Where Griesbach is
Griesbach sits in north Edmonton, between 137 Avenue to the south and 153 Avenue to the north, with Castle Downs Road on the west and 97 Street on the east.
- 97 Street runs south toward NAIT and downtown, and north toward today's CFB Edmonton.
- Northgate Centre and North Town Centre are just outside the southeast corner, at 137 Avenue and 97 Street.
From army base to neighbourhood
The land was Griesbach Barracks, part of CFB Edmonton, from 1950 to 1998. It's named after Major-General William Antrobus Griesbach (1878 to 1945), who served in the South African War and both world wars.
The federal government's Crown developer acquired the land from National Defence in 2003. The first stage was built from 2003 to 2012, and the second phase, started in 2013, is still being completed. The developer was Canada Lands Company; the community's own site now credits Build Canada Homes.
Streets, parks and lakes are named for military heroes and for battles in which local units fought: Patricia Lake, Bedford Basin, Roundel Lake, Maple Leaf Pond, Sanctuary Wood Park and Flanders Field Park among them.
In Griesbach, the street names, lakes and parks are a map of Canada's military history.
Memorials you'll walk past
- A statue of Major-General Griesbach at the roundabout entrance
- A memorial plaza above Patricia Lake honouring the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
- A Second World War-style Bailey Bridge across Patricia Lake
- The Bedford Basin lookout, honouring the Royal Canadian Navy and Edmonton's naval reserve, HMCS Nonsuch
- The Ad Astra Monument, HMCS Edmonton Navy Plaza and the Kisbie Ring
What homes are like in Griesbach
Griesbach has been built in stages since 2003, so most homes are newer. You'll find detached homes, duplexes, row houses and condos side by side. Many designs borrow from older Edmonton styles, including Craftsman, Victorian, Prairie and Tudor, and the streets were planned for walking, with traffic calming built in.
Buying a newer home here
Every home built in Alberta since February 1, 2014 must carry new home warranty coverage: 1 year on labour and materials, 2 years on electrical, plumbing and heating systems, 5 years on the building envelope and 10 years on the structure. Ask for the warranty certificate and how much coverage is left.
Also ask:
- Is the landscaping and final grading done?
- What's still to be built nearby in the current phase?
- For a townhouse or condo: what are the fees, and what do the reserve fund documents say? Our downtown condo guide lists what to request.
Lakes, parks and trails
Green space is woven through the whole neighbourhood:
- Lakes and ponds: Roundel Lake, Patricia Lake, Bedford Basin and Maple Leaf Pond, with paved paths along the water
- Central Hill Park, in the middle of the neighbourhood, with stairs up to a view of the downtown skyline
- More than 5 km of trails linking the lakes and parks
- Primary streets lined with trees
Schools
- Major General Griesbach School (Edmonton Public, K-9), opened in 2012.
- Every Edmonton address has a designated public school, and it isn't always the closest one. Check the exact address with Edmonton Public Schools' Find a School tool or Edmonton Catholic Schools' Locate Your School page.
Getting around
- By car: 97 Street and 137 Avenue are the main arterials, with shopping at their corner.
- By transit: there's no LRT in Griesbach, so most transit trips start on a bus. Check Edmonton Transit Service routes from the exact address.
- On foot: the lake paths and trails connect most of the neighbourhood.
What to weigh before you buy
Why buyers look here
- Newer homes, many still inside their warranty
- Lakes, parks and trails throughout, plus a K-9 school
- Distinctive architecture and a real sense of history
- Big shopping centres on the neighbourhood's edge
Trade-offs to think about
- Construction continues in the newest phase
- Most larger shopping is just outside the neighbourhood
- No LRT today
Homes for sale in Griesbach: how we help
We've sold in Griesbach recently, so we know how the phases and home types compare. We'll pull recent sales for the same kind of home, check the warranty on anything newer, and walk the lakes and streets with you before you decide.