Community Spotlight: Windermere
While past articles have highlighted the charm of Edmonton’s more historic communities, a new focus is turned towards the city’s newer or ongoing development projects. As Edmonton continues to expand ever outward, what do new residential communities have to offer in terms of housing, infrastructures, community facilities, and commercial amenities?
Windermere is one of Edmonton’s newer neighborhoods, which has begun to establish community roots. It is part of the larger area also known as Windermere, which also consists of the neighborhoods Ambleside, Glenridding Heights, Glenridding Ravine, and Keswick.Windermere is located in the city’s southwest, east of the river valley and south of Anthony Henday Drive.
Windermere Boundaries
The significance of the name Windermere, borrowed from a neighborhood in Cumbria, England, is in its root words ‘winder’ and ‘mere’ which mean ‘take one’s breath away’ and ‘’boundary’ or ‘landmark’ respectively, referring to it’s scenic proximity to the river valley which the area overlooks.
Though the community is new, the land has subsisted almost exclusively as an agricultural area historically. Approximately 80 dwellings in total existed when the land was formerly part of Strathcona County before its re-appropriation to the city of Edmonton in 1982. However it wasn’t until 2006 that city council created firm plans for residential development. The late 2000’s saw exponential growth of the area that continues into present day. By 2012 results from the municipal census concluded the neighborhood consisted of 1498 dwellings. 2009 showed a population of approximately 322, while 2012 showed a 563% increase to 2136 residents.
Ongoing Developments of the Area. Image Credit: City of Edmonton
According the development plans from the city of Edmonton’s neighbourhood profile:
“The plan for the Windermere neighborhood includes a range of housing types, densities and designs. Once complete, the neighborhood will include a mixed-use commercial center designed as a neighbourhood focal point, and a series of parks, pathways and institutional facilities which will be integrated with the residential development.”
Currents of Windermere is the most notable area of commerce in terms of area amenities. The open air shopping district boasts the city’s only VIP cinema, Cabelas outdoor and sporting goods store, 12 restaurants and coffee shops, as well as staple franchises like Wal Mart, Canadian Tire, Home Depot, and London Drugs. The district is also home to dental, optometric, and medical clinics to better serve the community.
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