Edmonton Community Spotlight: McKernan Featured Image

Edmonton Community Spotlight: McKernan

December 2, 2020 7:00 am Published by

Edmonton Community Spotlight: McKernan Featured Image

Like so many infill communities around Edmonton, McKernan offers home buyers the unparalleled charm they have come to expect from an established neighbourhood. Located near the University of Alberta, this highly desirable community is riddled with mature trees, walkable streets and sits within proximity to some of the city’s trendiest amenities.

Did you know? McKernan was named after John McKernan – a member of one of Edmonton’s prominent pioneer families as well as a highly successful businessman and entrepreneur. 

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McKernan Home Styles: The Best of Both Worlds

Although first-established in 1912, homes were not developed in the McKernan area until the late 1940s and early 50s (until then, most of the neighbourhood consisted of what was then known as McKernan Lake). The first homes to be constructed on the newly-drained landscape consisted of walk-up apartment-style condos, followed by an explosion of single-family homes – which are now the neighbourhood’s most dominant home style.

Due to its staggered development, McKernan offers a variety of single-family home styles of all ages and price points. Home buyers in the market for an older, updated character property (i.e. a 1940s bungalow on a generously-sized lot) will be pleased to find many affordable options to choose from starting in the late 300s.

Conversely, those on the hunt for a new home in a mature community will also find what they’re looking for in McKernan. Several of the neighbourhood’s older bungalows have been replaced with larger, two-storey detached homes and duplexes – many of which come pre-finished with income generating suites, ideal for a first-time investor and/or first-time home buyer. 

Note: Buyers preferring to build their dream home from the ground-up also have several affordable lots to select from. 

Did you know? McKernan Lake spanned several city blocks (east/west from 114th Street to 110th Street and north/south from 76th Ave to 72nd Ave).

Edmonton Community Spotlight: McKernan Entertainment Image

Endless Recreation and Entertainment

Beautiful homes aren’t the only thing drawing eager buyers to McKernan. This highly popular neighbourhood also sits near some of the city’s best amenities.

For starters, McKernan is within walking distance of Whyte Ave, Edmonton’s highly coveted arts and entertainment district. Residents in the area enjoy having cafes, pubs, bars, boutique shops and restaurants accessible within minutes. Additionally, Whyte Ave is the staging point for many of the city’s most popular events and festivals, including the International Fringe Festival, Ice on Whyte, International Street Performer’s Festival, Art Walk and more. 

As we mentioned above, the University of Alberta is also close by. As such, the Children’s Stollery and the University Hospital can all be reached within a 5-minute drive or less (McKernan is a prime choice among doctors, students and professors for this reason).

Other fantastic amenities in the area include (but aren’t limited to):

Did you know? John McKernan (mentioned above) was an avid theatre-goer and constructed Edmonton’s historical Princess Theatre in 1914? This crowning jewel of Strathcona still stands along Whyte Ave today.  

Family-Focused Amenities

Thanks to its abundance of single-family homes and duplexes, quiet tree-lined streets and proximity to amenities, McKernan has also become a popular choice among families – and not just because there’s so much to see and do. Grocers (Safeway, No Frills, Save-On-Foods), medical services, banking institutions and major retailers can all be reached either by foot or a short trip via car or transit.

Parents will also be pleased to know there are several local schools in the area:

Designated Public Schools

Designated Catholic Schools

Did you know? McKernan School, opened in 1951, is the only Edmonton Public School to offer both a Spanish bilingual program and a late French immersion program for grades 7 to 9. 

Edmonton Community Spotlight: McKernan Park Image

Parks and Recreation

In addition to several local parks and playground sites (including McKernan Park, featuring a spray deck), residents also enjoy having several larger green spaces and walking trails immediately to the neighbourhood’s west. 

This includes the North Saskatchewan River Valley and ravine trail system, running north and south between Whitemud Park and Hawrelak Park. Featuring several picnic sites, an off-leash dog area and Edmonton’s prized Whitemud Equestrian Park, McKernan is an outdoor lover’s delight.

Other notable parks and recreation amenities near McKernan include:

Did you know? Emily Murphy Park has is rated one of the best places to toboggan in Edmonton. 

Getting Around

McKernan is flanked by 114th Street to the west, University Ave to the north, 109th Street to the east and 72nd Ave to the south. 114th Street provides access to Whitemud Drive via Belgravia Road and Fox Drive, while 109th Street runs north, directly into downtown Edmonton. Nearby, Whyte Ave intersects with both Wayne Gretzky Drive and the Sherwood Park Freeway, located to the east. 

Extremely transit-friendly, the McKernan/Belgravia LRT Station (running north to Clareview and south to Century Park) can be found in the neighbourhood’s western end, providing local commuters quick and convenient access to other parts of the city. Several transit stops and varying routes can also be found throughout the area.

Did you know? In operation from 1913 to 1947, the McKernan Lake Streetcar (affectionately known as the Toonerville Trolley) ran east to west along 76th Ave between Calgary Trail to 116th Street. 

For more information on the community of McKernan and McKernan homes for sale, see our current featured listings or get in touch with us! We’ll be happy to tell you more.

Are you thinking about buying a home in Edmonton? Take advantage of our Dream Home Finder. Whatever you’re looking for, the Terry Paranych Real Estate Group will help you find it!

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This post was written by Terry Paranych Real Estate Group