Edmonton Community Spotlight: Holyrood

The southeast neighbourhood of Holyrood remains one of Edmonton’s most desirable infill communities. First established in the early 1900s, this family-friendly area is known for its quiet, tree-lined interior streets, landscaped street islands and close proximity to the North Saskatchewan River Valley.

Did you know? Holyrood has undergone three name changes since its conception, including Mount Pleasant, East Edmonton Gardens and Balmoral. “Holyrood” did not become the community’s official title until the 1950s. 

Single-Family Homes for Every Style and Price Point 

Despite its inception in the early 1900s, the majority of Holyrood’s residential development occurred between the end of WWII and the 1960s. Single-family homes are the predominant home style in the area (accounting for over 70% of residences), making Holyrood an attractive neighbourhood for growing families. Choices range between older, updated bungalows on large lots (featuring plenty of character and charm), and beautiful new multi-storey infill homes, outfitted with the latest finishes and amenities.

Despite Holyrood’s abundance of single-detached units, home buyers on the hunt for a lower maintenance property will also find several multi-family residences (townhomes, duplexes, and apartment-style condos) along many of the neighbourhood’s main bus routes.

Average Listing Price: $525,000

See homes for sale in Holyrood

Did you know? Holyrood is thought to take its name from Holyrood Abbey in Edinburgh, Scotland. The name Holyrood is an anglicization of the Scottish terms haly ruid (holy cross).  

Local Shops and Services 

Thanks to its proximity to both Bonnie Doon Mall, Capilano Mall and Edmonton City Centre, grocers, banking institutions, medical centres, restaurants and various other shops and services can all be reached within a 5-minute drive or less. Among these include a Walmart Supercentre, Safeway, Canadian Tire, Winners and more.

Holyrood also sits moments from Whyte Ave, Edmonton’s famed art, culture and entertainment district. A few blocks to the community’s west, residents can enjoy some of the best bars, restaurants, pubs, boutique shops and events the city has to offer.

Did you know: Edmonton City Centre features over 170 shops, services and entertainment venues (including Landmark Cinemas). This premier shopping destination is located just 9-minutes northwest of the Holyrood neighbourhood.  

Schooling Options

Holyrood houses a centrally located public elementary school and park site. Additional educational opportunities, including a variety of other public and Catholic schools, the Waldorf Independent School of Edmonton and the sports-centric Vimy Ridge Academy, can all be found within the surrounding communities.

Holyrood Designated Public Schools: 

• Avonmore School (Designated Grade K School)
• Holyrood School (Designated Grade 1-6 School)
• Kenilworth School (Designated Grade 7-9 School)
• McNally School (Designated Grade 10-12 School)

Holyrood Designated Catholic Schools: 

• St. Monica (Designated Pre-Kindergarten)
• St. Brendan (Designated Grade K-9 School)
• Austin O’Brien (Designated Grade 10-12 School)

Did you know? Vimy Ridge has been recognized as Edmonton’s premier hockey academy and the leading school for young aspiring athletes. Notable VRA graduates include 2018 Olympic silver medalist figure skater Kaetlyn Osmond and goaltender Carter Hart of the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers. 

Parks and Recreation

Holyrood hosts an active community league and playground, which includes a new spray park and skating rink. The league itself offers various family-friendly programs and activities, featuring everything from after school care and playgroups to soccer leagues, swim programs, yoga and skating lessons. Here too, a private yoga studio can be found in the community’s southeast corner.

The North Saskatchewan River Valley is located directly to the neighbourhood’s northwest, offering residents an abundance of walking trails, bike paths, picnic sites and beautiful river valley views. Several popular parks are also located in the area, including Forest Heights Park, Henrietta Muir Edwards Park, Gallagher Park (home to Edmonton’s revered FolkFest and one of the best tobogganing hills in the city) and Louise McKinney Riverfront Park.

The Muttart Conservatory, EHS Gardens and the Edmonton Ski Club are also in the area, a 6-minute drive to the west.

Other popular recreation venues in the area include:

• Accidental Beach
• Bonnie Doon Leisure Centre (8 lane swimming pool, steam room, sauna, running track and tennis courts).
• Riverside Golf Course
• Kenilworth Arena
• Edmonton Public Library

Did you know? Accidental Beach took the city by surprise in the summer of 2017. Due to the ongoing LRT construction of the Tawatina bridge, several large rock jetties caused a build-up of sediment or “beach”, which quickly become a popular summer destination among locals. Once the jetties are removed, however, the beach is expected to go with them.  

An Easy Commute 

Quiet, yet extremely accessible, Holyrood is defined by 85th Street to the west, 98th Ave to the north, 75th Street (Wayne Gretzky Drive) to the east and 90th Ave to the south. 98th Ave is incredibly convenient for commuters working in the downtown core (meeting with Connors Road) as well as those who frequently rely on the east Anthony Henday. Neighbouring Wayne Gretzky Drive runs north to the Yellowhead Highway (less than 10-minutes away) and south to 82nd (Whyte) Ave/Sherwood Park Freeway, Argyll Road and Whitemud Drive.

In addition, Holyrood also ranks well for transit opportunities, with many public options available throughout the area. It will also be home to a future LRT stop, as part of Edmonton’s up-and-coming Valley Line LRT system – which will run from Millwoods south to Potter Greens west.

Did you know? Holyrood is located just 12 minutes east of the University of Alberta and the U of A Hospital

For more information on the many Edmonton real estate opportunities/homes for sale in Holyrood, we invite you to get in touch with us! And, don’t forget to take advantage of any one (or all!) of our free buyer’s resources, including: 

• Edmonton’s Top Infill Communities
• Your All-in-One Guide to Choosing the Right Edmonton Neighbourhood
• A Step by Step Guide For Buying Your First Home 
• First-Time Home Buyer Blog

Related: 

• The Best Places to Live in Edmonton: Part 1
• Edmonton Community Spotlight: Laurier Heights
• 7 Amenities to Look For In Your Next Neighbourhood
• 6 Questions To Ask Yourself When Choosing a Neighbourhood
• 6 Reasons to Buy Your Home In a Bedroom Community

Photo credits: shutterstock.com

Categorised in: Communities

This post was written by Terry Paranych Real Estate Group