Community Spotlight: Empire Park in Southwest Edmonton

Located within a short distance of Gateway Boulevard, Calgary Trail and Whitemud Drive, Empire Park is a diverse community offering a near-even blend of residential and commercial land uses. Home to Southgate Centre as well as a variety of cafes, restaurants and services, Empire Park is most noted for its amenity-friendly atmosphere, affordable multi-family homes and easy accessibility.

Did you know? The name “Empire Park” is thought to reference the British empire, as many early Edmonton residents originated from Great Britain. 

Real Estate and Homes For Sale in Empire Park

As mentioned above, Empire Park is well-known for its multi-family real estate opportunities. In fact, over 95% of all home styles within the neighbourhood consist of high-rise or low-rise apartment-style condos, townhomes and duplexes. Unlike most Edmonton communities that see a predominant number of single-family homes, Empire Park’s detached properties account for a mere 3% of residences.

An established neighbourhood, development of Empire Park first began in the early 1960s and progressed over the next several decades – to be mostly completed by the 1990s. Though older, many homes in the area have been recently upgraded to include new flooring, high-end countertops and cabinetry, new appliances and more.

Due to the high number of rental properties in the area, Empire Park is an attractive option among Edmonton real estate investors looking to take advantage of affordable home prices in a great location.

Average Listing Price in Empire Park: $197,000

See Homes For Sale in Empire Park

Did you know? Investing in multi-family real estate allows you to benefit from multiple sources of income, build long term wealth faster, and much more! For more information, see our previous post: The Key Advantages of Investing in Multi-Family Real Estate in Edmonton. 

Southwest Edmonton’s Best Shops and Services

In addition to Empire Park’s many affordable homes, the neighbourhood remains a popular choice among first-time buyers thanks to its proximity to major shopping amenities. As a result, big-box retailers, services, restaurants and coffee shops (including the Italian Centre) can be easily reached within a 10-minute drive or less.

Notable nearby amenities include:

• Crossroads Shopping Centre – Lowe’s, Edmonton Public Library, misc. healthcare services, restaurants, etc.
• Grey Nuns Community Hospital
• South Edmonton Common – 172+ brand name stores, Cineplex Odeon, The Rec Room, etc.
• South Park Centre – Walmart, coffee shops, numerous retailers and restaurants
• Southpoint Centre – Miscellaneous services and retailers, restaurants, grocers, etc.
• University of Alberta Hospital
• And more!

Did you know? First established in 1970 (containing only 65 stores), Southgate Centre has become south Edmonton’s largest shopping mall and the city’s premier fashion destination.

Nearby Parks and Recreation  

Directly southwest of Empire Park sits the Confederation Leisure Centre, a popular recreational facility featuring a six-lane, 25-metre saltwater swimming pool, saltwater whirlpool and dive tank, running track, indoor ice rink and much more. The neighbourhood is also home to the active Empire Park Community League, providing a wide range of family-friendly programs, such as soccer, skating, yoga, Green Shack initiatives, playgroups, community garden and more.

Finally, thanks to its proximity to the Whitemud Creek Ravine, residents enjoy ample opportunity to get outside and hit the trails for a morning run, scenic sunset stroll, bike ride, family picnic and more. Rainbow Valley Park and the Snow Valley Ski Club are also located within the ravine, in addition to the Snow Valley Aerial Park and Rainbow Valley Campground.

Additional recreation amenities near Empire Park include:

• The Derrick Golf and Winter Club
• Mill Woods Golf Course
• Twin Brooks District and Nature Park

Did you know? A self-proclaimed “Winter City,” skiing has remained a long-practiced hobby for Edmontonians for over a century. The city was home to five major ski clubs in the 1930s, though the Snow Valley Ski Club wasn’t developed until the 1940s. (source: Snowvalley.ca)

Empire Park Schools

Empire Park is home to three schools, including a preschool, public elementary and K-9 school geared towards helping students with special needs. Further educational opportunities such as non-secular options, language immersion programs, daycares and private institutions can all be found within the surrounding communities.

Designated Public Schools:

• McKee School (Designated Grade K-6 School)
• Allendale School (Designated Grade 7-9 School)
• Harry Ainlay School (Designated Grade 10-12 School)

Designated Catholic Schools:

• St. Monica School (Designated Pre-Kindergarten)
• St. Augustine School (Designated Grade K-6 School)
• Louis St. Laurent School (Designated Grade 7-9 School)
• Louis St. Laurent School (Designated Grade 10-12 School)

Other:

• Avalon Junior High School
• Millwoods Christian School
• Mount Pleasant School

Did you know? Harry Ainlay is one of three Edmonton high schools offering full French Immersion programming for all core subjects and one in eight offering an International Baccalaureate diploma program.

Commuting From Southwest Edmonton 

Empire Park is bounded by 111th Street to the west, 51st Ave to the north, Calgary Trail to the east and Whitemud Drive to the south. Calgary Trail and adjoining Gateway Ave provide a streamlined commute to downtown Edmonton and the Edmonton International Airport. At the same time, Whitemud Ave allows residents to access the greater City of Edmonton quickly and conveniently, while 111th Street leads directly to the University of Alberta and trendy Whyte Ave.

Extremely transit-friendly, Empire Park is one of few Edmonton communities to include both the Metro and Capital LRT line. The Southgate Transit Centre also provides a variety of bus routes to greater Southwest Edmonton and beyond.

For more information on homes for sale in Edmonton and/or real estate opportunities in Empire Park, get in touch with us! We also invite you to have the latest Edmonton real estate market updates, home buying tips, home selling information and more delivered directly to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletter.

Are you thinking of buying or selling a home in Edmonton? Download your FREE copy of buyer and seller resources:

• Your All-In-One Guide to Choosing the Right Edmonton Neighbourhood  – Find your perfect home in your ideal community!
• Home Buyer’s Guide – Step by step, we’ll walk you through the home buying process from start to finish.
• Home Seller’s Guide – Your how-to guide on selling your home quickly and for top dollar!
• A Step by Step Guide to Renovating Your Home (For a Great Sale) – Get the most out of your home’s sale with this comprehensive renovation guide.

Related:

• Your Guide to Southwest Edmonton Real Estate

Photo credits: shutterstock.com

Categorised in: Communities

This post was written by Terry Paranych Real Estate Group