with a friendly front porch.
Marvin Neumann, director of real estate for CLC, says the community is designed to promote walkability and connectivity. Pedestrian-friendly streets, multi-use trails, pocket parks, a nine-hectare central park, and one of the largest community gardens in Edmonton are just some of the features that foster a sense of community.
“We’ve done things a little differently from your typical suburban neighbourhood,” says Neumann. “We will have four interconnected lakes that run diagonally across Griesbach.” Neumann says the ribbon of lakes with its multi-use trail links the southeast corner of the community to the northwest.
“We also have about 25 per cent more green space than most developments. And we’ve tried to retain as many of the old trees as possible, even creating pocket parks around the trees to save them.”
Sustainability reaches deep into the redevelopment. Sixty-four units of former army housing have been refurbished and the remaining units were sold or donated for reuse outside Griesbach.
Materials from demolished buildings were salvaged for use off site, and concrete from buildings and road structures has been crushed and used to create new roads. Soil from excavating the lakes has been used to build the central hill and park, where there’s a lookout with views of downtown and the surrounding area.
Griesbach embraces its military past. Commemorative plaques and storyboards dot the neighbourhood. Streets and lakes are named after important military figures or events, and statues have been erected. Neumann says it’s a way of honouring the past.
It also leaves a legacy for future generations. A new K-9 school opened this September, and work has begun on a commercial centre. It won’t be your usual strip mall. Instead, it will feature three- and four-storey buildings with boutiques, cafes and small shops on the ground floor and office space above. More shopping is available across 97th Street at Northgate and Northtown Centres, and White Oaks Square along 137th Avenue is minutes by car.
Bordered by two of the city’s busiest roadways — 97th Street and 137th Avenue — Griesbach is ideally situated. It’s 10 minutes to downtown, the Yellowhead is just blocks away, and there is access to the Henday. Neumann knows of people who work in Fort McMurray or Fort Saskatchewan and make Griesbach their home.
“It’s straight out 97th Street and you’re on your way,” he says.
There’s a transit centre at Northgate Centre, there are plenty of bus stops along both 97th Street and 137th Avenue, and the LRT will eventually run down 113A Street with several stops.