‘The city has really picked up its game’: Edmonton tackling more problem properties, residents seeing results

An example of a home included in the Mature Area Derelict Residential Tax Subclass, which allows the City of Edmonton to triple property taxes for owners of problem properties. (Photo: The City of Edmonton)

The City of Edmonton is planning to tackle problem properties in more neighbourhoods this year.

The Problem Property Initiative (PPI) will see teams focusing on seven more communities this year – including five south of the river.

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The initiative was launched in 2023 after a successful pilot the year before. It aims to address issues associated with abandoned or run-down properties in Edmonton, such as fires, criminal complaints, illegal activity and safety concerns.

Teams work city-wide but have put an additional focus on eight mature central communities — like Alberta Avenue, McCauley and Queen Alexandra – which the city said have higher concentrations of abandoned or derelict properties.

Corine Demas, president of the McCauley Community League, has lived there for four years and knows first-hand the impact one of these homes can have on neighbouring residents.

“We had a shooting and a stabbing that first summer we were here,” she said. “We are thinking, ‘What are we doing here?’ And it was all because of a problem property across the alley,” she said.

“That house burned down, and the city came in and demolished it and got rid of it and now we have a nice new infill, and we haven’t had a problem in our alley since.”

Allan Bolstad, civics director for the Alberta Avenue Community League, has also seen his share of problems in his neighbourhood.

“It is discouraging if you live right next door,” Bolstad said. “It’s an eyesore for one thing, and it’s a constant concern that somebody is going to be living in it and causing problems … it just brings down the area.”

PPI progress

The city said situations at problem properties can be complex and generate an “extraordinary demand” on services.

Different teams are made up of police, firefighters, health officials and city staff, with some focused on securing or working to demolish abandoned homes while others ensure lived-in homes are safe for residents.

Since the PPI began, the city said teams have inspected 1,900 properties, rehoused 81 people from unlivable homes – including 37 children – and connected hundreds more with other resources and services.

They have also cleaned up 1.6 million pounds of trash and hazardous materials, secured 449 vacant structures and helped get 388 demolished (with 227 of those either redeveloped or in the process).

Starting last year, the city also started tripling the property taxes for problem property owners, something it said motivates action and earns revenue to deal with derelicts.

Of the 202 properties to qualify for a tax hike last year, the city said 54 were demolished, eight were remediated and 48 were sold.

Those efforts, the city said, resulted in a 31-per-cent decrease in structure fires in vulnerable neighbourhoods in 2023.

Edmonton Fire Rescue Services (EFRS) explained that fires are a major concern at vacant properties, putting firefighters and anyone inside at risk during and after a fire.

“Due to the vacant nature of the property, these fires are often unreported by those accessing the building illegally or go unnoticed by neighbours until the fire has grown and becomes a much larger concern,” EFRS added.

Between 2022 and 2024, EFRS increased inspections of unsecured vacant properties from 659 to 2,617. It said teams expect to inspect more than 3,000 this year.

Should the current downward trend in fires at these properties continue, EFRS said it expects another 31-per-cent decrease in 2025.

Both Bolstad and Demas said they have noticed the difference.

“The city has really picked up its game in terms of boarding these places up and securing them, making sure that people aren’t able to break into them or camp outside in the yards, and so that’s helped a lot,” Bolstead said.

“When the city is able to identify a house that is either derelict and people are getting in … or with people causing problems, when the city helps us with that, it does make a big difference to how we feel, as far as feeling safe,” Demas said.

Problem properties can be reported confidentially to the city through an online form or by calling 311.

The city asks that residents only report properties with “significant harmful impact” on the surrounding area, such as properties that pose a risk to tenants or have had a recurring history of serious violations or complaints.

For more information on the PPI, visit the City of Edmonton website.