Edmonton city councillor Tim Cartmell’s motion to sell a large portion of undeveloped Blatchford community land has been unsuccessful. The motion aimed to reduce the utility footprint of Blatchford to reflect the size of the community, with any remaining land to be put up for sale. The development on the old City Centre Airport lands was intended to be 100% renewable energy and carbon neutral, with a timeline to grow to 30,000 residents by 2038. However, the motion died on the floor as council did not have time to discuss it.
Cartmell is determined to see the development of Blatchford move at a faster pace. He is frustrated with the slow progress of the project, which has seen only 11 families moving into the neighbourhood so far, four years behind schedule. Cartmell believes that the city should offer the undeveloped land to private sector developers in order to accelerate growth in the area and recoup the investment made in developing the land. However, some councillors feel that a more careful and strategic approach is needed rather than pressing the panic button.
In May 2022, Cartmell proposed selling land at below-market rates to incentivize development and suggested the city should be open to partnerships with private developers. However, in October 2022, councillors were informed that the private sector had not shown interest in the project due to concerns about financial feasibility. All buildings in Blatchford are required to have net-zero emissions, which has driven up costs and deterred private developers. Cartmell plans to bring up the discussion of Blatchford utilities at the utility committee meeting later in the month as the chair of the committee.
Some councillors, like Aaron Paquette, believe that a more measured and visionary approach is needed to address the challenges facing Blatchford. Paquette suggests taking a lens of responsibility and vision to see how the project can be advanced. In 2022, Kalen Anderson of the Urban Development Institute Edmonton Metro stated that private developers could potentially be persuaded to participate if the business plan became more feasible, possibly by compromising emissions goals or allowing single-family units in the neighbourhood. However, Edmonton’s mayor is against allowing single-family units in Blatchford.
Despite the setback of Cartmell’s motion being postponed, he remains committed to finding ways to accelerate the development of Blatchford. The project, once touted as a signature Edmonton community, has faced delays and challenges that have hindered its progress. Cartmell’s determination to explore partnerships with the private sector and incentivize development underscores the ongoing efforts to bring Blatchford to its full potential. Whether through compromise, strategic planning, or innovative solutions, the future of Blatchford remains a key focus for Edmonton city councillors and stakeholders involved in the project.
