Village at Griesbach

GOVERNMENT OF CANADA PUBLIC LAND BANK

In an effort to address the increasing demand for much needed housing across the country, the Government of Canada has created a Public Land Bank mapping tool with the intent to identify available public lands across the country for future development. This tool highlights several Canada Lands Company properties that will be utilized to provide housing where it is needed most, including one parcel at the Village at Griesbach per the following:

•    Sir Arthur Currie Way (1.1 hectares/2.7 acres) - set to enable approximately 45 housing units

FEDERAL LANDS INITIATIVE (FLI)

Launched on August 25, 2024, in partnership alongside the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) and Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC); Canada Lands Company is pleased to continue enabling housing through the Federal Lands Initiative (FLI). With a goal to support the transfer of surplus federal land to eligible proponents to expedite the creation of new housing and affordable housing opportunities, the FLI will enable the leasing of land to eligible proponents at a nominal cost. 

The Village at Griesbach is providing a 1.06-hectare (2.6-acre) parcel of land at the intersection of Sir Arthur Currie Way and Griesbach Road intended to enable 45 units of housing with a minimum of 50% dedicated to affordable housing. The parcel of land has already been zoned and is development ready. To learn more about the Village at Griesbach parcel and criteria to participate, please visit our “Enabling New Housing” page for additional information. 

PROPERTY BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Village at Griesbach is on the site of the former Canadian Forces Base Edmonton (also known as Griesbach Barracks) which provided housing for military personnel. The property was acquired from the Department of Defence in 2003.

Today, the Village at Griesbach is a multi-award-winning neighbourhood offering north Edmonton’s most beautiful character homes. Using innovative development practices and principles of smart growth and new urbanism, the Village at Griesbach has been master-planned to be a family-friendly and innovative neighbourhood while maintaining traditional community character and a profound respect for the land’s military legacy. Streets and parks have been named after military heroes and battles in which local military units participated. As well, statues have been erected to commemorate the former base’s namesake, Major-General William Griesbach, and his wife, Janet.

There are currently three affordable housing sites under construction on Laubman Street in Griesbach, through successful applications of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Federal Lands Initiative.

A school for kindergarten to grade nine has been constructed while another school site has been identified in the master plan. There are several daycares in the Village at Griesbach’s commercial centres with opportunities for more in future development stages.

The Village at Griesbach is being designed with sustainability as a priority. The community is home to a large central park, four beautiful lakes that also function as stormwater management facilities, numerous walking trails and paths, and a two-acre community garden. In recognition of its sustainability, a section of the community received LEED-ND (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – Neighbourhood Design) Gold Certification – the first project in Edmonton to receive this prestigious international designation.

The northeast corner lands (62.7 hectares/155 acres) will be the final portion of the neighbourhood to be developed. Development will include a range of housing types, including rental and affordable forms, connected by open spaces and pathways. The planning process launched in January of 2022. The public engagement process to inform the Master Plan wrapped up in May 2023. The formal planning application (Neighbourhood Area Structure Plan (NASP) was submitted to the City of Edmonton and unanimously approved during a public hearing held in February 2024.